Va Va Voom!
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The Big Apple
Within the fast-moving gridiron streets of New York City,
the burlesque movement has evolved well beyond the sleazy strip joints of
pre-Guiliani Times Square. With the influence of Broadway and the art scene,
it�s hard for New York dancers to not to throw a bit of performance art and
social commentary in their acts. As compared to glitzy Hollywood, where
burlesque tends to come in the form of big events once or twice a year, the
close community of New York lends itself to more club events on a weekly basis.
"There has always been an active
performance scene in New York with the drag queens and theme parties,� says
burlesque star Dirty Martini who has been performing striptease since
1997. "But I think the important thing about burlesque here is that it�s all
women discovering glamour and performance in a venue that is very specific to
women."
The East Coast crowds tend to go where its most popular
performers are scheduled. High on the list of venues supporting the scene is
the VaVa Voom Room. Proprietor Kate
Valentine first got the idea in Los Angeles when she was a featured dancer
with the Velvet Hammer and moved herself and her club to the Lower East Side
every Saturday night at club Fez. The night is a range of variety performers
hosted by deadpan Berlin-bred temptress Ms. Astrid.
Among the abundance of performers working the city's circuit
include the World Famous Bob, Lady Ace, Bambi, Bonnie Dunn's LeScandal, the Pontani Sisters
and the lone male "boylesque" star Tigger who's out to prove it's not
just a girls' club. His act includes a drag-style cabaret burlesque that is
more shocking and amusing than seductive. "He's definitely doing his own
thing," laughs Martini.
During the summer, New Yorkers escape the brutal city heat
by taking a trip out to Coney Island's Burlesque
By the Beach Billed
as "Fireworks after the Fireworks!" this burlesque girlie revue features the
city's best-known shimmy queens as well as guest starlets. Different promoters
and performers offer a different act each night including outrageous themes
such as an ode to fromage, the infamous wine baths or the "seashore
spectacular." There is also a particularly wacky game show act "This or That,"
a combination of "Let's Make a Deal" and the "The Gong Show"
where contestants put themselves at the mercy of host Fred Kahl and his bevy of burlesque beauties including longtime
performer Julie Atlas Muz for guaranteed silliness.
Dancing Queen
To get a real sense of some of the best the burlesque
revival has to offer, one can get the most bang for their buck at some of the
annual gatherings including the highly respected Miss Exotic World
competition. Since 1991, this pageant takes place annually in June at the
Exotic World ranch. Dancers from ages 20-70 flock out to the desert for the
show that take place on an outdoor catwalk during the day where the dancers
can't rely on lighting or stage tricks. It's burlesque at its most raw and
real. "It's really hot and windy," says Kitten DeVille, winner of Miss
Exotic World 2002 who looks like a double for Jayne Mansfield. "It's kind of
intimidating but then you realize you can kind of work the wind when you take
off your outfit and make it look picturesque!"
Since it began, the pageant has earned world-wide
recognition and international press coverage as the ultimate showing of the art
of burlesque. This year featured a record-breaking 54 dancers, the largest
number yet according to hostess Dixie Evans. For the girls, the show is admittedly
nerve-racking but an affair to remember.
Tease N Please
Another show credited with bringing active burlesque dancers
together to meet each other and create a nationwide network is Tease-O-Rama. With its first event in 2001 in New Orleans,
the weeklong celebration of bawdy burlesque and comedic performances now takes
place annually. The events include a series of workshops
from the experts on the scene such as pasty-making how-to's, a comedy workshop
with the Baggy Pants Revue, seminars on the history of burlesque, ta-ta
twirling and synchronized swimming classes, costume making workshops and go-go
aerobics. This year's Tease-O-Rama took place in Los Angeles with featured
performances by Dixie Evans, Dita Von Teese, Catherine D'Lish and the Pontani
Sisters and dozens more for two full nights of takin' it off!
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Shakin' it like a purist and goin' everywhere...