Jo Weldon's New York School of Burlesque

I saw a burlesque show produced by the Pontani Sisters and hosted by Murray Hill at the Slipper Room in 2002, when the current burlesque scene was just a sparkle in all our eyes. Now it's a worldwide phenomenon producing some of the most spectacular performers burlesque has ever known, and Murray and Angie brought together a group of those fabulous performers in New York City, where burlesque striptease once flourished, was outlawed, and has bloomed all over again. The Queens of Burlesque show on March 11 was held at Le Poisson Rouge, a gorgeous red and black venue with great sightlines. Featuring Murray and Angie as well as Immodesty Blaize , Dirty Martini , Michelle L’amour , Julie Atlas Muz , Miss Indigo Blue , Perle Noire and Catherine D’Lish , it was properly touted as the burlesque show not to miss. All of the performers were award-winners in the Exotic World/Burlesque Hall of Fame pageants, and they proved that these awards go to the most glamourous, charismatic, dedicated...

One of my favorite photos of all time of one of my favorite events of all time. http://www.burlyconseattle.com/ Posted by Jo Weldon, Headmistress of The New York School of Burlesque , for burlesquedaily.blogspot.com .

These are photos I took backstage at the Heavens in Seattle, right before I left for the Sex Workers' Art Show tour. Pictured: Lily Verlaine at the dressing table, Dirty Martini's dressing table space, Lily wearing pasties molded from the nipples of Paula the Swedish Housewife with Paula in the background, and Indigo doing her makeup. http://www.myspace.com/lilyverlaine http://www.missindigoblue.com/ http://www.swedishhousewife.com/ http://www.missdirtymartini.com/ More backstage photos by Jo Weldon