Jun 16, 2006  |  By: BRIAN MOYLAN  | COMMENTS     

Kevin Platte, the founder and executive director of the local dance troupe D.C. Cowboys, found that fans had an odd request the past two times the group sold calendars as a fundraiser.

“Every time, our fans keep asking for more nudity,” says Platte.

The Cowboys produced calendars in 2000 and 2004. Their most recent effort — a 1,000-unit print run — sold out at $10 apiece. This year, proceeds from sales will be split evenly between the Cowboys and the Whitman-Walker Clinic. 

“We try to keep pushing the envelope,” Platte says. “We’re going to put out the best product and make it look sexy and it’s totally a different product than what we’ve done before.”

And by different, he means more racy. Taking a page from the popular Dieux du Stade calendar series that features naked European rugby players, this calendar not only features several pictures per month, but also includes full nudity.

“The last calendar we did was the big photo on the top with the grid underneath it,” says Chad Townsend, a member of the group who is a graphic designer by trade and designed the calendar as well as appeared as a model. “We really highlight the photos because that’s what the draw is.”

The 14 participating members of the 17-man group filled out model release forms letting the photographer, Ward Morrison, know just how much they were willing to bear. Some chose to appear shirtless, while some chose the full monty and others are even featured in compromising positions.

Taking another page from the Dieux du Stade playbook, this year the calendar also features a DVD of the photo shoot, which was conducted over two weekends in May at a bed and breakfast in Maryland.

“I’m a fan of reality shows, so I wanted the behind the scenes, it’s more like a music video with naked guys running around,” says Townsend, who also filmed and edited the DVD.

The 2007 calendar and DVD are available only as a set for $20 and can be purchased at any D.C. Cowboys performance or on their website, www.dccowboys.org. You can even have calendars personalized and signed by the Cowboys through their website.