Jo Weldon's New York School of Burlesque

Interview with Deirdre Timmons Director, A Wink and a Smile http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjDNZJYuQAY "An intoxicating mix of private thoughts and public behavior, A Wink and a Smile exposes more than the human body by putting gender, power, sexuality and social identity under the glittery spotlight, as it follows the lives of ten "ordinary" women who do something extraordinary – learn the art burlesque dancing and striptease. Through their adventures, we see how a homemaker, a reporter, a doctor, an opera singer, a taxidermist and a college student, join the American cultural revival of burlesque, as it moves from fringe fascination to mainstream obsession, engaging a world where performance art and showgirl spectacle, music, theater and sensuality crash into over-the-top glamour - a world where many want to go, but very few dare." On Saturday, May 2, I'll be performing with some of the subjects of this film at Quad Cinema in New York, so I took it up...

I didn't make it to see the show this year. Thank goodness for photographers! The Land of the Sweets All photos by Chris Blakeley , used with permission.

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 .

Go Indigo! A WINK AND A SMILE HITS NYC (SEATTLE, WA) – A WINK AND A SMILE makes its NYC premiere at CMJ’s Music Marathon and Film Festival Friday, Oct. 24 at Tribeca Cinemas, 54 Varick St. (at Laight Street). Go-go dancers Sugar Magnolia and Miss Fleur de Lys will launch WINK’S weekend burly blowout, warming up audiences at 6:45 p.m. at the theater. Film begins at 7:15 p.m. Tickets available at http://www.ticketweb.com under A Wink and a Smile. In celebration of WINK’S East Coast debut, Miss Valentine’s at Midnight and The Swedish Housewife present a special evening on Saturday, Oct. 25 with stars of the film – Miss Indigo Blue, The Swedish Housewife, Mercury Troy and New York City’s very own Little Brooklyn and Leroi the Girl Boi at Duane Park, 157 Duane St. (between West Broadway and Hudson). Doors open at 11 p.m. Show begins at 11:30 p.m. There is a $25 cover charge with a two drink minimum. Location details at www.duaneparknyc.com. For reservations call 212.732.5555. ...

Seattle has some kickass burlesque. Every time I go I see incredible, gorgeous shows full of fantastic ideas, brilliant costumes, and fierce dancing. If you aren't lucky enough to catch the scene, however, know that you are still some good bit of lucky, because in addition to having amazing performers, Seattle has its own amazing chronicler of the Seattle burlesque scene, Chris Blakeley . A Polaroid of Chris with Babette LaFave, Paula the Swedish Housewife, Miss Indigo Blue, and Tamara the Trapeze Lady. He's taken thousands of photos at hundreds of shows, and has published is own book, the beautiful and substantial Tassels and Emeralds: A journey through Seattle Burlesque . It features descriptions and delicious photos of many of the performers I love, including Miss Indigo Blue, Paula the Swedish Housewife, Babette La Fave, Waxie Moon, the astonishing Atomic Bombshells, and the beloved Von Foxies, and too many more spectacular performers to list here. The book leaves...

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