Jo Weldon's New York School of Burlesque

I've had the pleasure of working with Kitten on the Keys at Tease-O-Rama and Exotic World many times, and she is one of the most endearing people on the scene. She's fierce and funny, and has incredible glamour and style. I'm performing with her this coming weekend at Tease-o-Rama, and I can't wait! Photo by Becca Henry for Alarm Magazine. How and when did you come up with the name "Kitten on the Keys"? Kitten on the Keys is the name of a 1922 Novelty Ragtime Song by composer Zev Confrey. The song emulates dozens of furry footed creatures running over a piano keyboard. I sometimes feel I have Many small furry animals running around in my brain PLUS I started in the cabaret world as a Tin Pan Alley Flapper Rock Betty Boopish gal so the era of the song was perfect. I am still very obsessed with the 1920’s flapper era of freedom-bob your hair, raise your skirts, smoke and drink and WEEEE..throw away that corset! I came up with the name sometime in the 1990...

Angie Pontani and Murray Hill tied to win the Golden Pastie for Biggest Media Whore, and from the coverage I'm posting you may get the sense that the GP was well-deserved! Here's a link to coverage at Cultural Capitol by JD Oxblood: The first installment of JD's four-part series I realize I've never posted this much about any one thing before, but I've never had this much info sent to me before. I do rely somewhat on suggestions. I can't post everything people send me--this isn't a blog where I want a bunch of show announcements, or just another promo opportunity for press releases not at ALL--but if you have something unique that you're not posting everywhere else, or something that you really think might rock my personal world (this is my blog, not a public service), let me know!! rocknycity@aol.com Posted by Jo Weldon, Headmistress of The New York School of Burlesque , for burlesquedaily.blogspot.com .

There's a great video of the fest on time.com: Burlesque Festival Vid You get an amazing sense of all the different styles and some great commentary from Angie. Some of my pix from the Fest I had a really emotional performance that night--I was doing my tribute to Sherry. Posted by Jo Weldon, Headmistress of The New York School of Burlesque , for burlesquedaily.blogspot.com .

Thanks to you, the voters, I won the Golden Pastie for Biggest Cougar! I wasn't very gracious about it--I immediately made out with Legs Malone, and then with the other two nominees, Miss Astrid and Tigger. Please send your daughters to my school. Me with the winner of the Golden Pastie for "Hottest Freshman," Miss Roxi Dlite. Photo by Deirdre Schoo, used with the photographer's express permission. Click here to see the rest of the photographs from the Golden Pasties event by Deirdre Schoo. Posted by Jo Weldon, Headmistress of The New York School of Burlesque , for burlesquedaily.blogspot.com .

Backstage at Le Poisson Rouge. Photo by Darlinda Just Darlinda. Posted by Jo Weldon, Headmistress of The New York School of Burlesque , for burlesquedaily.blogspot.com .

The audience at Corio (they're focused on World Famous *BOB*) Allen Lee in the audience at the Saturday Spectacular Lola Rock N Rolla with Dirty at the Saturday Spectacular Trixie Little onstage during the Finale at the Saturday Spectacular Paparazzi at the red carpet at SOBs Dirty Martini at The Golden Pasties Posted by Jo Weldon, Headmistress of The New York School of Burlesque , for burlesquedaily.blogspot.com .

A photo essay on the NYBF on Metro Mix Thursday, September 18th is the night to mix, mingle and get to know the cast, crew, press and VIPs of the Festival at the exclusive This is Burlesque Teaser Party at Corio in Soho. Hosted by NYC Superstar, The World Famous *BOB* with performances from Pepper Potemkin (Sweden) Pandora (NYC), Pookie Patootie (NYC) & many more. Friday, September 19th, step back in time to Brooklyn’s newest venue, The Bell House. A space that embodies the excitement of a Prohibition-esque extravaganza, it is the perfect start of our show stopping NYBF Premiere Party. The ubiquitous and scandalous Scotty the Blue Bunny is back from San Francisco to host this party, which features burlesque beauties; go-go dancers and side show acts from around the world. Wet your whistle for burlesque at this notoriously wild party that is sure to have extra shenanigans, with performances from over 25 bombshells, including Wild Card Kitty (Scotland), Miss Indigo Blue (Seatt...

'These shoes have been worn in so many photos and performances that we cannot possibly list them! included is a copy of the Playboy that she is shown wearing them in with a personalized message that reads " these shoes took me around the world! Enjoy! Dita". ' I love the way they've used the shoes to cover her body for the ad, so cute! Click to view the Ebay auction. Posted by Jo Weldon, Headmistress of The New York School of Burlesque , for burlesquedaily.blogspot.com .

Jen in the middle. Image from Go Magazine's "100 Women We Love." With the New York Burlesque Festival almost upon us, this seemed like a great time to nab a quickie interview with Producer/Entrepreneur/All-Around-Hottie, Jen Gapay! Jen is the owner of Thirsty Girl Productions, which produces the NYBF with the Pontani Sisters, and I'm happy to have a chance to tip my pastie to one of the most charming and hard-working producers in the scene. What would we do without her? How did you become involved with producing? I was born in Sacramento California, hopped around on the East Coast (NY, Virginia & Maryland) until I was 10. Then we moved to Montana where I spent my “formative years” growing up in Big Fork. I went to college in Missoula Montana and it was there where I started putting on shows. The first show I ever organized was a benefit for a non-profit that I was working for, which involved booking a couple bands and selling beers in a union hall. S...

When I see the ads above, I'm proud to have worked on the show , I can't deny it. It was interesting, though, because even though the actress I was coaching was over 20, her character is a high school student. Of course, when I was in high school, I was doing burlesquey numbers at Rocky Horror and dancing in drag bars, so it didn't strain my credulity at all. Not too long ago a reality show asked me to coach a teenager for an episode, as well. I wasn't able to do it even though I think it's a good show, first of all because it meant leaving town for five weeks and I couldn't leave the project I'm working on or the school, and secondly because the pay was...let's just say mindblowingly inappropriate. But I would have done it under other conditions, and I'm happy to say one of the teachers from the NY School of Burlesque picked it up. More details to come! And now this: 'Sherman's single mother had him when she was 16, much to the disapprov...

The voting link was broken, sorry.

I haven't posted much because I've been writing a lot (re writing, I am very excited and will have some fun news soon for people who read this blog), and now I have a favor to ask... I know "Vote for Me" posts can be annoying, but you might find this amusing. I have been nominated for "Biggest Cougar" at the New York Burlesque Festival! Vote here! I am proud, proud, proud to be what some people consider "too old to be stripping" and still doing it! As for the other connotations of "cougar," bring it on LOL Way to be a school teacher, eh? So vote for me, if you're so inclined! I would love to represent and would be the proudest middle-aged stripper in burlesque. Posted by Jo Weldon, Headmistress of The New York School of Burlesque , for burlesquedaily.blogspot.com .

Images posted by Satan's Angel in the Miss Exotic World Yahoo Group . Ricci onstage at MEW, 2005. Photo linked from Dirty Martinis' Myspace . Ricci onstage at MEW, 2005. Video from Don Walker. Posted by Jo Weldon, Headmistress of The New York School of Burlesque , for burlesquedaily.blogspot.com .

It's Gal Friday! The Miss Coney Island Pageant of the Millenium is a burlesque of a beauty pageant with sideshow performers and burlesque dancers. The first one was created by Bambi the Mermaid, co-producer of the Burlesque at the Beach series, and of course she won, and received her crown while all the rest of us had a catfight on the stage behind her. Bambi now hosts the pageant with the Great Fredini every year, and the audience receives ballots and the winner is by audience vote. It's a real honor to participate. There is a talent segment (a series of burlesque numbers) and a gown competition. I wouldn't miss it! This year's pageant was a blast, with, among others, Legs Malone as a Siamese fighting fish and Fem Appeal as a gypsy fortune teller. Both of them were celebrating performance anniversaries--Legs two years, Fem three. We are so lucky in New York to have such a huge wave of new, inventive, fabulous talent! This year I'm particularly proud to an...

Ricci Cortez blew everybody away at the 2005 MEW gathering when she got up on stage for an unplanned striptease. She did the daintiest walk around the perimeter of the stage and then would stop, pose in front of someone, and aim a darling smutty little move at them. Just a couple of weeks ago Indigo Blue and I were conducting a retreat in Washington State, and we showed the video from that night to the attendees, most of whom had never been to Exotic World. They each had very different approaches to performing, but every one of them loved the video. I don't know how to post that video, unfortunately. I haven't had time to do a proper post in weeks, and I still don't feel I have time to really give Ricci the honor she deserves, but I had to mention her passing. Click here to read Laura Herbert's remembrance of her. Dr. Kay's remembrance. Sparkly Devil's remembrance. Posted by Jo Weldon, Headmistress of The New York School of Burlesque , for burlesqu...