Tuesday Tease: Back to School

April 30, 2013
By James Ulness

Summer’s quickly approaching and school will be getting out soon but that doesn’t mean you should stop studying. This is the perfect time to get out and learn something new! Burlesque classes are available all over, year round, for a variety of skill levels and interests.

I recently took a little time to track down and question two graduates of Seattle’s Miss Indigo Blue’s Academy of Burlesque about their experiences and where their burlesque education has taken them.

Carlotta Shakin completed The Art of the Tease, How to Strip for your Lover, and Burlesque 101 just a few weeks ago and had some useful advise for anyone thinking about getting involved with burlesque. “I think everyone should take at least a class or two.” She says, “The burlesque community is so welcoming and accepting and the classes are so empowering.” Although Carlotta doesn’t have any shows scheduled for the near future she is “currently brainstorming ideas for new acts and looking to become more involved in the burlesque world.”

Angelina Allure, who completed Burlesque 101 course in 2011 and will be attending the Academy’s Fan Dancing course next month has a similar recommendation. “DO IT! There are classes that do not require a performance at the end of it, and those are a great way to get your feet wet and start the glitter obsession.” Outside of class, Angelina can be found in the upcoming show Minxes of Middle Earth, presented by Midnight Menagerie Productions, on Thursday, May 9th and Friday, May 10th.

If you would like to jump into the world of glitter and pasties yourself We’ve compiled a list of classes and schools across the country where you can develop and hone your bumping and grinding skills.
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Tuesday Tease: Thank You Burlycon!

November 6, 2012
By Jimmy Berg

This last weekend, Burlycon 2012 hit the Doubletree Hotel in Seattle and Brown Paper Tickets was there to soak up all the glitter-tastic fabulousness.

I led a workshop on Saturday morning discussing ticketing techniques and options available to burlesque producers alongside our Event Tech genius Michelle Sunnyday and my good friend, Seattle-based bellydance/cabaret producer Miss J9 Fierce. There was some great discussion on the different ways producers can approach ticketing and issues folks have had with ticketing. I learned a lot from everyone there and I want to give a special shout-out to Mr. Scratch from the Boston Babydolls who provided a ton of information as a long-time Brown Paper Tickets vet. I was surprised of the turnout we got considering the class was held at 10am on the morning following the aquatic-themed dance party “Under the Deep Blue Sea.” Attendees looked slightly hung over but were there ready to learn. Thanks to everyone that made it out.
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Tuesday Tease: Don’t just sit there, GET UP AND DANCE!

August 28, 2012
By James Ulness

The more you know the more there is to learn. Knowledge and experience create a better understanding of the world and its complexities. As you learn, the world unfolds around you displaying infinite detail that you would have never thought possible. So, what better reason than to get up and dance? Sometimes sitting and watching isn’t enough. To really experience something you need to immerse yourself in it, you have to become it.

I think Bruce Lee said it best: “Don’t get set into one form, adapt it and build your own, and let it grow, be like water. Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless — like water. Now you put water in a cup, it becomes the cup; You put water into a bottle it becomes the bottle; You put it in a teapot it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.”

If you want to appreciate something more you need to learn as much about it as you can. This goes for anything in life but, because this being Tuesday Tease, today we are talking about burlesque and how you can can not only watch but also experience it in a more fulfilling way than you can just sitting in a chair. The first and most important step in learning how to do something is finding someone to teach you. This can be a difficult task, especially with something as specialized as burlesque.

Luckily for you I’ve gone ahead and done all the hard work so you don’t have to. All you need to do now is find a class near you and dive into a world of sequins and glitter!
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Tuesday Tease: The Boston Babydolls

June 19, 2012
By Jimmy Berg

Welcome to the Tuesday Tease, Brown Paper Tickets’ newest weekly blog feature with a focus on the burlesque community that we love so much. Each week we will talk about a historical event in burlesque, an upcoming festival, a notable scene or, as in this week’s inaugural edition, a troupe that we love. We’re extremely honored that the incredible Boston Babydolls have agreed to be the subject of our very first edition of “the Tease.”

Since the Babydolls started in 2005, they have garnered much acclaim from their fair city; they won the Boston Phoenix‘s reader’s poll for “Boston’s Sexiest Dance Troupe” in 2010 and “Boston’s Best Burlesque” in 2011 and 2012, and The Weekly Dig named them “Best Burlesque” in 2011. There’s good reason for the praise that’s being heaped upon them by the fine people of Boston. Not only do they push the envelope in each and every performance by providing a great balance between classic burlesque and modern dance, they also support the future of burlesque by teaching the skills necessary for any burlesque diva to master through the Boston Academy of Burlesque Education (B.A.B.E. for short). In addition to all this, they produce the annual Great Burlesque Exposition, a burlesque festival that’s celebrating its 7th anniversary in March of 2013 (stay tuned!).Whew!These girls (and guy) are busy! We love supporting organizations like the Babydolls who not only create powerful, original art but also actively support others to follow in their footsteps, ensuring the future of the art form.

Mr. Scratch, the Babydolls co-founder, took time from his busy schedule to talk about the history of the troupe, what they’re up to and to offer a little advice for any burlesque troupe that’s just getting started.
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Tuesday Tease: Back to School

Tuesday Tease: Thank You Burlycon!

Tuesday Tease: Don’t just sit there, GET UP AND DANCE!

Tuesday Tease: The Boston Babydolls

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