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Tuesday Tease: New Years’ Resolutions!

vintage-new-years-eve-312013 is coming to a close and 2014 is rapidly approaching. It’s time to start making your New Years’ Resolutions. And, if you’re going to make a resolution, you should make one that you are definitely going to keep. Odds are you aren’t going to finish writing that novel or learn to play the theremin. You may manage to be more organized, but where’s the fun in that?

If you want to make a resolution that you know you are not only going to keep but have fun keeping, resolve to go see more burlesque! To help you out, here are some wonderful shows that are coming up in the very near future.
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The Tuesday Tease: Horrible and Hot – Halloween Burlesque!

vintage-halloweenWe’ve been talking about it all month, but Halloween is almost here! As I mentioned before, this time of year, Halloween events flood our website and the burlesque events that roll through are always the most interesting.

I’ve been making an effort to feature as many as I can over the past month, so you probably saw my picks for the first half of October’s events already. Today, I will feature the other half of October’s shows so that you can hurry up and get tickets to these shows before they’re gone for good.

Check these out:

Austin, Texas

282130-250Friday, October 25 I 5th Annual T*ts-or-Treats Burlesque Show!   The Bat City Bombshells present their 5th Annual Halloween Burlesque show that will scare your pants off!  This is one of their FAVORITE shows of the year as we present all of their best spooky, creepy, and downright sexy routines that will leave you asking for more! The Bombshells are pleased to bring to our stage things that bump in the night, Molly Macabre, Chola Magnolia and Bethany Summersizzle! Stay after the show to enjoy drinks with the amazing band Palomino!

Chicago, Illinois

Friday, October 25 I HITCHCOCK – “A special edition of Naked GHOULS Reading”   For the fifth year in a row, Naked Girls Reading Chicago is hosting its annual Naked GHOULS Reading Halloween spectacular.  But this year will be even more special.  The bare lasses have decided to scare their pants off with a variety of readings from the master of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock. PLUS, there will be fun Hitchcockian themes for each segment (you will not want to miss this) AND a Hitchcock Costume Contest. So, don your best Psycho duds, grab a reservation and watch beautiful naked girls reading from some of literature’s most suspenseful moments.
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Tuesday Tease: This Week in Burlesque

271734-250For whatever reason, October is a busy time in the burlesque world. I think part of it is because the weather is cooling down and folks need steamier entertainment to warm them on the cold nights. The other reason is because Halloween offers a myriad of themes to play with, like Rocky Horror tributes, zombies, vampires, sci fi, you name it.

Whatever the reason, our site is overflowing with great shows happening around the world and so, instead of having a “theme” for this week’s post, I thought I’d just highlight some of our picks for the first week of Rocktober. I’ll do a post later in the month that focuses on Halloween burlesque events but for this I thought I’d try and show a little of the diversity of shows that are happening this month. We got shows all around the states and even a couple in Canada and the United Kingdom worth checking out.

So, enough from me, here’s your October in burlesque:

Somerville, Massachusetts

Starts Thursday, October 3 I The W. R. Athskellar Cavalcade of Curiosities   An immersive and interactive theatrical experience, visitors to The W. R. Athskellar Cavalcade of Curiosities find themselves embroiled in an ancient battle… with the audience as the prize! Don’t miss this all-new interpretation of The Boston Babydolls’ popular Halloween show! Highlights of the evening include live music from the house band, the occasional circus stunt and, of course, burlesque from the award-winning Boston Babydolls.

The journeys of  W. R. Athskellar span the globe and countless decades, searching for one exceptional performer after another. Why, on an ordinary night, while the band plays in this 10-in-1 attraction you might see The Disconnected Twins, The Illustrative Woman, or spy the Spider-Girl descending from the ceiling. On any regular evening, you could try your eye in The Shooting Alley, test your strength on The High-Striker, or learn what your future holds in The Fortune-Teller’s Tent…but this is neither a regular night, nor is there anything ordinary about your visit this evening.

Vancouver, British Columbia

Friday, October 4 I Abracadaver Cabaret   Sisters, sisters. There were never such devoted sisters. At least, none so devoted to horror. There seems to be a growing correlation between sisters and all Abracadaver4things horror in Vancouver. The Soska Sisters, aka the Twisted Twins (of Twisted Twins Productions), have already made their mark on film. Meanwhile, also in Vancouver, The Macabre Mauchlines’ Voodoo Pixie and Mama Fortuna have been dedicated to the same theatre show for four years now. That show, of course, is the AbraCadaver Cabaret.
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Tuesday Tease: Mother’s Day Burlesque?

webnonippleI met Seattle-based burlesque producer/performer Whisper De Corvo at the Brown Paper Tickets class at The Great Burlesque Exposition in Boston a few weeks back. She told me about a Mother’s Day burlesque show she was putting on and, I have to admit that initially, I didn’t really associate Mother’s Day with burlesque. But as I talked to her more, and discovered that she was a mom herself, it started to make sense to me.

Ultimately, burlesque is a celebration of femininity and so it makes sense that daughters would want to celebrate their femininity and to pay tribute to their ultimate feminine role model, their mother. Also, as Whisper says in her interview below, it gives mother’s a chance to enjoy a night out that doesn’t revolve around child-rearing. It’s a chance to celebrate other aspects of her femininity: her beauty, her sensuality and her lust for life. And, with the burlesque revival now in its second decade, many of today’s mom’s are burlesque dancers themselves. If you want to get tickets to this one-of-a-kind show, pick them up here before they’re gone!

I tracked down Whisper last week so I could find out more about her show. Whisper also produces a number of shows around Seattle and I predict she will be a burlesque producer to watch. She certainly has original ideas and is passionate about the art of burlesque.

So, without further ado, I give you Miss Whisper De Corvo:
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Tuesday Tease: Spring Has Sprung!

spring-pin-upYes, spring has finally sprung. The flowers are starting to bloom and the sun is finally starting to peek its head out of the clouds, promising warmer days to come…at least for those of us up here in the northern part of the country. But, no matter where you’re at, spring is the time when the birds and the bees are frolicking and folks start wearing a little less clothing. Which means it’s a perfect time for burlesque!

We have some great upcoming shows that play up the spring theme featuring faeries, songbirds, flowers and Rosé wine. There’s even a yard sale in Allston hosted by the Boston Babydolls! The majority of these events are taking place in Washington state because after months of rain and clouds, we get pretty excited when we start to see the sunshine and can look forward to a gorgeous Pacific Northwest summer!

Really though, it doesn’t matter where you’re at, spring is one sexy time of year. Enjoy!

Boulder, Colorado

Saturday, April 27 I Spring Gets Sprung! ~ A Burlesque Peep Show  Camp Wardrobe MalFUNKtion Presents: Spring gets Sprung! A burlesque peep show! Druids, faeries, Dianics, Wiccans, Asatru and ceremonial magicians, come together for an evening of pagan fantasy and debauchery in the annual Rites of Spring Burlesque show. Let’s usher out winter, and get sprung for spring! DJ’s Just Ben and Ishe from the Whomp Truck will be throwing down for an off-the-hook dance party! It’s a benefit for Camp Wardrobe MalFUNKtion, so you best dress up in your finest spring-themed costuming! Bring a costume donation for a free raffle ticke and a chance to win great prizes! Costumes and/or decadent, seductive attire are required. Dress in your sexiest spring best and party after the show, when your hosts invite YOU to express your own wild, creative, sexy self on the stage and dance floor.

Everett, Washington

Sunday, April 28 I Spring Fling Carnivale Burlesque  Siren of “Siren and the Treasured Chests” is thrilled to be bringing burlesque entertainment back to the city of Everett! Their first event will showcase the talents of Seraphina Fiero, Everett’s very own performer! They will also indulge you with the many talents of Seattle-based burlesque performers such as Sailor St. Claire and Randi Rascal. The evening’s incredible belly dancer is Ava Raqs and there will also be a very special songbird coming your way! This beauty not only sings, but plays the trumpet as well. These shows includes a free raffle ticket given at door for drawings with the opportunity to purchase additional raffle tickets at the event. There will be a boutique for items under the heading “The Other Pink” and you can only guess what that might mean? The venue boasts free parking, a full dinner menu and bar service. The show is timed just right on Sunday night that you can get home to pay the sitter, tuck the wee ones in bed and be up early to start the Monday grind….or NOT…you are welcome to stay and enjoy the full service bar after the show. Siren and the Treasured Chests guarantee that you will remember the grind of this show come Monday morn! What ever your flavor, just know that Siren is bringing “sexy” back to Everett and this is where the fantasy begins.
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Tuesday Tease: The Great Burlesque Exposition

picBurlesqueExpo130329BShanghaiPearl_0493w1050f-540x767This past weekend, our East Coast Ambassador A.J. Andrews and I had the honor of attending the Great Burlesque Exposition in Boston. This incredible showcase of burlesque talent was celebrating its 7th year of existence and both A.J. and I were bowled over by the amount of talent that was presented to us over the course of this past Easter weekend.

This week on the Tuesday Tease, I’ll give you a breakdown of, what proved to be, an incredible weekend featuring burlesque royalty and newcomers alike. I personally left Boston feeling inspired and excited for the future of burlesque and I have to give a big shout-out to Scratch and Miss Mina, the Exposition’s founders, for putting on an amazing festival.

So, without further ado, here’s what went down:

Friday Night:

Friday night’s kick-off show, The Rhinestone Revue featured a wide spectrum of burlesque talent: from classic burlesque to comedic burlesque routines to boylesque and I’d be hard pressed to pick a favorite act since they were all so incredible but I will talk about a few of my favorites.

The Boston Babydolls are Boston’s “home team” burlesque troupe and Mr. Scratch, their director, is the organizer of the Exposition. The act was a Vegas-style number set to the JXL Remix of Elvis’ “A Little Less Conversation.” The only lighting in the act was from flashlights that the girls were holding and they used them to great effect to create an exciting routine that had the audience on their feet screaming for more. To me the act was able to feel new and exciting, while paying homage to classic Las Vegas showmanship. Well done Babydolls!

A couple other highlights for me were two girls from BPT’s hometown of Seattle: the always graceful and stylish Shanghai Pearl (pictured) and Scandal from Bohemia, who did an act to Weird Al’s “My Bologna” that involved meat pasties and a big ‘ol sandwich. The centerpiece of Shangai’s act was an absolutely stunning peacock costume and her effortless grace impresses me every time I see her perform.

Dot Mitzvah did a great operatic routine to an Yma Sumac song. The high notes were not lyp-synced! She sang it all while taking it all off. Boylesque performer Paco Fish did a hilarious routine in a  judges wig and robe, which ended with his gavel in a most compromising position and Canadian performers St. Stella and James and the Giant Pasty, did a highly original act that was inspired and super sexy, with references to great works of art.

On the classic side of things, modern-day burlesque legend Jo Weldon did an incredible fan dance that was a tribute to Pink Light Burlesque, an organization that she founded that offers free burlesque lessons to breast cancer patients (See video below). Cherokee Rose displayed some impressive tassel twirling technique and Canadian performer Burgundy Brixx busted out a sweet boa that ended up being a robe in disguise.


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Dance Your Brass Off!

Who doesn’t love a brass band? The horns, the drums, the crash of the cymbals. In most parts of the world brass bands are THE preferred party music for weddings, festivals, baptisms, and pretty much anything you’d want to throw a party for.

If you’re a fan of brass bands, you know that Balkan brass bands provide some of the best dance music out there. Balkan brass evolved out of the military bands of the Ottoman empire, formed during the First Serbian Uprising in the early part of the 19th century. Brass instruments were used as a way to gather soldiers for battle and when the war ended, the soldiers went home, the music entered everyday life and became the preferred soundtrack for celebrations. There has been a recent resurgence of interest in Balkan brass bands and you can hear elements of the music in modern-day indie rock bands like Beirut and world-dance bands like Balkan Beat Box.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxJ23XJD0D0]
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