The Burlesque Handbook

The Burlesque Handbook
See what's in it!


Me teaching at Tease-O-Rama in a clip from the documentary "No Strings Attached" by Lisa Whitmer. See the trailer (which shows me as a bumping grinding Godzilla among the goddesses) at http://www.lisawhitmer.com

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Paste Won't Keep Your Pasties On

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People always ask questions about pasties. They are, after all, pretty peculiar articles of clothing, in spite of being some of the most traditional items in most neo-burlesquers' wardrobes. As far as I know they are unique to burlesque--at least in terms of dance costuming. One time I was standing in the lobby after a show with my friend Francesca, and someone came up and asked me a question about tassel-twirling. After I talked about physics a bit, the woman said, "And how do you keep the pasties on?" Francesca said, "With paste!"


Above: Me at the Slipper Room. Photo by Rocket.

Well, we don't use paste--it's not sticky enough, and the kids eat it. But how to keep a twirler's pasties from twirling right off is a frequent subject of discussions backstage. I use flash tape, myself. I have a slight allergic reaction to it, but pinker nipples are fine with me. The tape makes quick changes quicker, and it's perfect for when I perform my signature ac…
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In Honor of Satan's Angel

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Interview with a Legend: Satan's Angel
September 06, 2007


Usually on Fridays I post a "Feline Fridays" interview about leopard print costumes, but today I want to honor the passing of Satan's Angel by reposting this interview.

Satan's Angel was one of the first Burlesque Legends I met, I believe over 15 years ago, and I'm so glad I knew her. She was one of the fiercest people I've ever known, having lived through a time when gay women were persecuted and marginalized to an extent it's hard for younger Americans' to imagine. She was vivid, opinionated, challenging, and full of stories. She traveled the world, loved hard, and inspired generations of new performers. My heart goes out to her family and other loved ones today. I'll miss her, too. The interview is over 12 years old, so the original images are missing from the sites where they were hosted at the time. I'll search for them and fill them in later. Image above was lifted from http://ww…
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Stage Kitten Guidelines

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Hey folks! A lot of my students are asking about stage kitten duties. I'm creating a handout, and one of our former students will be conducting a workshop. I'd appreciate your thoughts on what I've written. Most of the shows I produce are workshop showcases, so I've gotten input from regular producers and kittens who work for them.


Ray Ray Sunshine kittening after my Godzilla act at Michelle L'Amour's Speakeasy in Chicago.

FOR THE KITTENS

It’s crucial to understand first of all that each producer will have their own guidelines, some of which may be different than these. However, these will let you know some of the things stage kittens need to think about, with the questions they most frequently ask.

Q: What is a stage kitten?
A: A stage kitten is the person who picks up the costume pieces and props after a burlesque number. They get lots of stage time! When you're kittening, be sure to watch the performers undress to help you know what to pick up…
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