The Burlesque Forum

Do you have any rituals?

2007-09-26T11:38:00.000-04:00

Maybe it's something you do before every show for luck. Or a special thing your troupe does together to mark the end of a successful run. Or a complex array of motions that must be completed in order for you to begin your creative process and start to work on a new number or choreography. Do you have any rituals - performance, burlesque or otherwise?

Video Du Jour - Pennies from Heaven

2007-09-25T11:04:00.000-04:00

Today's Video Du Jour - Christopher Walken in Pennies from Heaven

What is the best costume you've ever worn?

2007-09-25T10:58:00.000-04:00

Feathers or beads? Sequins or rhinestones? Vintage or space-age plastics? What is the best costume you've ever worn onstage?

Video Du Jour - Trixie Little and the Evil Hate Monkey

2007-09-19T16:13:00.000-04:00

Here's a new one from an old favorite.

Video Du Jour - Trixie Little and the Evil Hate Monkey

Bumped! Prime Time Burly-Q?

2007-09-19T15:39:00.001-04:00

Given our newest representative on the silver screen, let's bump one of our first topics back up...

So let's say, hypothetically speaking, you've been tapped by the networks to represent the burlesque community in prime time. It doesn't matter if you're a performer, superfan, producer, historian, etc. You're going to be an "ambassador" of burlesque in some manner, you get to dictate what that means. You can pick the show you're appearing on, so long as it's during the prime time block (and you're not suddenly inventing a new genre of television show that currently doesn't exist). What would you do?

The original post and comments can be read here.

News Item: Boston Babydoll Competes on "America's Next Top Model"

2007-09-19T15:32:00.000-04:00

Boston Babydoll Competes on "America's Next Top Model"

BOSTON, MA September 19, 2007 - Tyra Banks must be a burlesque fan. Out of tens of thousands of applicants, she decided that one of The Boston Babydolls had the potential to be America's Next Top Model. Boston Babydoll Vita Lightly (also known as Sarah) is one of the thirteen contestants on the next season of the popular television show. America's Next Top Model Cycle 9 premieres with a one-hour broadcast on Wednesday, September 19 at 8PM ET/PT.

Vita has been performing with The Boston Babydolls since January of this year after Scratch, the co-founder of the troupe, spotted her at a Cambridge nightclub. "Sometimes I just see someone and know they've got what it takes to be part of The Boston Babydolls. Vita had the right look and an easy confidence".

The other Boston Babydolls are thrilled with their fellow troupe member's television debut. "We're all going to be watching," said Miss Mina, the other founder of the troupe. "We think she'll go far. A lot of these reality shows are about grace under pressure, and that's a key part of being a burlesque dancer". Miss Mina, who teaches burlesque through The Boston Babydolls' Boston Academy of Burlesque Education, went on to say that Vita is rare combination of talent, beauty, and common sense. "She's surprisingly grounded, in spite of all the exciting things that have happened to her."

Despite her busy schedule, the 20-year old college student is committed to performing with The Boston Babydolls. "She's got a lot of exciting opportunities ahead of her," said Scratch, who has taken on the role of Sarah's personal manager. "ANTM had already opened a lot of doors for Sarah. We're not sure what the future holds, but we know she'd like to finish college and continue performing with The Boston Babydolls". A recent move to New Jersey has forced Vita to limit how often she participates in Boston Babydoll shows. The Boston Babydolls perform at The Paradise Lounge on the last Sunday of every month and Vita will continue to dance with them as often as she can.

America's Next Top Model 9
Wednesday, September 19, 8PM ET/PT on The CW

Video Du Jour - Make 'Em Laugh

2007-09-17T14:34:00.000-04:00

Today's Video Du Jour - Donald O'Connor in "Make 'Em Laugh"

Proudest moment?

2007-09-17T14:07:00.001-04:00

What has been your proudest burlesque moment?

The Week in Review

2007-09-16T22:41:00.001-04:00

Thank you to the last week's contributors:

Darlinda Just Darlinda
Jack Midnight aka mark
Lola van Ella
Mariel a la Mode
Naughty Natanya
Vixen Violette

Please feel free to continue posting to any topic from previous weeks. Topics will always remain open. If they get too far gone down the blog, feel free to call for a bump and I will re-post the questions so you don't have to search the archives for them.

Footnotes for the week of 9/9/07

In the course of our discussion, performers, venues, websites and other burlesque departures were discussed or featured in the daily topics or comments section. Here are footnotes and further reading/viewing from this week's discussion.

All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up....

Claude Rains in the final scene of Casablanca

The hubbub over the 40 Deuce - Community Standards and Burlesque?

Ivan Kane's Forty Deuce

What's your tagline?

Jack Midnight - The Man of the Hour
Paris Green - The Pleasure Chest of the Midwest
Naughty Natanya - The Risque Russian
Lady Annabelle - The Dirty Debutante
Titi Touche - The T.N.Teaser

Video Du Jour - Lola van Ella

2007-09-13T16:40:00.000-04:00

Today's Video Du Jour - Lola van Ella of the St. Louis based Alley Cat Revue in "Special"

What's your tagline?

2007-09-13T16:12:00.000-04:00

One of the most fun parts of the burlesque naming scheme, I've always thought, is the tagline. Jennie Lee was "The Bazoom Girl," Dixie Evans is "The Marilyn Monroe of Burlesque," and on the modern end of things Trixie Little is "Charm City's Burlesque Superhero" and Little Brooklyn is "A Coney Island Red Hot!"

Do you have a tagline? What are some of your favorite burlesquers tags?

Video Du Jour - The Moose

2007-09-12T13:11:00.001-04:00

Before the movies and the scandals, Woody Allen performed comedy in tiny little cabarets in New York. Here's a clip of him doing some of his act on TV.

Video Du Jour - Woody Allen "The Moose"

The hubbub over the 40 Deuce - Community Standards and Burlesque?

2007-09-12T12:36:00.000-04:00

As some of you may already know, the neighborhood where the new 40 Deuce club in New York is going to be opened is not happy about the prospect of a burlesque club joining their patch of real estate.

It is without question that New York City is a place in which the artistic community is permitted to take great risks and utilize all the tools the trade has to offer - nudity included - to express themselves. The community standards for this particular neighborhood dictate that what the 40 Deuce has to offer is not in line with the moral standards of an average person in their community as a whole. It would seem that these two viewpoints (combined with the club's primary focus of making obscene amounts of money, to be sure) are at odds with one another. Removing the financial aspect from the picture, we are left with the conundrum of an establishment that is dedicated to the art of the tease and a community that wants nothing to do with something they feel is so morally bankrupt as stripping.

In the eyes of the general public, is there any difference between a traditional gentlemen's club and a burlesque club? Would any amount of education and discussion with the general public about the art of burlesque change that perception? Or, despite the fact that we make a deliberate distinction in what we do and how we do it, are we really just strippers underneath all the glitter and glitz?

Video Du Jour - Burlesque As It Was

2007-09-11T17:58:00.000-04:00

Today's Video Du Jour - The lovely ladies of Denver's Burlesque As It Was

All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up.

2007-09-10T16:57:00.000-04:00

Hey, let's play hypothetical Monday! If you could insert yourself in any movie scene, thus re-creating it, what would you pick and why?

The Week in Review

2007-09-09T01:00:00.001-04:00

Thank you to the last week's contributors:

Jack Midnight
Mariel
Michelle Baldwin aka Vivienne VaVoom
Naughty Natanya
Paris Green
Vixen Violette
Zeugma aka Jezebel Express

Please feel free to continue posting to any topic from previous weeks. Topics will always remain open. If they get too far gone down the blog, feel free to call for a bump and I will re-post the questions so you don't have to search the archives for them.

Footnotes for the week of 9/2/07

In the course of our discussion, performers, venues, websites and other burlesque departures were discussed or featured in the daily topics or comments section. Here are footnotes and further reading/viewing from this week's discussion.

Technology and the bump and grind?

Tigger!
Jezebel Express as a sexy firefly

And... we're back

If I've put a video with the performer, this was the act they performed at NYBF. When/if videos of performances become available from the festival, I will link to them on the Forum at that time - Forum Admin.

Jo Boobs
Bloody Belle
Diamondback Annie performing a KISS tribute at Miss Exotic World 2006
Imogen Kelly
Fanny Tastic
Kellita of Hot Pink Feathers
Lux La Croix
Vivienne Vavoom
Trixie Little and the Evil Hate Monkey performing to "Total Eclipse of the Heart"
Tigerlil
Little Brooklyn performs her Fay Wray/King Kong "devil" dance at Miss Exotic World 2007
Lukki
Nasty Canasta
Ruby Valentine
Miss Saturn
Tigger
Murray Hill
Scotty the Blue Bunny
Fannie Spankings & Charlie Champale (aka Spampale) in "The Wedding"
Element, venue of the Friday night party

Introductions?

Burlesque and the New Bump-N-Grind by Michelle Baldwin

Video Du Jour: Dixie Evans

2007-09-09T00:25:00.000-04:00

Today's Video Du Jour - Dixie Evans, the Marilyn Monroe of Burlesque

Introductions?

2007-09-07T11:32:00.000-04:00

When you introduce yourself to people in the burlesque community, do you use your stage name or your real name or does it depend on the situation? Same question, but when you introduce yourself to non-burlesquers in connection with your burlesque activities?

Video Du Jour: Desire D'Amor

2007-09-07T09:10:00.000-04:00

Today's Video Du Jour: Desire D'Amor of Black Cherry Burlesque

News Item: The 5th Annual NYBF Golden Pasties Winners

2007-09-06T20:10:00.000-04:00

The Winners of the 5th Annual Golden Pasties

Performer Most Likely to Be Diagnosed with OCD Because of Extreme Usage of Bedazzling
Amber Ray

Performer Most Likely to Drink You Under the Table and Take Advantage of You While You Are Down
Scotty the Blue Bunny

The Biggest Sweetheart in Burlesque
Angie Pontani

The Most Unpredictable Performer in Burlesque
Tigger!

The Best Newcomer of 2007
Precious Little

The Most Inspiring/Influential Performer in Burlesque
TIE - The World Famous *BoB* and Little Brooklyn

The Performer You Would Most Like to Share a 4x8 Dressing Room with All Night
Miss Saturn

The Performer Most Likely to Be the Next Queen of England
Tigger!

The Performer Most Likely to Win a Nobel Peace Prize
Jo Boobs

The Best Booty Shaker in Burlesque
Creamy Stevens

The Performer Most Likely to Pop a Pastie
The World Famous *BoB*

The Performer Most Likely to Become a Scientologist
Miss Saturn

The Best Physique in Burlesque
Angie Pontani

Best Use of Non-Traditional Items as Pasties
Nasty Canasta

The Performer Most Likely to Be Married at Least 3 Times
Murray Hill

The Performer That Makes You Want to Take Your Clothes Off
Jo Boobs

Your creative process?

2007-09-06T12:01:00.000-04:00

How do you approach putting together a new act for yourself or your troupe? Do you have a general idea of what you want to do and then find the bits and pieces? Do you take your inspiration from music or a costume piece? What is your creative process?

Video Du Jour - Sophie Tucker Jokes

2007-09-06T11:56:00.000-04:00

Today's Video Du Jour - some Sophie Tucker jokes via The Divine Miss M:

The culture of the go-go dancer?

2007-09-05T21:08:00.001-04:00

In a message posted to the NYBF message board, it was observed that the go-go dancers performing at the Element Premiere Party for the festival in some cases tended to skew their performance style and onstage behavior closer to that of a gentleman's club dancer than that of a burlesque dancer. It was noted that the term "go-go dancing" is most likely left up to interpretation.

Is go-go dancing up to interpretation? Does it vary by region or circumstance? Is there a specific culture of go-go that lays down the rules of style and attitude? Is it fair to lump go-go girls in with burlesque dancing?

Video Du Jour: Kitten on the Keys

2007-09-05T21:04:00.001-04:00

This seemed appropriate with the Tease-O-Rama schedule coming out... Please enjoy Kitten on the Keys at Tease-O-Rama singing "My Girl's Pussy":

Video Du Jour: Silk Stockings

2007-09-04T19:13:00.000-04:00

Posting the bit of Gilda yesterday made me realize there are probably a lot of bits and pieces out there that would be nice to share. Plus, who doesn't like a little video to waste some time at work? If you have a Video Du Jour to share with the Forum, send me the link at the Forum Mail.

Today's Video Du Jour - Cyd Charisse in Silk Stockings

The scene continues here, but I have always found the first part to be more burlesque flavored.

News Item: Tease-O-Rama Performers Announced

2007-09-04T17:08:00.000-04:00

The Tease-O-Rama Convention has announced this year's performers:

Burlesque Legends:

Dixie Evans from the Burlesque Hall of Fame
Satan's Angel
Isis Star
Holiday O'Hara
Velvet Ice

Burlesque Troupes:

The Devil-Ettes - SF
Murasaki Baby Doll - Japan
Hot Pink Feathers - SF
The Von Foxies - Seattle
Panty Raid! - Nashville
Kitty Kitty Bang Bang - SF
Cock T's - SF
Scenic Sisters - SF
Diamond Daggers - SF
Scandalesque - AZ
SF Boylesque - SF
Myths and Legends Dance Company - LA
Twilight Vixen - SF
Clandestine - SF

Solo Acts:

Kitten deVille - LA
Kalani Kokonuts - Las Vegas
Violet Eva - Japan
Chica Boom - Seattle
Cherry Typhoon - Japan
Michelle L'amour - Chicago
Jo Boobs - NYC
Kitty Diggins - LA
Mimi Le Meaux - San Diego
Cardinal Cyn - Austin
Desire D'Amour - Austin
Vivienne VaVoom - Denver
Miss Delirium Tremens - NYC
Roky Roulette - SF
Delilah - UK
Kellita - SF
Amber Ray - NYC
Reverend Spooky LeStrange - New Orleans
Miss Eva von Slut - SF
Kitten Le Rue - Seattle
Tigger! - NYC
Alotta Boutte - SF
Sparkly Devil - SF
Lolita Haze - Phoenix
Ophelia Couer de Noir and Gorilla X - SF
Charlotte La Belle Araignee - LA
Lady Monster - SF
Miss Marion - Paris
Mad V Dog - SF
Bella Beretta - LA
Pinchbottom Burlesque - NYC
Fanny Fitztightlee - Denver
Honey Lulu - UK
Peekaboo Pointe - NYC
Esperanza - SF
Ming Dynatease - LA
Waxie Moon - Seattle
Dottie Lux and Glen Marla - NYC
Kitty Crimson - Denver
Vivian Velvet - Chicago
Anna Bells and Joshie Jingles - LA
Bobbie Burlesque - LA
Fanny Tastic - Chicago
Bombshell Betty - SF
Miss Jezebel Express - NYC
Imogen Kelly - Australia
Miz Ginger Snapz - Seattle
Lily Le Rouge - SF
Coconuts - SF
Michelle La Roche - Pasadena
Pookie Patootie - NYC

Put the Blame on Mame

2007-09-03T16:43:00.000-04:00

Over the weekend, I was with someone that had never seen the classic Rita Hayworth movie Gilda and therefore had never seen her performance of "Put the Blame on Mame." Hayworth isn't actually singing, she's lip synching to Anita Ellis' vocal track. Ellis recorded many of Hayworth's (and other actresses) songs that were used in films.

I just so happened to find this little gem as well of Gypsy Rose Lee performing the exact same song:

And.... we're back.

2007-09-03T16:19:00.000-04:00

We're back and have soaked up an abundance of burlesque. For those responsible for NYBF, congrats on a successful festival and a number of well produced events.

To those in attendence and those who performed - any thoughts from the weekend? Favorite acts? Surprises? Shout outs? Overall impressions you are left with about burlesque? Topics for discussion (send these to the forum email, please)?

Open Topic... off to NYBF.

2007-08-30T08:55:00.000-04:00

I'm off to NYBF, so enjoy an open post to discuss what you like for the next few days.

Please note that anonymous posting has been removed. I thought that Blogger would allow me to keep the option of posting your name and website as an option of signing your comment, but it's all or nothing - register or not register. So we're going to try things with registered comments for a while as a way to keeping the trolls away. I apologize for the inconvenience this might cause. There was only one vote in favor of keeping the anonymous posting.

We'll resume normal posting on Monday. For those of you not at the festival, enjoy your holiday weekend! For those of you at the festival, enjoy your burlesque filled weekend!

-Forum Admin

Why burlesque?

2007-08-29T17:50:00.000-04:00

You could do anything... yet, you spend your time and your money (and in some cases, your sanity) on the good ol' bump and grind. Whether you're a fan, a performer, a producer or a promoter, something drew you to this little stretch of theatricality called burlesque.

So why burlesque, exactly?

Technology and the bump and grind?

2007-08-28T08:58:00.001-04:00

Dita rides a giant mechanical lipstick. Tigerlil uses actual powertools in her act. There have been multiple sightings of propeller pasties and electric bras and panties. It would seem that batteries are included when it comes to burlesque.

What creative uses of technology in burlesque have you seen? Do you have a gadget striptease (or a gadget used in striptease)?

When copycats strike - what should the community do?

2007-08-27T01:21:00.000-04:00

Recently, an issue of plagarism came to light on the Miss Exotic World forum. Essentially, one well-known performer with an equally well-known and documented act found out that another burlesque performer in her area had copied her well-known and documented act and was performing it at a local venue. She approached the copycat on civil terms and asked her to stop, and was assured that the bad behavior would, indeed, end. It did not. The well-known performer turned to the community via the MEW forum, explained the history of the copying, and asked that if others in the community saw the copycat using her well-known and documented act that they let her know as a way of protecting her work. This is a brief summary of events, feel free to read the full story over at the Yahoo! Group.

What should the community do when copycats strike? Obviously, no one wants to out their fellow performer, but is there a certain amount of policing that the burlesque world needs to do to keep its creative product safe?

The Week in Review

2007-08-27T00:05:00.000-04:00

Thank you to the last week's contributors:

Delirium Tremens
Jack Midnight
Naughty Natanya
Paris Green
Zeugma aka Jezebel Express

Please feel free to continue posting to any topic from previous weeks. Topics will always remain open. If they get too far gone down the blog, feel free to call for a bump and I will re-post the questions so you don't have to search the archives for them.

Footnotes for the week of 8/19/07

In the course of our discussion, performers, venues, websites and other burlesque departures were discussed or featured in the daily topics or comments section. Here are footnotes and further reading/viewing from this week's discussion.

Is there anything off-limits in burlesque?

Jennie Lee
Miss Dirty Martini at Dr. Sketchy's NYC
The Glamazons perform at the GLBT 2007 Expo
Michelle L'Amour in her debut performance of her tribute to Sally Rand
Julie Atlas Muz in the short film High Art at Low Tide
A brief clip of Harvest Moon performing at Exotic World 2007
Jo Boobs performing at Exotic World 2007
Dita von Teese rides a giant lipstick

Are there situations/things that you are afraid of?

Spinal Tap tries to find the stage - "Hello Cleveland!"

What is your favorite song to perform to?

Jack Midnight performs "Ain't That a Kick in the Head?" and "Beyond the Sea"
Eartha Kitt performs "I Want to Be Evil" live at Kaskad (1962)
Yma Sumac sings "Gopher Mambo" with footage from a French documentary on her life (I couldn't find a sample of "Taki Rari" out there, but this seemed a pretty fair song substitution - Forum Admin)

Are you going to the New York Burlesque Festival?

2007-08-23T11:13:00.001-04:00

With the festival kick off in one week, this seemed appropriate...

Are you going to the New York Burlesque Festival? Are you performing or just taking in all the burlesque the weekend has to offer? Does anyone actually know what the VIP tickets for the Main Event get you? Early speculation on Golden Pasties winners?

Famous?

2007-08-22T09:09:00.001-04:00

If you were to be famous for something, burlesque or otherwise, what would you choose?

What is your favorite song to perform to?

2007-08-21T08:06:00.000-04:00

What is your favorite song to perform to? Why? Does it have special meaning to you?

News Item: NYBF Golden Pasties Voting Now Open

2007-08-20T16:16:00.000-04:00

The Golden Pasties nominees have been announced and official voting is now open at the New York Burlesque Festival website.

Are there any situations/things that you are afraid of?

2007-08-20T12:37:00.000-04:00

As a performer, do you ever experience stage fright? Are there certain performance situations or environments that cause you to be afraid? Have you ever had a dreaded "burlesque nightmare?"

The Week in Review

2007-08-20T00:48:00.001-04:00

Thank you to the last week's contributors:

Delirium Tremens
Holly Rebelle
Jack Midnight
Paris Green
Zeugma aka Jezebel Express

Please feel free to continue posting to any topic from previous weeks. Topics will always remain open. If they get too far gone down the blog, feel free to call for a bump and I will re-post the questions so you don't have to search the archives for them.

Footnotes for the week of 8/12/07

In the course of our discussion, performers, venues, websites and other burlesque departures were discussed or featured in the daily topics or comments section. Here are footnotes and further reading/viewing from this week's discussion.

Are drag acts and transgendered performers boylesque?

An image of Madame X
Rose Wood demonstrates the miracle product "Waxo" at This or That!

Is anything off-limits in burlesque

The Glamazons perform in the Top 8 on America's Got Talent
Miss Dirty Martini's promotional video
The Von Foxies in their tribute to Seattle

What inspires you?

Tempest Storm in "A Night in Hollywood"
Evangeline the Oyster Girl
Bettie Page in a little dance number
Dita von Teese performs at the Just for Laughs Festival 2006 in Montreal
Satan's Angel
Miss Dirty Martini performs her tribute to Zorita at This or That!
Julie Atlas Muz performs her bubble act to "My Way"
Images of Sasha von Bon Bon
Mae West in She Done Him Wrong
Tallulah Bankhead in a scene from Devil in the Deep
John Cameron Mitchell in Hedwig and the Angry Inch performing "Midnight Radio"
Anna Nicole Smith performs "My Heart Belongs Daddy"
Elizabeth Taylor in the powder room scene of Cleopatra
Anna Sui fashion show - 2007 Spring/Summer collection
The Muppets perform "Mahna Mahna"
Pina Bausch and Tanztheatre Wuppertal performs "Rite of Spring"
Rambert Dance Company
Fred Astaire performs "Puttin' on the Ritz"
Armando Duarte

What inspires you?

2007-08-17T10:40:00.000-04:00

What inspires you?

Where do you perform/see burlesque?

2007-08-16T10:23:00.000-04:00

What kind of venues play host to your burlesque shows? Bars and clubs? Theater spaces? Community arts centers? Are they big or small? Do they have particular quirks that make them unique? Where do you perform or see your burlesque?

Is anything off-limits in burlesque?

2007-08-15T10:52:00.000-04:00

Do you feel as an individual that there any subject matters that due to their nature/timing/etc. are beyond the limits of good taste and reason for burlesque to lampoon? Or is burlesque, by its very definition, free from restrictions even if the audience watching it might take offense at what they are presented with?

How do you find your talent and/or guest performers?

2007-08-14T12:33:00.000-04:00

Here is a question for those of you with troupes or those of you that produce shows - how do you go about finding your talent? Do you hold auditions? Do you seek out individual performers and recruit them into your group? Or do they come to you? Do you pick up new burlesquers from classes you teach? How does your troupe bring on new members?

The Week in Review

2007-08-13T14:01:00.000-04:00

Thank you to the last week's contributors:

Brett
Jack Midnight
Jo Weldon
Paris Green
Zeugma aka Jezebel Express

Please feel free to continue posting to any topic from previous weeks. Topics will always remain open. If they get too far gone down the blog, feel free to call for a bump and I will re-post the questions so you don't have to search the archives for them.

Footnotes for the week of 8/6/07

In the course of our discussion, performers, venues, websites and other burlesque departures were discussed or featured in the daily topics or comments section. Here are footnotes and further reading/viewing from this week's discussion.

What does your family think about your burlesque activities?

Tease-O-Rama Burlesque Convention
Miss Exotic World Pageant
Sex Workers' Art Show

Tips or no tips?

The opening credits for Pinchbottom Burlesque's Naked Planet show

It's hypothetical Friday!

Jezebel Express in "Little Drop of Poison"
An image (third down) from Bambi the Mermaid's playing card deck of Freak Pinups is included in Jo Weldon's blog on erotic playing cards.

Are drag acts and transgendered performers boylesque?

2007-08-13T13:41:00.000-04:00

We have created a category of burlesque - boylesque - in an attempt to define our teasers by gender, however, where does this leave drag acts? Or transgendered performers? Is it fair to burlesque acts that identfy themselves as women and perform as women to categorize them with performers of the opposite gender?

It's a hypothetical Friday!

2007-08-10T12:42:00.001-04:00

You wake up, you smell smoke - the house is on fire! You've saved the kids, the cat, the family heirlooms, but you only have time to save one item from your burlesque closet/stash. What do you take?

NYBF Preview - The Rest of the US Edition

2007-08-10T12:37:00.000-04:00

With the New York Burlesque Festival just a few weekends away and Golden Pastie nomination in effect, let's take a moment to look at some of the talent coming to the festival this year.

Today, the rest of the US burlesquers:

Bloody Belle (Chicago)
Bloody Belle is best known in the Windy City as the producer and director of the queer themed burlesque show, The Girlie-Q Variety Hour. She is well loved on the Forum by her fellow Chicago area performers.
Bloody Belle takes on Captain Kirk in "Whatever Lola Wants"

Black Cat Burlesque (Boston)
The bad seeds of Modern Burlesque, this scream team mines the depths of their twisted psyches—blending striptease thrills and spookshow chills to push the boundaries of the art form and explore the dark, cobwebbed corners of neo-cabaret.
A sampler of Black Cat Burlesque

Dames Aflame (Atlanta)
A "tossed salad, if you will, of Atlanta's fashionistas, artisti and intelligentsia," the members of Dames Aflame bring years of showbiz experience to their fiesty blend of burlesque having performed on Good Morning America, MTV's House of Style, MTV's Brickface and Stucco, Atom Film's Bikini Bandits DVD, Dee Dee Ramone's "In a Movie" video, Turner South Network, Cartoon Network, FOX5's Good Day Atlanta and PBS. They've also toured with Tencacious D and El Vez, swung with the Cab Calloway Orchestra, fired up the crowds at Atlanta Hawks games, added atmosphere to SCION car events and have appeared in UK's The Face magazine, the Village Voice and Belgium Elle. Most recently, the Dames' "Showbiz What Sizzles" show was featured in Spin Magazine's 101 Best Night's Out.
Ursula 1000's "Boop" music video featuring Dames Aflame

Diamondback Annie (Los Angeles)
All Hail the (drag) King of Rock and Roll burlesque - Diamondback Annie. Winner of Miss Exotic World's Best Newcomer award in 2005, she takes over the stage to create an innovative tribute acts that remain true to the spirit of rock, evoking the irreverence and provocative glamour of a burlesque striptease while maintaining the masculine edge in both looks and attitude of drag performance. For those about to rock - we salute Annie!
Diamondback Annie performing a KISS tribute at Miss Exotic World 2006

Fannie Spankings & Charlie Champale (Denver)
Charlie Champale and Fannie Spankings electrified the globe with news of their nuptials this Spring. They recently soaked up sun, vodka and fabulous performances over Exotic World Weekend. Charlie Champale performed his signature ShoeHorn Stripper at Krave in Planet Hollywood and was crowned Mr. Exotic World 2007!
Fannie Spankings & Charlie Champale in "The Wedding"

Fanny Tastic (Chicago)
Ensemble member of Michelle L'Amour's Star & Garter Burlesque troupe, Fanny Tastic has made appearances at venues around Chicago and recently performed at the Miss Exotic World weekend in Las Vegas. She currently can been seen in shows at the Motel Bar and in "Lipschtick" at the Lakeshore Theater.
Fanny Tastic performs at the Summer Striptease Spectacular

Gravity Plays Favorites (St. Louis)
The dynamic duo of Katrina and Michelle got their start at Larry Flynt's Hustler Club (then the Deja Vu) and discovered a knack for doing things on a pole that others had never seen before. They have been on a nationwide tour for Camel Cigarettes, performed at museums like City Museum, Contemporary Art Museum, and The Museum of Natural Science in Houston, festivals including the New York City Burlesque Festival and Venus Envy, with Margaret Cho, and opening for such bands as the Dresden Dolls and Humanwine.
Gravity Plays Favorites performs at the Miss Exotic World Pageant

Honey Touche & Lexi Demure (Denver)
These lovely ladies of Burlesque As It Was have performed at venues throughout Denver including Lannie's Clocktower Cabaret and at Naughty Pierre's Burlesque & Comedy Extravaganza at the Rialto Cafe.
Images of Honey Touche, Lexy Demure and other local burlesquers from the Denver Post.

Kellita of Hot Pink Feathers (San Francisco)
Kelly "Kellita" Garton is an award winning dancer and choreographer and the founder of the samba burlesque dance troupe, Hot Pink Feathers. In addition to providing artistic direction to Hot Pink Feathers, Kellita delights audiences with her array of captivating solo acts. Kellita is also a member of Rococo Risque Cabaret, awarded Best Theater Ensemble by SF Weekly 2005. Kellita was named Little Miss Aftershock for her outstanding shimmy-shake at the Miss Exotic World Contest and earned a nod to her main instrument of bump 'n' grind at the New York Burlesque Festival with a Golden Pastie for Best Derriere.
Kellita performs her "Bunny Dance"

Lux La Croix (Los Angeles)
Lux La Croix is a documentary filmmaker, cinematographer, art show curator, ballet teacher, choreographer, professional dancer and rising burlesque starlet who is obsessed with fashion and all that is frivolously fabulous. Lux has previously competed at the Miss Exotic World Pageant in the Best Newcomer category and is known for her tribute to Josephine Baker.
Lux La Croix in "The Newcomer"

Michelle L'Amour (Chicago)
Michelle L'Amour and her ass that goes POW! have performed in and out of their clothing at venues across the country, modeled for Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School and have even been featured on the reality television show America's Got Talent where she delighted the Hoff and sent Brandy into a bitchfaced tailspin. She teaches burlesque classes at Chicago's Arabesque dance studio, directs the critically acclaimed Star & Garter Burlesque troupe, is host of the Fearless Radio program "In Bed with Michelle L'Amour" and recently published her own book The Most Naked Woman.
Michelle L'Amour in "The Expert-Tease"

Orchid Mei (Denver)
Orchid Mei is a member of the Folderol Follies and performs at many burlesque venues around Denver.
Images of Orchid Mei

Ruby White (Los Angeles)
Performing in Los Angeles since 2004, Ruby has teased and taunted many o' audiences at venues such at The Derby, Three of Clubs, The Scene, Spaceland, The M Bar, The Bordello, On the Rox and The Key Club. You can find her the first Thursday of every month at The Scene in Glendale for Lux & Ruby's Burlesque-A-Go-Go as a co-producer and performer.
Images of Ruby White

Verotica 143 (Seattle)
A high-tech toy for the lucky and few? A droid gone wild? A life-size doll that plays off your emotional and sexual energy and reflects back your deepest desires…? Perhaps…. a mirror has been created, in human form, in which others can see their own sexual masks and desires laid bare before them – an act being played out for the audience’s enjoyment and musing.
A performance by Verotica 143

Vivian Velvet (Chicago)
Vivian Velvet has been wowing audience with her classic style since 2005. She is a member of the critically acclaimed Star & Garter Burlesque troupe, directed by Michelle L'Amour, and recently competed for the title of Best Debut at this year's Miss Exotic World Pageant.
Images of Vivian Velvet

Vivienne Vavoom (Denver)
Vivienne is the creator of the Denver based troupe Burlesque As It Was and has performed locally and across the country with notable burlesque stars like Dita Von Teese, Catherine Delish, Kitten Deville, Kitten on the Keys, the World Famous Pontani Sisters and many, many more. She is also the author of the definitive burlesque resource, Burlesque and the New Bump-n-Grind.
Vivienne Vavoom performs as a mermaid

NYBF Preview - New York Edition, Part Two

2007-08-09T09:33:00.001-04:00

With the New York Burlesque Festival just a few weekends away and Golden Pastie nomination in effect, let's take a moment to look at some of the talent coming to the festival this year.

Today, part two of the New York City burlesquers:

La JohnJoseph
La JohnJospeh is a beautifully unique performance artist from Great Britain. He recently moved to New York and is constantly performing. His performance and directorial credits include the Dada vaudeville cabaret troupe BOYFRIENDROBOTIQUE with which he appeared onstage in San Francisco with the Cockettes, at Paris' oldest queer tango club for Fashion Week and alongside Sir Ian McKellen at the House of Homosexual Culture's Autumn Fayre.
La JohnJoseph performs "Teacher's Pet" at Sugar Shack Burlesque

Little Brooklyn
Sweet as an egg cream, thrilling as the Cyclone, and built like the Brooklyn Bridge, Little Brooklyn is a mover and shaker in New York's burlesque scene. She has performed at New York venues such as the Slipper Room, the Cutting Room, Sideshows by the Sea Shore at Coney Island, the New York Burlesque Festival and exotic shows including Miss Exotic World and Tease-O-Rama.
Little Brooklyn performs at Miss Exotic World 2007

Lola Pearl
Lola can be seen shaking, twirling and donning her Sally Rand Fans all around the New York club scene. She has also been a featured model at the Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School and recently competed for the title of Best Debut at the Miss Exotic World Pageant in Las Vegas.
Lola Pearl performs at Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School

Lukki
Lukki (a.k.a. Lucky), the burlesque legend of stage and screen, began her illustrious career at Texas Guinan's 300 Club at the tender age of 18. Lukki has become a regular fixture in New York City clubs and theatres and has performed at the Slipper Room, Galapagos Art Space, Coney Island's Sideshow by the Seashore and many others. She can often be caught out of town with her pants down where she performs regularly with Trixie Little and the Evil Hate Monkey in Baltimore and Lobster Boy in DC, among others.
Images of Lukki

Murray Hill
Polyester-clad MURRAY HILL, aka “Mr. Showbiz,” is a beloved entertainer, infamous personality, newsmaker, and renowned comedian and host. He tirelessly performs in shows, independent films, videos, television, and comedy clubs in his native New York and all over the world. His long-running and smash-hit THE MURRAY HILL SHOW, “a New York institution” (NY Times), ran for over three years, completely sold-out.
Murray Hill in The Murray Hill Show

Nasty Canasta
Burlesque baby Nasty Canasta wasn't born nasty, she's just drawn that way. Her burlesque performances celebrate the vagaries of pop culture and the wicked sense of humor that makes it all bearable. Nasty can be found bumping & grinding, turning (magic) tricks, and fending off the advances of lascivious puppets at various unsavory locations throughout Brooklyn and NYC.
Nasty Canasta at Miss Exotic World 2007 with Jonny Porkpie competing (and winning) Best Duo

The Peach Tartes
The Peach Tartes, NYC's juiciest burlesque troupe. The Peach Tartes are Lola Dare, Veruca Honeyscotch, Rita Menweep, Scarlet O’Gasm, Madame Rosebud, and Penny Dreadfulz—a band of show women committed to challenging what you think about burlesque, what you know about women and what you expect from entertainment. They collaboratively shake, shimmy and twirl together choreography, storytelling, comedy, emotion, darkness and fire to create innovative and unforgettable events.
A sneak peek of the Peach Tartes

Peekaboo Pointe
Burlesque performer, go-go dancer and trapeze artist, Ms. Pointe can be seen on any given night entertaining crowds all over The Big Apple. You can catch her act at the Slipper Room, Le Scandal Cabaret, Starshine Burlesque, Galapagos, and a host of other venues in New York. Whether teaching burlesque dance classes at the Museum of Sex or dropping her drawers on stage, Peekaboo Pointe is the perfect combination of brains and books... and bumps and grinds.
A brief sample of Peekaboo Pointe

Rose Wood (does anyone have a website for this performer? - Forum Admin)
Rose Wood performs in a variety of venues around New York doing burlesque, go go dancing, and emceeing. She recently competed for the title of Best Boylesque at this year's Miss Exotic World Pageant in Las Vegas.
Rose Wood demonstrates the miracle product "Waxo" at This or That!

Ruby Valentine
Miss Ruby Valentine, Burlesque's sweetheart, has been performing in New York since 2003. She began her career as a member of The Ixion Burlesque Company and has performed with the top Burlesque stars of the time at premier exhibitions and venues, including The Slipper Room, Le Scandal, The Tank theater on 42nd, The Va Va Voom Room, Rififi (Cinema Classics), Coney Islands "Burlesque by the Beach", Galapagos Art Space, and many more. This cake eaters dream curremtly has a role in the off Broadway play, The Gregor and Olga Show", were she plays "Ruby" a sweet burlesque dancer with big city smarts and a heart of gold.
Images of Ruby Valentine

Miss Saturn
Jenny McGowan (a.k.a Miss. Saturn) is the quintessential show person. She creates original performance work that combines vaudeville antics, saucy burlesque, audience interaction, impeccable timing, sparkling costumes, wigs, accents, booty shakin' music (from Le Tigre to Zorba the Greek) and up to 40 hula hoops to create of a one of a kind performance.
Miss Saturn is the winning curtain in This or That!

Scotty the Blue Bunny
Scotty The Blue Bunny is a 5-year veteran of the NY nightlife scene. He makes his own outfits and is a self-contained variety artist: he sings, spiels, eats fire, performs magic, hosts/emcees, and generally drives the party. Nightlife venue appearances include The Slipper Room, The Gramercy Comedy Club, The Comedy Cellar, Fez under Time Cafe, Bombshell Burlesque, The Red Vixen Burlesque, The Blue Angel, Joe's Pub and SHINE.
Scotty the Blue Bunny in a spot for Current TV.

Tigger
The first ever Mr. Exotic World (winner of Best Boylesque at Miss Exotic World 2006), Tigger also has a Golden Pastie Award for "Performer Most Likely to Get Shut Down by the Law" under his belt. The New York Times has called him a "hysterical and acrobatic man in drag."
Tigger performs "Father McTigger" at Pinchbottom Burlesque

Wasabassco Burlesque
Wasabassco Burlesque is the producer of the finest burlesque shows in Brooklyn and the five boroughs! Team Wasabassco is headed by the Kingpin of Burlesque, Bill Morton, and his usual gang of lucious lovelies; GiGi La Femme, Nasty Canasta, Peekaboo Pointe & Scarlet Sinclair. Wasabassco hosts a monthly burlesque show at the expansive and ever so comfy Living Room Lounge in South Park Slope Brooklyn, as well as feature shows at Brooklyn hot spots Union Hall, & Southpaw and many fine venues throughout New York.
Two short clips of Wasabassco Burlesque

The White Boom Boom
New York boylesque sensation The White Boom Boom has appeared at a variety of venues around the city of New York including Coney Island, the New York Burlesque Festival as a featured model at Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School and with Pinchbottom Burlesque.
The White Boom Boom performs in The Bump and Grindhouse at Coney Island

The World Famous *BoB*
There are boobs and there is *BOB* - New York City's self-described "female-female impersonator". A tireless performer whose special skills consist of boob aerobics, breakdancing (in six-inch heels), martini mixing (with her ample cleavage) and pronouncing her name backwards on command, *BOB* has helped perpetuate the burlesque tradition in her bawdy performances at legendary New York City venues, clubs and festivals including The Pyramid Club, SqueezeBox, The Slipper Room and Wigstock, where she performed for four consecutive years.
A brief sample of The World Famous *BoB* from Margaret Cho's "The Sensuous Woman"

The World Famous Pontani Sisters
The World Famous Pontani Sisters are a trio of choreographed cuties circling the globe on a quest to bring glamour back to entertainment. The Sisters have garnered rave reviews in countless leading national and international publications. Their high-kicks, syncopated taps and sizzling shimmies have dazzled discerning audiences everywhere, from their beloved Coney Island to the glittering lights of Hollywood. Their stage show has been featured on television programs around the country, including repeat appearances on Late Night with Conan O'Brien.
Do the "Kitty Kat" with the Pontani Sisters

What is on your burlesque reading list?

2007-08-09T01:23:00.001-04:00

If you were teaching a course on burlesque (as I know some of you already do), what texts would go on your required reading list? Would you assign any movies or videos? Magazines or blogs?

NYBF Preview - New York Edition, Part One

2007-08-08T13:23:00.000-04:00

With the New York Burlesque Festival just a few weekends away and Golden Pastie nomination in effect, let's take a moment to look at some of the talent coming to the festival this year.

Today, part one of the New York City burlesquers:

Albert Cadabra
New York magician Albert Cadabra will be handling hosting duties for the festival this year with a few others. We've already seen a bit of his comedy boylesque performance at this year's Miss Exotic World competition in our past discussion (check the YouTube archives for his epic battle against a Rubik's Cube)
The Crazy Sideshow Magic of Albert Cadabra

Amber Ray
Amber Ray is a fixture of the New York burlesque scene both as a performer with many different groups and model with the Dr. Sketchy Anti-Art School. She is known for her beautifully constructed costume pieces and headdresses. She has even made a garment out of what appears to be bacon.
Amber Ray at performing at the New York Burlesque Festival 2005

Angie Pontani
We've discussed her tribute to Blaze Starr here on the Forum before. Angie is also Miss Cyclone 2007 and one of the World Famous Pontani Sisters (see below).
Image of Angie Pontani

Anita Cookie & Scott Rayow
The duo of Anita Cookie and Scott Rayow have performed and emceed at venues around New York including Pinchbottom Burlesque, Wasabassco Burlesque and Starshine Burlesque.
Image of Anita Cookie & Scott Rayow

Miss Astrid
Miss Astrid is the creator of The Va Va Voom Room and a performer with The Velvet Hammer Burlesque. Besides emceeing her own show in NYC and San Francisco, she has also tackled hosting duties across the country, including the recent Miss Exotic World Pageant in Las Vegas.
The announcement of Miss Exotic World 2007 winners by Miss Astrid and El Vez.

Big Apple Burlesque
Big Apple Burlesque is a new classic burlesque troupe that performs a host of routines accompanied with Broadway quality musicians. Their tribute to film noir, "Last Call at the Starliner Lounge" is the only full length Burlesque Musical on the scene.
A sample of Big Apple Burlesque

Bonnie Dunn
Bonnie Dunn is the creator of BluesandBurlesque.com. Ms Dunn has been performing her cabaret and burlesque act for over a decadent decade. She is the producer and featured performer of the wildly popular New York City burlesque show, Le Scandal Cabaret now playing at The Cutting Room, NYC.
Bonnie Dunn performing with the NYC Blues Devils at a benefit for Coney Island's Mermaid Parade

Clams Casino
New York City burlesque personality Miss Clams Casino has twirled her tassels at some of the finest venues in NYC, including the Slipper Room, Rififi, Galapagos, Coney Island, the Cutting Room and more. Clams has performed in Washington DC, Boston and in Las Vegas as part of Exotic World Weekend.
A short film of Clams Casino performing to Big Long Slidin' Thing

Creamy Stevens
Creamy Stevens co-produces Starshine Burlesque with the fabulous Little Brooklyn. She is a regular performer at the Slipper Room, Le Scandal, Red Hots Burlesque and Coney Island Burlesque on the Beach. Creamy loves rhinestones and a good steak.
Defkon City presents Starshine Burlesque (interview with Creamy Stevens & Little Brooklyn)

Darlinda Just Darlinda
Darlinda Just Darlinda has been working as a Burlesque Performer in New York since 2003. She coined the term "Polyester Performance", an inspiring mixture of Burlesque, Modern Dance, Performance Art, Psychedelic Happening, Comedy Sketch, and Drag Queen Ballet. The Village Voice calls Darlinda a "Mastermind of Bizarre Extravaganza."
Images of Darlina Just Darlina's various acts

Miss Delirium Tremens
Miss DT performs frequently all around New York City at nights such as Mr. Choad's Upstairs Downstairs and the Hot Box at the Slipper Room, Le Scandal at the Cutting Room, Starshine Burlesque at Rififi, Pinchbottom Burlesque at Collective: Unconscious, and many others. She has also performed in the NY Burlesque Festival, Tease-o-rama, and Miss Exotic World.
Delirium Tremens performs at Miss Exotic World (video in two parts)

Dottie Lux
Member of the troupe Red Hots Burlesque, Dottie performs at such NY venues as Fez Under Time Cafe, Coney Island Side Show, The Supper Club, Slipper Room, NoLa's One Eyed Jacks, the Derby in LA and with bands like Fisherman's Xylophonic Orchestra and The Brimstones. She also organizes monthly clown happenings to places like Anthology Film Archives and the Times Square HoJo's.
Dottie Lux performs at the Coney Island Film Festival Opening Night party

Gal Friday
Gal Friday performs weekly at "KITTY NIGHTS" and produces and performs monthly in The Skullduggery & Skin Show
along with the awesome magic power of Albert Cadabra (see above) at the Palace of Wonders in Washington, DC.
Gal Friday gets "FUNKY" at Kitty Nights

Harvest Moon
Harvest Moon, also known as "The Sultry Siren of Burlesque", began her career by founding the legendary dance troupe The Cantankerous Lollies in 1995. She blends vintage Burlesque style with a unique and suprising element borrowed from the circus' big-top. Her acts never fail to bring down the house, often featuring hula hoop acts, silouhetted glass-balancing acts performed behind muslin screens, impossible contortions, and other sexy stage acrobatics.
Harvest Moon performs at the Slipper Room

Helen Pontani
Helen moved to NYC about 10 years ago to follow her dreams of dancing and traveling the world. She currently shakes it all over the country and beyond with the World Famous Pontani Sisters and is currently working on world domination via tap dance.
Images of Helen Pontani

Jo Boobs
Neo-burlesque star, teacher, blogger, Miss Exotic World judge, producer, expert, costumer, published author, photographer, model... we could go on and on. If you could think of it, Jo Boobs got there first, taught it a new trick or three, sprinkled glitter on it, spanked it and put it to bed.
Jo Boobs official burlesque demo

Jonny Porkpie
The Burlesque Mayor of NYC can be found regularly mixing it up around town with the likes of Pinchbottom Burlesque, Starshine Burlesque and Sweet & Nasty Burlesque, just to name a few. Along with partner-in-crime Nasty Canasta, he holds the Best Duo title from this year's Miss Exotic World pageant.
Jonny Porkpie and Nasty Canasta in the Opening credits to Pinchbottom's Pow! Zap! Boob!

Kissing Cousins
Kissing Cousins Productions NYC is Gigi La Femme and Scarlet Sinclair, burlesque and go-go sensations from the Big Apple, lifelong best friends and blood related cousins. Yes you read right... cousins. Constantly mistaken for twins, these two have wreaked havoc and confusion from coast to coast. Double the sequins! Double the shimmying fringe! Double your pleasure, double your fun!
Gigi and Scarlet performing their infamous tribute to Titanic

Hall of Fame?

2007-08-08T09:03:00.000-04:00

Putting aside any and all rules and precedent that may exist for such a situation at the actual Burlesque Hall of Fame, if you could induct one performer - living or dead - into the Hall of Fame, who would they be and why?

NYBF Preview - International Edition

2007-08-07T21:11:00.001-04:00

With the New York Burlesque Festival just a few weekends away and Golden Pastie nomination in effect, let's take a moment to look at some of the talent coming to the festival this year.

Today, the international burlesquers:

Belladonnas De Lux (Australia)
Belladonnas de Lux are a Sydney based burlesque troupe featuring the talents of performers Tulsa, Lulu and Tasia.
A very brief taste of Belladonnas De Lux.

Budoir Bondage (Sweden)
(does anyone have a website for Budoir Bondage? - Forum Admin)

Delilah Samson (London)
Delilah has been on the international scene since 2000, starting out her career in Vancouver, Canada. She has appeared in two music videos, a BBC3 mockumentary and is a member of the London based burlesque troupe Burly Q: A Queer Cabaret as well as part of the DJ collective Titty Titty Bang Bang!

Gwendoline Lamour (London)
With her all natural pin-up girl figure, ivory skin, and irresistible charm and grace Gwendoline is the personification of 1930s and 40s glamour. Trained to Masters Degree level in theatre and dance Gwendoline is long limbed and elegant and has been enchanting international audiences for seven glamourous years.
Gwendoline Lamour's promotional video

Imogen Kelly (Australia)
Australia's internationally renouned Queen of Burlesque, Imogen Kelly has appeared on stages around the world including London, Tokyo and Paris. She is currently appearing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Imogen Kelly performs at the Burlesque Ball in Sydney

Skin Tight Outta Sight (Toronto)
Skin Tight Outta Sight Rebel Burlesque is recognized as one of Canada’s pioneers in the Burlesque Revival. With six years of sold old shows under their sequined belts, this troupe bridges the gap between retro and revisionist with influences such as classical ballet, bump ‘n grind, Motown and just plain Out There!
Skin Tight Outta Sight's promotional video

Tigerlil (Australia)
The Princess of Powertools, Tigerlil rounds out her burlesque with a heathly side of circus, sideshow and performance art thrown in.
Tigerlil at the Psycho Sideshow of Anarchy

News Item: NYBF Golden Pasties Nominations Now Open

2007-08-07T17:25:00.000-04:00

Nominations for the New York Burlesque Festival 2007 Golden Pasties Awards are now open.

To nominate your favorite performers for the categories below, copy and paste all or select categories and submit your choices to nybf@thenewyorkburlesquefestival.com and be sure to put "Golden Pasties" in the subject line.

You can only nominate your choices once and may only nominate performers that are performing at this year's NYBF. A list of performers can be found here. Nominations must be received by Wednesday, August 15th, at which point the top nominated performers will be posted in the appropriate categories and the polls will open and the voting will begin!

Golden Pastie Categories:

*Performer most likely to drink you under the table & take advantage of you while you are down there.

*Performer most likely to win a Nobel Peace Prize.

*The biggest sweetheart in burlesque.

*The most unpredictable performer in burlesque.

*The best booty shaker in burlesque.

*The best physique in burlesque.

*The most inspiring/influencial performer in burlesque.

*The performer that makes you want to take your clothes off.

*The performer you would most like to share a 4x8 dressing room with all night.

*The performer most likely to pop a pastie.

*The performer most likely to be diagnosed with OCD in regards to their extreme usage of rhinestones & general bedazzling.

*The best newcomer of 2007.

*Best use of non-traditional items for pasties.

*The performer most likely to be married at least 3 times.

Potato Salad

2007-08-06T20:41:00.000-04:00

The following video was sent in to the Burlesque Forum Mail. If ever there was an act for a burlesque stage, singing cowgirl contortionists would be it. Please enjoy some "Potato Salad":

Tips or no tips?

2007-08-06T00:44:00.000-04:00

Do you accept/encourage your audience to tip during your show? This seems to be a region by region difference, much like saying soda vs. pop...

News Item: NYBF Tickets Now On Sale

2007-08-04T15:22:00.000-04:00

Tickets for the New York Burlesque Festival on now officially on sale. For more information or to purchase tickets to any of the Friday, Saturday or Sunday night events, visit the NYBF website.

The Burlesque Forum Videos

2007-08-04T14:31:00.000-04:00

For point of clarification, I guess, more than anything else, allow me to step out of my role as an admin to have a brief moment of explanation and opinion...

I think it's tremendously important that we look at and experience the burlesque that's happening all over the place and from all points in time. That's why I pull together a crib sheet at the end of each week and I try to gather links to performers personal pages, but especially to videos of burlesque and related performances. Not everyone has access in their home town to as rich and diverse a community as say, someplace like New York, so videos are the next best thing. I believe that there are great and wonderful things happening in places that are off the beaten path that you might have never heard of as well. I'd also love for there to be a common language to burlesque, so that when we talk about Performer X or Performance Style Y, we've seen that in action, we're familiar with the person, we understand the shorthand.

And so ends my momentary lapse of opinion.

I'm starting a Burlesque Forum Video section over at YouTube. All the videos that have been included in comments sections and Week in Review posts will be archived there. If you would like to have videos of your burlesque performances archived there for people to see, please send your links to the Burlesque Forum Mail and I will add them as well.

The Week(s) in Review

2007-08-04T12:18:00.000-04:00

Thank you to the last two week's contributors:

Brett
Clams Casino
Holly Rebelle
Jack Midnight
Jo Weldon
Mr. Burlesque
Naughty Natanya
Paris Green
Penny Whistle
Shangri-Laura
Tanya Cheex
Zeugma aka Jezebel Express

Please feel free to continue posting to any topic from previous weeks. Topics will always remain open. If they get too far gone down the blog, feel free to call for a bump and I will re-post the questions so you don't have to search the archives for them.

Footnotes for the weeks of 7/22/07 & 7/29/07

In the course of our discussion, performers, venues, websites and other burlesque departures were discussed or featured in the daily topics or comments section. Here are footnotes and further reading/viewing from this week's discussion.

Working with rhinestones?

A product shot of Mrs. Glue
Penny Starr Jr. (aka Augusta) in "The Bride of Frankie"

Are there any new ideas in burlesque?

Little Brooklyn performs her Fay Wray/King Kong "devil dance" at Exotic World 2007

When does a gimmick pass into the public domain?

Satan's Angel
Desire d'Amour performs at Exotic World (performance is in two parts)

Burlesque and Body Type?

The Glamazons perform in the semi-finals of America's Got Talent

What is your burlesque education?

The Second City
ImprovOympic
The Annoyance
Merrie Melodies - "The Early Bird Gets the Worm"
Silly Symphonies infamous "Skeleton Dance"
Wigstock - a compilation of performances
The White Boom Boom performs at Bump and Grindhouse as part of Coney Island's Burlesque at the Beach
The Va Va Voom Room
New York School of Burlesque
Matthew Mohr
A backstage look with the Fluffgirl Burlesque Society
Burlesque and the New Bump-N-Grind by Michelle Baldwin
Burlesque and the Art of the Teese by Dita von Teese

Who are your fans?

Athena DeCrime and Courtney Shove of The Windy City Rollers
Midnight Madness Rocky Horror Shadow Cast of Chicago - "The Eddie Swarm" performed at the recent Chicago Rocky Con hosted by the Midnight Madness group
The Amazing Tomas Medina in "Geek Magic"
Burlesque fan Ray Koltys writes a regular newsletter/blog called Ray's Guide to Chicago Area Burlesque
Burlesque fan Mark Braun maintains Mark's Bettie Page Page
Exotic World poster artist and infamous tattoo artist Mitch O'Connell
Duke City Derby in a Mastercard "Priceless" spot

Your favorite burlesque tributes?

For these footnotes, I am actively searching for images and videos of the tributes we've discussed. If you know where to find any I haven't been able to locate, please send a link to the Burlesque Forum Mail so we can share them here.

Little Brooklyn's tribute to Pee-Wee Herman
Gigi LaFemme's tribute to Princess Leia (it's in the Starshine Burlesque demo, about five minutes in. She's just after Dirty Martini)
Images of Kitten DeVille's tribute to Dixie Evans
Images of Dirty Martini's tribute to Zorita
Pinchbottom Burlesque's tribute to the cream pie a la "The Pinch Brothers"
Images of The Pinch Brothers
Images from "OFF THE TOP": A Burlesque Improv and Tribute Show (you know, the one where everybody did tributes of each other...)
Little Brooklyn's tribute to Miss Saturn
Images of Little Brooklyn's tribute to Miss Saturn
Images of Miss Saturn's tribute to Tigger!
Scarlet Sinclair's tribute to Nasty Canasta
Images of Scarlet Sinclair's tribute to Nasty Canasta
Images of Nasty Canasta's tribute to Darlinda Just Darlinda

Fight the Power?

2007-08-03T10:29:00.000-04:00

We may poke fun at politics and break rules on stage, but are there any local laws on the books in your area that curtail or inhibit the performance of burlesque due to nudity or other adult content? Do you have to be careful of what and where you perform? Or do you stick it to The Man regardless of what might happen to you for doing so?

What does your family think about your burlesque activities?

2007-08-02T13:41:00.000-04:00

What does your family think about your burlesque activities, be they striptease or otherwise? Are they your biggest fans? Do they approve, but from a distance? Does your burlesque ruin Christmas and Thanksgiving gatherings? Shock and appall Grandma? Or knowing they won't approve, have you kept it a secret from the relatives?

What's the best advice you've ever received?

2007-08-01T10:04:00.000-04:00

Be it a tip or trick from a castmate, a hard lesson learned or a piece of sage knowledge passed down from a burlesque legend or just something mom said that you've kept close to heart - what's the best advice you've ever received when it's come to your burlesque career/performance? If you're a fan and not a performer - what advice would you offer up to performers you know and love?

Apologies...

2007-08-01T10:00:00.000-04:00

...for the lack of updates the past few days. Unfortunately, sometimes real life interrupts even the best of intentions. We'll be back on track shortly.

Pardon our dust.

The Forum Administrator

NYBF Performers!

2007-07-27T13:10:00.000-04:00

The New York Burlesque Festival has announced their performer line-up:

HOT HOSTS
Murray Hill, NYC
Scotty the Blue Bunny, NYC
Miss Astrid, NYC
Albert Cadabra, NYC

SOLO SIRENS!
The World Famous *BoB*, NYC
Angie Pontani, NYC
Delilah Samson, London
Creamy Stevens, NYC
Imogen Kelly, Australia
Peekaboo Pointe, NYC
Tigger, NYC
Michelle Lamour, Chicago
Rose Wood, NYC
Bonnie Dunn, NYC
Miss Delirium Tremens, NYC
Darlinda Just Darlinda, NYC
Dottie Lux, NYC
Bloody Belle, Chicago
Jonny Porkpie, NYC
Nasty Canasta, NYC
Vivienne Vavoom, Denver
Jo Boobs, NYC
Gal Friday, NYC
Helen Pontani, NYC
Ruby Valentine, NYC
Lux La Croix, LA
Amber Ray, NYC
Lukki, NYC
Little Brooklyn, NYC
Lola Pearl, NYC
Kellita of Hot Pink Feathers, SF
Ruby White, LA
Gwendoline Lamour, London
Diamond Back Annie, LA
Miss Saturn, NYC
Tigerlil, Australia
Harvest Moon, NYC
Orchid Mei, Denver
Vivian Velvet, Chicago
Black Cat Burlesque, Boston
Clams Casino, NYC
Fanny Tastic, Chicago
La JohnJoseph, NYC
The White Boom Boom, NYC

DELECTABLE DUETS & TROUPES
Budoir Bondage, Sweden
Wasabassco Burlesque, NYC
Kissing Cousins, NYC
Anita Cookie & Scott Rayow, NYC
Skin Tight Outta Sight, Toronto
Fannie Spankings & Charlie Champale, Denver
Big Apple Burlesque, NYC
Belladonnas De Lux, Australia
The Peach Tartes, NYC
Dames Aflame, Atlanta
Verotica 143, Seattle
Gravity Plays Favorites, St Louis
The World Famous Pontani Sisters, NYC
Black Cat Burlesque, Boston
Honey Touche & Lexi Demure, Denver

So... what do you think? Acts you're looking forward to? New faces you're excited to see? Good variety/representation? Something missing? Or are festivals just not your cup of tea so you really don't have an opinion?

Keeping your burlesque life a secret from your day job?

2007-07-26T09:26:00.000-04:00

Submitted to the Burlesque Forum Mail:

"I recently started a new 9 to 5 desk job after having spent several years working at a retail store. The owners and customers at my previous job were very accepting of my burlesque endeavors, to the point that they'd come to shows and I could talk about my troupe and appearances at work. It was actually a benefit for them, in a way, because I was an attraction to younger clients. Now I'm at a company that's very image focused, even with their employees. They know I'm an "actress" - I didn't hide my performing background during the interview process, just the specifics of it. There are several people at the firm that have been pestering me about when my performances are, including a VP. I feel a lot of pressure to keep things under wraps (I'm also a fetish model). I've never had to be so secretive about my "other life" before. Am I making much ado about nothing, or should I proceed with care?"

What's in a name?

2007-07-25T10:15:00.000-04:00

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet."

--From Romeo and Juliet (II, ii, 1-2)

Burlesque stage names come in all shapes and sizes, just like the performers they're tagged to. From the punny, the sexy, the off-beat, the clever and the completely unique, stage names are one way that people transform themselves from their ordinary lives into their extraordinary lives onstage. How did you come to pick your stage name? Does it have a special meaning, other than the obvious?

And for those who are not on stage, but fans of the bump and grind - What goes into a great burlesque stage name? What are some of your favorite burly-q names?

Your favorite burlesque tributes?

2007-07-24T11:48:00.000-04:00

You pay homage to a certain special someone or something in your act. A trendsetter of burlesque, perhaps. An icon of dance... or fashion... A starlet of days gone by... Or maybe it's your expression of praise for your hometown, your favorite team, or a REALLY exceptional piece of pie (mmmmm... pie). Tributes - who's got the best ones on the burlesque stages?

Who are your fans?

2007-07-23T13:30:00.000-04:00

Who are the folks that come to see your shows? Do you have any super fans that stand out from the crowd? Burlesque groupies? Are there particular types of people that are attracted to you as a performer or troupe? What is your fan base like?

What is your burlesque education?

2007-07-22T23:50:00.000-04:00

What is your burlesque education like? Have you taken burlesque classes or workshops? Or has your burlesque education been something less formal?

The Week in Review

2007-07-21T23:53:00.001-04:00

Thank you to this week's contributors:

Holly Rebelle
Jack Midnight
Jo Weldon
Mariel
Paris Green
Zeugma aka Jezebel Express

Please feel free to continue posting to any topic from previous weeks. Topics will always remain open. If they get too far gone down the blog, feel free to call for a bump and I will re-post the questions so you don't have to search the archives for them.

Footnotes for the week of 7/15/07

In the course of our discussion, performers, venues, websites and other burlesque departures were discussed or featured in the daily topics or comments section. Here are footnotes and further reading/viewing from this week's discussion.

Working with rhinestones?

Product info on the Crystal Innovations Bejeweler Crystal Fire
Delirium Tremens performing at Miss Exotic World 2006
Astral Beads
Product info on E-6000 Craft Adhesive and directions on how to use it
Product info on Fabri-tac Adhesive
Sweetpeas Beads and Treasures

In Memorium

Muñeca Cruel aka Alejandra Tardiff
Her dance group, the Nudie Kewpies

Brian Chic - Hollywood's premier whip artist. Tributes and memories have been compiled on this site.
A portrait by P.S. Zollo
The Society of American Whip Artistry will be doing a tribute to Brian and giving a special award in his name at the 2007 Annie Oakley Western Arts Showcase in Greenville, Ohio, July 27 - 29th.

Pat Brice remembered at Blerds.com, The Bastion, at Time Out Chicago, Fearless Radio and The Chicago Tribune.
Pat Brice on EffinFunny.com, in "Rent or Own?", in "Charity Booze"

Burlesque and Body Type?

2007-07-19T18:59:00.000-04:00

In Michelle Baldwin's book Burlesque and the New Bump-n-Grind, Miss Astrid is quoted:

"Does an eagle cry because it's not a swan? No. Is a dove sad because it's not a flamingo? No. And so it should be, ladies and gentlemen, with women. Different shapes, different sizes, tall, short, fat, thin are all beautiful."

Part of the neo-burlesque movement has been an acceptance of all sizes and shapes of performers and with groups like the Glamazons taking the airwaves on "America's Got Talent" it would seem that the general public is catching on as well. Do you personally find the community to be one that celebrates and accepts different body types? Or do you find that certain shapes and sizes gain more attention and success?

When does a gimmick pass into the public domain?

2007-07-18T09:04:00.000-04:00

As sort of a follow up to Jack's question from yesterday - when does a gimmick pass from being a signature act into the public domain?

We can credit certain performers as having pioneered a burlesque "thing" - the most obvious in my mind being Sally Rand and her feather fan dance. Her fan dance, once a signature act, is now part of the common language of our community. No one performer owns the idea, though there are many variations on the theme.

Satan's Angel, whose signature act involves twirling fire tassels, has been teaching workshops to a new generation of burlesque performers in her particular "thing." It is my understanding that despite passing on this technique to multiple parties, she is very protective of her signature act and only allows those with her permission to perform it, even from her own pool of students (hence a somewhat public kerfuffle post-Exotic World).

At what point does a gimmick become community property? When is it part of the vernacular?

Are there any new ideas in burlesque?

2007-07-17T01:05:00.000-04:00

Submitted to the Burlesque Forum Mail:

After so many decades, are there any new ideas (or gimmicks) in burlesque, specifically striptease? Or are we merely revisiting and rethinking several core concepts, such as the bubble dance, the balloon dance, the fan dance, etc... For instance, Dita von Teese in her book "Burlesque and the Art of Teese", discusses her famous martini glass dance number at length. Isn't it fair to say that the martini glass dance is just a modern update of the classic champagne glass dance of the 30's? She even discusses that Catherine D'Lish performs in a giant champagne glass. Is there anything new under the burlesque sun?

Jack Midnight

Our thoughts and prayers...

2007-07-16T18:53:00.000-04:00

This past weekend the Los Angeles and Chicago burlesque communities both lost dear friends and performers.

Augusta from ItsAChick.com posted the following to the missexoticworld listserv:

One of my Nudie Kewpies, Alejandra Tardiff, aka Muñeca, suffered a brain aneurysm. She had just performed with me last Sunday, and sometime on Monday went into a coma. There was too much brain damage and she passed away Friday.

Muñeca had been belly dancing with Princess Farhana and had been a part of my show since March. She just made her burlesque debut in June.

Augusta also brought to our attention as well to the loss of Los Angeles whip artist and variety performer Brian Chic last month at his home in Burbank, California.

From Paris Green of Belmont Burlesque:

It is with great sadness that we must report that our friend and sometime guest performer, Pat Brice, has passed away. He was 29.

Pat was a regular contributor to the comedy website Blerds.com and performed at venues across the country and around Chicago, including The Lincoln Lodge, The Chicago Underground and Zanie's. Pat co-hosted the Fearless Radio show "Visitor's Locker Room" which won Wi-Fi Magazine's "Best New Podcast" award in 2005. Pat was also featured frequently on burlesque stages in Chicago, a regular guest comedian with shows like Michelle L'Amour's Star and Garter Burlesque and our own Belmont Burlesque Revue.

Our deepest sympathy and thoughts go out to all his friends and family.

We encourage you to keep Pat's comedy alive by reading and listening to his work at http://www.blerds.com or by visiting Fearless Radio at http://www.fearlessradio.com which will be replaying episodes of Visitor's Locker Room in tribute to Pat.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of these performers.

How much time do you devote to burlesque?

2007-07-16T10:03:00.000-04:00

How much time do you spend on your burlesque activities (whatever they may be)? Is burlesque a hobby in which your time spent is a labor of love? Have you turned your burlesque time into a career of some sort? Or is burlesque an all consuming obsession that eats up every moment of your life?

How much time do you devote to burlesque?

Working with rhinestones?

2007-07-15T01:17:00.000-04:00

Submitted to the Burlesque Forum Mail:

Here's a question for the costume mavens out there... What is the best method for applying or working with Swarovski flatbacks? How about specifically to lingerie pieces like bras and thongs that go through a lot more wear and tear? I haven't quite got the knack yet and find that my sparkly embellishments start to fall off after a wearing or two or three. Any tips?

The Week in Review

2007-07-14T02:35:00.000-04:00

Big thanks to The Candy Pitch, readers at Mister Burlesque and Jo Weldon on her LiveJournal page and posting to the Burlesque Today group for sending traffic this way.

It was a great way to start off our first week here with actual comments and discussion rather than crickets chirping. Thank you to this week's contributors:

Cherche LaFemme
Hollie
Holly Rebelle
Jack Midnight
Jane
Jo Weldon
Laura Herbert
Michelle Baldwin
Paris Green
RunAround Sue
Scarlett Letter
Tootsiewurl
Zeugma aka Jezebel Express

Please feel free to continue posting to any topic from previous weeks. Topics will always remain open. If they get too far gone down the blog, feel free to call for a bump and I will re-post the questions so you don't have to search the archives for them.

Footnotes for the week of 7/8/07

In the course of our discussion, performers, venues, websites and other burlesque departures were discussed or featured in the daily topics or comments section. Here are footnotes and further reading/viewing from this week's discussion.

What is burlesque?

Abbott and Costello in "Who's on First"
The Burlesque Hall of Fame
Don Rickles on the Dean Martin Variety Hour
Lenny Bruce on The Steve Allen Show
LeScandal
Minsky's Burlesque
Mister Burlesque
The New York Burlesque Festival
Pinchbottom Burlesque at Exotic World 2007 (Winners, Best Duo)
Pretty Things
Scratch
Sherry Britton
The Slipper Room
The women of Starshine Burlesque answer the question What is burlesque? for Elasticwaist.com
The Suicide Girls performing on their Burlesque Tour
Tempest Storm performing a classic striptease
Tyler Fyre

Who is the most underrated burlesque performer?

Amber Ray at Burlesque Blitz 2007
Ami Goodheart - Showgirl of the Universe
Belmont Burlesque Revue - History Repeating
Bette Midler as Delores DeLago
Bloody Belle at The Girlie-Q Variety Hour
Christopher Walken's striptease from Pennies From Heaven
Frenchie Kiss
Harvest Moon at The Slipper Room
Jack Midnight sings at The Belmont Burlesque Revue
Jared Logan muses on The Complete Breakfast
Kitty Diggins
Lucy Fur performing at Lucha Va Voom's Valentine's Sextacular
Michelle Carr (aka Valentina Violette)
Michelle L'Amour in "Your Biggest Fan"
Miss Saturn on the game show This! or That!
Ms Tickle
Star and Garter Burlesque
Torchy Taboo

You Don't Own Me - Burlesque or Performance Art?

Albert Cadabra performs boylesque at Exotic World 2007 (video in 3 parts)
Julie Atlas Muz interviewed on Something Weird, with clips of her winning Exotic World 2006 performance

What is your local burlesque scene like?

Bella Donna Burlesque
Belmont Burlesque Revue - "History Repeating"
Burlesque Noir performs "Violently Happy"
Bustout Burlesque
Fleur de Tease
Kittie Irreverent
Michelle L'Amour in "Your Biggest Fan"
The Pussycat Dolls perform "Pink Panther/Fever" live
September Smith

Prime Time Burly-Q?

The Glamazons performance on America's Got Talent 2
Some of the message board threads concerning Michelle L'Amour from the America's Got Talent website

Videotaping burlesque?

The New York Burlesque Festival
Tease-O-Rama Burlesque Convention
Windows Movie Maker 2.1 Download

If you have topics you'd like to discuss here on the Forum or news items you'd like posted, please email them to the Forum Administrator and we'll queue them up.

How do you go about videotaping burlesque?

2007-07-13T00:32:00.000-04:00

Submitted to the Burlesque Forum Mail:

Hey Guys - So, I havent been performing very long and have just recently had the confindence to consider applying to the trifecta of great festivals in the U.S. But, then when I download the application and started to work on it I am confronted with the need for footage. I worry and worry over how to get a great quality video, do I need to have it edited with titles? Is it really appropriate to rent a studio and shoot something, or is it better to use footage from a show? Or should I try to find a theatre apart from a show and shoot one day when it's empty? I have some footage from numbers at shows, but the quality is fair and I worry fair wont pass. Unfortunatley, I get so overwhelemed I tell myslef I am obviously not ready and therefore never complete the application. Well, it is time to grown a better backbone! I missed the deadline for the NYBF (but will hopefully get to volunter) but have committed to applying to Tease-o-rama. My partner in crime, Lady Satan, will be relocating out to SF later this month -so, no more excuses!!! At least thats what I thought - till I downloaded the application and starting biting my nails trying to figure out if the footage I have is up to par and if not - how can I economically put together something professional! Please help me!!! xoxoxo

Thanks so much,
RunAround Sue

Prime Time Burly-Q?

2007-07-12T00:48:00.000-04:00

It's summer and television has taken a backseat to vacations, barbeques and other fun in the sun. The networks have packed their schedules with a lot of filler - especially of the reality show variety - in the meantime.

It was on one of these very filler reality shows that burlesque history got made last summer. On the competitive talent show, "America's Got Talent," Miss Exotic World 2005, Michelle L'Amour performed burlesque striptease not once, but twice, for a prime time, network television viewing audience. While it may not have been the ideal way to educate the American public about burlesque, it certainly reached a record number of them in their homes, spilled over to the Internet via message boards and fan websites and even got mentions on entertainment news shows like The Soup on E!

Here is Michelle's first round performance, complete with judge Brandy's bitchface:

Here is her semi-final performance, with KITT the car:

Michelle certainly did the best she could to represent, as it were, given the parameters of the show she was competing on.

So let's say, hypothetically speaking, you've been tapped by the networks to represent the burlesque community in prime time. It doesn't matter if you're a performer, superfan, producer, historian, etc. You're going to be an "ambassador" of burlesque in some manner, you get to dictate what that means. You can pick the show you're appearing on, so long as it's during the prime time block (and you're not suddenly inventing a new genre of television show that currently doesn't exist). What would you do?

What is your local burlesque scene like?

2007-07-11T00:55:00.000-04:00

Submitted to the Burlesque Forum Mail:

I feel like I don't have a very good idea of what burlesque is like outside of maybe New York or Los Angeles. I kind of feel like that's all I ever hear about. It seems like there is at least a troupe/show or two going on in most of the big cities across the US. I would think everybody has a different flavor going on and I'd be interested to hear about that.

What is your local burlesque scene like? How many shows/troupes/performance venues are there? What styles are present? What do you think sets your city apart? Share with us a little about your local "flavor."

News Item: Ostrich.com 11th Anniversary Sale

2007-07-10T13:08:00.000-04:00

If you're at a burlesque show and someone's on stage doing a fan dance or decked out in feathers, there's an awfully good chance that fan and those feathers came from the one and only Ostrich.com

They've marched the World's Longest Feather Boa down Fremont Street in Vegas during Exotic World:

...and now they're turning 11.

11th Anniversary Half Price Sale
================================

ostriches on line and ostrich.com celebrate their 11th Anniversary during the month of July 2007

For 11 days & 11 hours, everything in stock is 50% off.

The sale begins at 11:11pm on 11 July and finishes on 23 July 2007 11:11am CST

To shop from the US

To shop from the UK

To shop wholesale

For full details about the sale go here

You Don't Own Me - Burlesque or Performance Art?

2007-07-10T00:53:00.000-04:00

Julie Atlas Muz, Miss Exotic World 2006, has been the center of controversy for her particular performance style - and its less than traditional take on burlesque. Julie has been described as a choreographer/conceptual performance artist/burlesque sensation.

The following video is Julie's farewell performance from this year's Miss Exotic World Pageant, posted by YouTube user nofimag. It should be warned that this video contains nudity (it's an Exotic World performance, natch), so watch at your own discretion.

Love it or hate it, the performance generated an interesting question - is this burlesque? Given Julie's love to blur the line between burlesque and performance art, was this a successful experiment in neo-burlesque expression or should this be considered a performance art piece? Or at this stage of the game in neo-burlesque is there any difference between the two?

News Item: New Burlesque Message Board

2007-07-10T00:18:00.000-04:00

A new burlesque message board has started up over at http://www.freepowerboards.com/burlesque/index.php

We certainly encourage any means of furthering discussion regarding burlesque and other performing arts. The board seems to be fairly new, like The Burlesque Forum, so there's not a lot of posts and discussion going on there yet. If you've been craving a place to get some advice or just chat about things, head over there and help it flourish. We're only as good as the community we create, right?

Who is the most underrated burlesque performer?

2007-07-09T10:24:00.001-04:00

Now that the pomp and pageantry of Exotic World is over and done with... here's your chance to sing the praises of the performers that you feel are the most underrated in the burlesque community. Maybe they're from the local troupe in your town and they don't do the national conventions and festivals. Maybe they are simply the most fantastic tassel twirlers you've ever seen. Give 'em their props here.

Who is currently the most underrated burlesque performer?

What is burlesque?

2007-07-08T22:38:00.001-04:00

What better way to start off a discussion on burlesque than to define the term itself? According to the American Heritage Dictionary, burlesque is:

1. A literary or dramatic work that ridicules a subject either by presenting a solemn subject in an undignified style or an inconsequential subject in a dignified style.

2. A ludicrous or mocking imitation; a travesty: The antics of the defense attorneys turned the trial into a burlesque of justice.

3. A variety show characterized by broad ribald comedy, dancing, and striptease.

It can be argued, however, that the neo-burlesque movement has changed the definition of what burlesque is and what it includes. Perhaps it has evolved into something more than just a variety show? Beyond just parody and mockery?

What is your definition of burlesque?

Welcome to the Burlesque Forum!

2007-06-29T17:36:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the Burlesque Forum!

The aim of this blog is to provide burlesque performers and fans an arena in which to discuss the artform of burlesque and other issues concerning the burlesque community as well as to serve as a clearhouse for news items and resources helpful to performers and fans alike. It is intended to spark healthy debate, pass along tricks of the trade and foster a sense of greater community throughout the burlesque world.

Anonymous posting in the comments section is allowed and your comments won't be moderated. However, the following things WILL get deleted from the comments section:

*Posting spam or advertisements of any kind
*Personal attacks or unlawful statements against another participant (insults, racial slurs, death threats, etc.)

In essence, don't be a spammer... don't be a troll.

If you have a topic for discussion, please email it to the forum administrator at burlesqueforum@gmail.com. No topic is too great or too small. Each day a new question for discussion will be posted. Topics will begin July 8, 2007.