Burlesque has taken off in the US. Women from all over the country in
cities so small that they barely even have a stage to perform on host
burlesque events weekly. Why has this form of entertainment resurfaced?
Why are women who could easily be your sister or your girlfriend or even a
mom taking it all off for screaming audiences filled with other women? This
form has enabled women to voice their opinions without words, to show the
world how sexy they are and at the same time start to believe it themselves,
besides that, it's fun, that's why!
I started performing classic burlesque routines in New York City in 1997
after choreographing and performing my first fan dance with a touring
theater company a few years before. Those fans sat on a shelf while my
ideas for other acts simmered and Dirty Martini was born. Since then, the
world of new burlesque grew up around me and my family of performers started
to grow. I used to know everyone in the country who performed burlesque and
now it's grown so large that new performers and troupes are so numerous that
even in my own city I can't keep track of them all. When I
performed with Cabaret New Burlesque at the Quartier D'Ete in Paris in 2005, I was
a witness to the first new burlesque show there and in London the art form
has been thriving with performers for more than five years.
Young women strive to define themselves among fashion magazines and
television selling the female body as a product as finite as Clinique
moisturizer. Burlesque is the new punk rock. It offers a way for women to
redefine themselves without the limits that society places. My fans often
write to me about their own transformations. They don't want to hate their
bodies anymore they want to flaunt what they were born with like I do.
Burlesque is akin to drag and I believe that drag defies gender. Some
people are crazy about building airplanes and some people need to dress up
and wear feathers. Isn't it a beautiful thing!
Other things aside from burlesque that inspire me are as follows:
Road trips, small and large theater and the humbling experience of ballet class in the morning. People who have harsh opinions and know how to use them. My family both genetic and chosen.
Music
This is a broad with an even broader taste in music. Listen to EastVillageRadio.com dammit and I like Devils Night Radio
Movies
Just saw Mafioso! It's brilliant. Oh my god, what about Aqua Teen Hunger Force? Wow. Blades of Glory is an inspirational film. I also like movies movies I'm in such as Underbelly, The Velvet Hammer burlesque documentary, Sell Out!, You'd be Prettier if you Smiled, Night of the Living Gay, Broad Daylight, Shortbus, Dirty Martini and the New Burlesque, and the upcoming feature starring and directed by Mathieu Amalric, Tournee.
Television
It's a vice that I'm proud of. I like NYC public access and watching Match Game on the Gameshow Network. Watch This or That! Sundays at midnight on Channel 57 and Check out my friends at Gay Action News. Mrs. Mouth!!! Love her. I'm addicted to Turner Classic Movies. Cookin' Cheap, Simpsons, South Park, Space Ghost Coast to Coast, Six Feet Under and Project Runway are my favorites. My new favorite: Ninja Warrior
Books
I like to have time to read. I'm currently reading Johnny Porkpie's advance copy of his new grindhouse novel, The Corpse Wore Pasties. I like books that I'm in such as Burlesque from Gaslight to Spotlight, Burlesque the New Bump and Grind, Indochine, New Burlesque, and Sex and the City, Lisa Karezi's Fantasies and Velvet Hammer, the book.
Heroes
Jennie Lee,Tura Satana,Mae West, Satan's Angel, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Pina Baush, International Chrysis, Dixie Evans, Dee Milo, Luke Littel and Laura Herbert! Leigh Bowery, Flawless Sabrina, Vicky Lynn, Sigfried and Roy (they are the presidents of MY country) and my New York performance family. The list grows larger every day, I'm thankful to say.
Here's a shortlist of where you can find me, "The best body in burlesque", named the "Sexpot Sophisticate" by New York Magazine. All shows are in the great city of New York unless otherwise stated. For more details check out my blog.
Andrea Barbiroli photo
Sundays in October and November
Vandam
@Greenhouse
150 Varick St.
Doors at 10 open bar till 11pm
Oct.28
Shaken and Stirred
Delancey
168 Delancey St.
10pm
Oct. 31
Halloween night at Slipper Room
167 Orchard St. @ Stanton
Fabulous Goulie show
Starring the queen of halloween Julie Atlas Muz and many others!
Tuesdays in November
I'm teaching ballet! Come and discover the technique that tones and shapes and makes you graceful. It's New York's first adult beginner class in a supportive and hip atmosphere.
ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS
Ballet for burlesque and beyond!
Tues. nights from 6:30 - 8
440 Lafayette
$20 single $15 a class w/ 4 class card
Admission is prepay only through the School of Burlesque here:
November 4
Burlesque with live band the Red Hook Ramblers
Slipper Room
167 Orchard St.@Stanton
10pm show $5
November 11
Foreign Affairs
Night Hotel
132 W. 45th st.
November 14
Filthy Gorgeous Burlesque
Two Boots Bridgeport
281 Fairfield Ave., Bridgeport CT
10pm show $20 advance txs $15
Thirstygirlproductions.com
November 20
Hot Box
Slipper Room
167 Orchard St. @ Stanton
shows on the hour starting at 11 I'm in the 1am and 2am shows
$5
November 21
MY BIRTHDAY!
Pinchbottom Burlesque celebrates the release of Jonny Porkpie's new murder mystery The Corpse wore Pasties
45 Bleecker
8pm
and then later that night
The Clue Show
Galapagos Art Space
16 Main St. DUMBO Brooklyn
I'm Mrs. Green
10:30 Free!
November 28th
Pinchbottom Burlesque celebrates the release of Jonny Porkpie's new murder mystery The Corpse wore Pasties
45 Bleecker
8pm
and then later...
Mr. Choades Upstairs Downstairs
Slipper Room
167 Orchard St.
shows on the hour starting at 10
Come see me in the 1 & 2am shows
$5
DECEMBER 6th
Don't Miss the
THE MODE MERR HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR featuring DIRTY DOLLS LINGERIE
Sunday, December 6th 3PM - 7:30PM
@ Le Poisson Rouge -158 Bleecker St- NYC
It's the holiday spectacular edition of this epic event with burlesque, live music, a Mode Merr & Dirty Doll's fashion show, dj's and a full service shopping boutique!
with THE FISHERMAN GRINDHOUSE TRIO, ANGIE PONTANI, HELEN PONTANI, THE WORLD FAMOUS *BOB*, DIRTY MARTINI, MELODY SWEETS, DELIRIUM TREMENS, THE LADY AYE, THE WORLD FAMOUS PONTANI SISTERS, DJ MIKEY PALMS, LEFTY LUCY & MORE!
$10ADV/$15DOS Tickets available @ www.lepoissonrouge.com
Who I'd like to meet: Come visit me here too people!
Feline Entertainment & Fanatique de Glam present: Burlesk! Freaky Friday the 13th w/ Viva le Vox and the Goddamn Gallows, freaks, geeks, and all kind of scary peeps! Burlesk! Freaky Friday the 13th will be featuring spooky and freaky performances by well-known local and traveling magicians, musicians, and burlesque artists to thrill and chill you!
Artistika 523 S. Elm Doors @ 7pm, Burlesk! Show @ 8pm $10, $8 if curiously clothed Bands Immediately Following Burlesk Revue The weirdest, creepiest, eeriest, most bizarre, peculiar peepshow you've seen yet!!!
You were in my dream last night. In a fabulous, corseted, glittery Wonder Woman costume. I was lost on the subway and you plowed through the doors and said "Stick with me, sugar." So, thanks for getting my subconscious home safe on the scary NYC subways! Nice seeing ya at NYBF! As a newbie, you sure do make a gal feel welcome! Thanks!
Thanks so much for having me as one of your friends. Don't forget to check out my adorable designs and remember my Halloween discount of 25% this month only. Take care and have a great rest of the week! :)
Pictured: Sitting in for Kobayashi Maru, Nasty Canasta; Ruby Valentine; GiGi La Femme; Clams Casino and Peekaboo Pointe - Photo by Luke Ratray
REVEALED RETURNS, Wednesday, September 16th, 2009.
September’s show will feature scintillating performances by: The Girl Dreams Are Made Of, GiGi La Femme, Professional Sensationalist Amber Ray, The Intoxicating Anita Cookie, The Borg Queen of Burlesque, Kobayashi Maru, Your Gibson geisha Girl Fantasy Madame Rosebud and in her Revealed Burlesque Debut, Tatah Dujour (of Key West Burlesque), the Conch Republic’s Queen of Burlesque!!
Hosted by the charming and inebriated, Bastard Keith with special guest stage kitten Victoria Privates
Join us at Under St. Marks, 94 St. Marks place between 1st and A, presented by The Horse Trade Theater Group.. Buy your tickets here!
***Psssst! Are you a Burlesque/Variety performer? Email revealed.burlesque@gmail.com for a discount code!***
Mysti Vine - Probably the worlds only Black Burlesque Comedienne. Mysti is winging her way to us from Canada and she is bringing her world famous V-stume act with her.
Angel LaVey - Unveiling two new frighteningly original and bizarre Burlesque creations.
Glorian Gray - Eternal Burlesque from a very classy lady.
Al Rudge - Performing magic that will astound and mesmerize you.
Al Grant - The crazy Compere. Who knows what he will do or say next?
Violet Va Voom - The best things come in little packages, and this little lady will tease the pants off of you.
Wudwud - You've never seen stand - up comedy like this before.
Pipi Strella - Bringing a delightful Eastern twist to the evening.
Pictured L-R: Nasty Canasta sitting in for Kobayashi Maru, Clams Casino, GiGi La Femme, Peekaboo Pointe and Ruby Valentine. Photo by Luke Ratray
Wednesday, August 19th at 10:00pm, $20.00 * UNDER St. Marks Theater, 94 St. Marks Place, New York, NY
August's show will feature WET & wild performances by:
The Girl Dreams are Made Of GiGi La Femme, The Mysterious Ms. Tickle, The Exotic Temptress of Tease Nikki Le Villain, stepping in for The Borg Queen of Burlesque Koybayashi Maru is Nasty Canasta, The Girl with the 44DD Brain, Burlesque's Newest Striptease Sensation Sapphire Jones and in her Revealed Burlesque Debut, The Girl with the Curves AND the Angles, Jezebel Express!
Hosted by the charming and inebriated, Bastard Keith and his Salacious Stage Kitten Sidekick, Your Gibson Geisha Girl Fantasy, Madame Rosebud!
Tickets are available by calling SmartTix at 212.868.4444 or online here.
***Pssst! Are you a Burlesque/Variety performer? Email revealed.burlesque@gmail.com for a discount code!***
Body Heat is a collective of fierce, sassy, irreverent Femme artists setting ablaze performance art communities and smashing open Femme stereotypes.
Porn, Kink, Smut, Erotica -Body Heat is not reclaiming our sex so much as OWNING it. We will turn you on. We will challenge all of your Gender, Sex, Feminist, Social, & Political boundaries & assumptions. We will entertain the hell out of you. Mostly we will leave you panting, begging, dripping for more.
Body Heat stars kathleen delaney, Meliza Banales, Nicky Click, Diana Cage, Gigi Frost of The Femme Show, Al Schlong, & Leslie Freeman!!!!!!!!
Online Now!
