Lady Gaga tribute band 'just dances' for Middle Way House

Melissa Ann Cook and Crystal Sullivan are ga-ga for Lady Gaga and Middle Way House.

The Lady Gagas, a cover band that sings the artist’s hits, performed Saturday at The Bishop. All of the proceeds from the event went to the Middle Way House, an organization that assists women who have been victims of domestic abuse.

“We wanted to choose an organization that benefits the women in our community,” Cook, a member of the Lady Gagas, said. “And what could be a better charity than Middle Way House?”

The duo did not inform Middle Way House about their event.

“We didn’t want them to feel like they had to get involved,” Cook said.
Cook said Gaga represents a strong female persona and that is why she admires her.

“She is fabulous,” Cook said. “She is absolutely in control of her own business and not a pop princess.”

She also admires Gaga’s confidence because “she does not care what people think.”

Many people in the crowd came out to support the duo and the cause and wanted a chance to impersonate the pop star.

Ashley Bayer and Emily Jimmerson dressed up for the event — which took time, preparation and creativity. Bayer wore a red dress with cut-up tutus on her shoulders and made a mask of mini mirrors, while Jimmerson wanted to channel the “punk Lady Gaga” and glued studs to her black dress.

“I think it is a really good cause,” Bayer said. “Lady Gaga represents a lot of women. She is a feminist symbol. ... It is an event for women, by women.”

Cook said being Gaga is no easy task. During their performance of “Paparazzi,” Sullivan rehashed Gaga’s Video Music Awards performance by getting fake blood on her white dress and face. However, the “blood” got into her eye, and she had to make a quick exit from the stage and change the sequence of numbers they were performing.

Sullivan joked about the situation, saying “I think I got some blood in my water” while taking a sip.

The duo stayed true to Gaga by going through various costume changes.

Sullivan first wore an outfit covered in stuffed animals and Beanie Babies, while Cook wore knee-high boots, fishnet tights and a long-haired wig. During the performance, Sullivan changed into a sequined, sparkly dress and then into a white dress. Cook then changed into a black romper with a gold belt around her waist, complete with heels and fishnets and a new short ’do. She also wore a full-piece transparent lingerie-esque outfit with x’s strategically placed, along with a sequined silver miniskirt.

The duo also had a dance sequence with “disco sticks” for their performance of the song “LoveGame” and sequenced fist-pumps and awkward dance steps, portraying Gaga in their performance of “Telephone.”

“The dancing part was hard because we are not trained in singing and dancing,” Cook said.

Another obstacle was that Sullivan was in a bad bike wreck a month ago and couldn’t practice for a week. The duo practiced every week for two to three months.

The event opened with the Bloomington Burlesque Brigade. Burlesque is a flirtatious and comedic art form that often features a strip tease. Cook said she is a burlesque dancer-in-training and that she enjoys burlesque because it is “glamorous, beautiful and over-the-top.”

“I love any opportunity to be in my underwear,” Cook said.