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Is A Showgirl Changing The Face Of Politics?
“People say, ‘stay in your lane, you’re just an artist, but art was born out of politics—revolutions, wars, oppression. Tap dance emerged because enslaved people weren’t allowed to make music. Dancers come from communities impacted by inequity—Black, brown, queer, immigrant, women. There’s a direct political dimension to that.” Bridgie Nix
What is the life of a showgirl? It might just be in politics.
Bridgie Nix is not your typical political candidate — she’s a dancer, fire performer, and lifelong creative who’s no stranger to America’s working-class grind. Dancers often assume they live outside the political bloodstream — yet it’s lawmakers with no understanding of the industry who shape realities from the ensemble to the headlining stars. Dance may be the only industry where the majority of workers are women, immigrants, and LGBTQ — making it an arena that is not only notoriously underpaid, but also a direct reflection of marginalized America.
Nix’s views have radically shifted — once a conservative, she has taken a sharp turn to the left. After a decade in LA working across entertainment and organizing, and later building her own production company in Nevada’s growing film industry, she’s stepping into politics with a perspective forged onstage, backstage, and in the cracks of America’s safety net. Now she’s channeling that lived experience into a campaign for Lieutenant Governor.
“I’ve always been politically passionate,” Nix says, “I grew up watching Fox News, identified as conservative—but social issues weren’t openly discussed. Moving out of Texas, freelancing, facing the realities of the American system…2016 was my turning point. I realized the Republican Party as I knew it was no longer the one I believed in.”
Her campaign for Lieutenant Governor is fueled by that realization. In Nevada, the Lieutenant Governor’s role is both ceremonial and pivotal: tie-breaking votes in legislation, stepping in when the Governor is absent, and overseeing tourism. “The role varies by state depending on the dominant industry,” Nix explains. “In Texas it’s oil, in California it’s film and TV, and in Nevada it’s tourism. As an entertainer who also experiences Vegas as a consumer, I feel really suited to help fix tourism issues and expand nature-based tourism here too.”
But Nix’s vision extends beyond the Strip. Her platform emphasizes creating a new creative economy in Nevada, diversifying the state beyond casinos and tourism. Central to this is the Hollywood 2.0 initiative: building permanent production studios in Las Vegas to sustain local employment and establish long-term industry infrastructure. “International tourism—the backbone of Vegas—has collapsed. Gen Z doesn’t gamble like that. Entertainment isn’t just actors; it’s hundreds of local jobs,” she says.
Her advocacy is rooted in lived experience. Having danced, taught, and produced, Nix has seen firsthand the inequities faced by creatives. She draws parallels between the precariousness of the performing arts and the broader labor landscape. “Dancers risk their health and careers daily. No one is buying tickets to see the executive director perform. Priorities are upside-down,” she observes.
Nix’s political awakening also emerged from civic activism. In 2020, she organized protests and registered over 200 voters across three states. Following the overturn of Roe v. Wade, she was struck by how many performers were unaware of its implications. “People believed their vote didn’t matter.” That realization propelled her toward candidacy, revisiting programs like Vote Run Lead and learning how surprisingly accessible running for office could be—especially in a state like Nevada.
Her campaign, however, is not just about policy—it’s about bridging two worlds: art and politics. “People say, ‘stay in your lane, you’re just an artist,’” Nix laughs. “But art was born out of politics—revolutions, wars, oppression. Tap dance emerged because enslaved people weren’t allowed to make music. Dancers come from communities impacted by inequity—Black, brown, queer, immigrant, women. There’s a direct political dimension to that.”
For Nix, the message is clear: performers and creatives cannot remain in a bubble. Politics shapes the structures that determine whether they survive in their fields—from healthcare access to workers’ rights. “Start local,” she advises. “City council, state representatives—they directly impact your life. Go to meetings, ask questions, understand budgets. Even small advocacy work matters. And don’t underestimate your voice on social media. Performance is influence.”
Nix believes that women and nontraditional candidates must take up space in politics. “Our current political class is aging, disconnected, and unfamiliar with the modern world. People want leaders who understand their reality. It’s time for older politicians to retire, relax, and pass the baton.”
Nix’s candidacy, in many ways, challenges the notion of what leadership looks like. Her campaign is grassroots, focused on door-to-door engagement and community connections—particularly within the creative sector she knows intimately. She wants to inspire a broader cultural shift in political engagement, demonstrating that governance is accessible, and that lived experience, problem-solving, and creativity are valuable assets in public service.
“From dancers to veterans, from teachers to service workers—those voices need to be in the room. Politics is about people. If you’ve had to hustle, if you’ve navigated unstable industries or systems, you know how to advocate.”
As she knocks doors and posts updates on Instagram, Bridgie Nix’s message is clear: politics isn’t just in the Capitol—it’s everywhere, even backstage. And for performers across America, her candidacy is a call to recognize that their votes, voices, and perspectives are not only relevant—they are necessary.
For more information on Bridgie Nix’s platform and campaign, visit:
https://www.bridgienix4nevada.com/ or follow her on social media @bridgienix4nevada
FULL PODCAST ABOVE
Get full access to The Dance Lens with Cynthia Dragoni at thedancelens.substack.com/subscribe
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By WHERE DANCE MEETS ART, HISTORY, POLITICS & SOCIAL (RE)EVOLUTIONS“People say, ‘stay in your lane, you’re just an artist, but art was born out of politics—revolutions, wars, oppression. Tap dance emerged because enslaved people weren’t allowed to make music. Dancers come from communities impacted by inequity—Black, brown, queer, immigrant, women. There’s a direct political dimension to that.” Bridgie Nix
What is the life of a showgirl? It might just be in politics.
Bridgie Nix is not your typical political candidate — she’s a dancer, fire performer, and lifelong creative who’s no stranger to America’s working-class grind. Dancers often assume they live outside the political bloodstream — yet it’s lawmakers with no understanding of the industry who shape realities from the ensemble to the headlining stars. Dance may be the only industry where the majority of workers are women, immigrants, and LGBTQ — making it an arena that is not only notoriously underpaid, but also a direct reflection of marginalized America.
Nix’s views have radically shifted — once a conservative, she has taken a sharp turn to the left. After a decade in LA working across entertainment and organizing, and later building her own production company in Nevada’s growing film industry, she’s stepping into politics with a perspective forged onstage, backstage, and in the cracks of America’s safety net. Now she’s channeling that lived experience into a campaign for Lieutenant Governor.
“I’ve always been politically passionate,” Nix says, “I grew up watching Fox News, identified as conservative—but social issues weren’t openly discussed. Moving out of Texas, freelancing, facing the realities of the American system…2016 was my turning point. I realized the Republican Party as I knew it was no longer the one I believed in.”
Her campaign for Lieutenant Governor is fueled by that realization. In Nevada, the Lieutenant Governor’s role is both ceremonial and pivotal: tie-breaking votes in legislation, stepping in when the Governor is absent, and overseeing tourism. “The role varies by state depending on the dominant industry,” Nix explains. “In Texas it’s oil, in California it’s film and TV, and in Nevada it’s tourism. As an entertainer who also experiences Vegas as a consumer, I feel really suited to help fix tourism issues and expand nature-based tourism here too.”
But Nix’s vision extends beyond the Strip. Her platform emphasizes creating a new creative economy in Nevada, diversifying the state beyond casinos and tourism. Central to this is the Hollywood 2.0 initiative: building permanent production studios in Las Vegas to sustain local employment and establish long-term industry infrastructure. “International tourism—the backbone of Vegas—has collapsed. Gen Z doesn’t gamble like that. Entertainment isn’t just actors; it’s hundreds of local jobs,” she says.
Her advocacy is rooted in lived experience. Having danced, taught, and produced, Nix has seen firsthand the inequities faced by creatives. She draws parallels between the precariousness of the performing arts and the broader labor landscape. “Dancers risk their health and careers daily. No one is buying tickets to see the executive director perform. Priorities are upside-down,” she observes.
Nix’s political awakening also emerged from civic activism. In 2020, she organized protests and registered over 200 voters across three states. Following the overturn of Roe v. Wade, she was struck by how many performers were unaware of its implications. “People believed their vote didn’t matter.” That realization propelled her toward candidacy, revisiting programs like Vote Run Lead and learning how surprisingly accessible running for office could be—especially in a state like Nevada.
Her campaign, however, is not just about policy—it’s about bridging two worlds: art and politics. “People say, ‘stay in your lane, you’re just an artist,’” Nix laughs. “But art was born out of politics—revolutions, wars, oppression. Tap dance emerged because enslaved people weren’t allowed to make music. Dancers come from communities impacted by inequity—Black, brown, queer, immigrant, women. There’s a direct political dimension to that.”
For Nix, the message is clear: performers and creatives cannot remain in a bubble. Politics shapes the structures that determine whether they survive in their fields—from healthcare access to workers’ rights. “Start local,” she advises. “City council, state representatives—they directly impact your life. Go to meetings, ask questions, understand budgets. Even small advocacy work matters. And don’t underestimate your voice on social media. Performance is influence.”
Nix believes that women and nontraditional candidates must take up space in politics. “Our current political class is aging, disconnected, and unfamiliar with the modern world. People want leaders who understand their reality. It’s time for older politicians to retire, relax, and pass the baton.”
Nix’s candidacy, in many ways, challenges the notion of what leadership looks like. Her campaign is grassroots, focused on door-to-door engagement and community connections—particularly within the creative sector she knows intimately. She wants to inspire a broader cultural shift in political engagement, demonstrating that governance is accessible, and that lived experience, problem-solving, and creativity are valuable assets in public service.
“From dancers to veterans, from teachers to service workers—those voices need to be in the room. Politics is about people. If you’ve had to hustle, if you’ve navigated unstable industries or systems, you know how to advocate.”
As she knocks doors and posts updates on Instagram, Bridgie Nix’s message is clear: politics isn’t just in the Capitol—it’s everywhere, even backstage. And for performers across America, her candidacy is a call to recognize that their votes, voices, and perspectives are not only relevant—they are necessary.
For more information on Bridgie Nix’s platform and campaign, visit:
https://www.bridgienix4nevada.com/ or follow her on social media @bridgienix4nevada
FULL PODCAST ABOVE
Get full access to The Dance Lens with Cynthia Dragoni at thedancelens.substack.com/subscribe