Hello Dazzlers and Dazzler-ettes!
The next few months are a busy one for me! I'm stripping anywhere and everywhere! Come see me dazzle the crowd on these dates!
March 6th: Burlesque @ the Brass Monkey
March 9th and 16th: Miss Burlesque heat and Miss Burlesque final (if I don't get into the final, I'll be there cheering on my girls!)
April 24th: Stage Kittening for Burly Unplugged.
May 29th: Debuting a Brand New Routine at Burly Unplugged!
June: Watch this space.....
Keep on Dazzling!
DD xxx
Tuesday, 26 February 2013
Sunday, 3 February 2013
Miss Burlesque Mood Board and Inspirations!
Evening Dazzlers and Dazzler-ettes,
While being struck down with sickness and in between my rhinestoning I've managed to put together a mood board of my routines and gown, while there's still a lot of the element of surprise still don't worry, I still want to share my choices and give an education to those going to their first Miss Burlesque!
First off:
So the first time everyone sees you on stage is in "The Gown" I think this shows off your personality as who you are as a performer for the first time on stage for those who haven't seen Burlesque before, and re-establishing how you want to be remembered as for your fans. Part of me wanted to go 1950's, but when that dress didn't quite work out as planned, I went for something a little closer to my idea of who I am as a performer.
From late Edwardian (1900's) to the 1930's the designs of dress really started to change into a more column-like form, and the beading designs and occasional pleating at the front reflected that look, while the dresses above are more your 1920's to 1930's, the Edwardians also had some very non-bustled looked coming through which helped along the column look we associate now with the 20's. I would have enjoyed going for the Victoriana kit-out, however for me I very much enjoy shaping dresses to my contours! The 5th picture of the form fitting 1940's dress, is definitely a testament to that "curvaceous" look I like and will be embracing in my gown style. The hint/inspiration for my gown?:
"The Steampunk showgirl" is a routine that is very close to my heart, it's my biggest and most sparkliest, you all have seen some pictures of the outer costume but there's been some enhancements since my photo shoot in November! Steampunk is a genre that gets a lot of love like Burlesque, and is also one that is very free and open to interpretation within a certain boundry as well, similar to how Burlesque is sometimes too. Either way, the inspirations of the Victorian Burlesque beginnings are there in the routine, which I am passionate about, and that's the biggest thing really having that passion when you're out there dancing and it's the biggest thing for me as a performer. Of course, it also has a special homage to Millie De Leon, the first woman who raunched up the Burlesque stage!
I hope you all enjoy yourselves when you come along!
You can buy tickets to the March 9th heat (which I start in) and the March 16th final Here!
You can also find out more information about the competition and the competitors at:
http://missburlesqueinternational.com/
**Please note as of publishing the website is down until Monday 4th Feb**
And also the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/missburlesqueaus
Keep on Dazzling!
DD xxx
While being struck down with sickness and in between my rhinestoning I've managed to put together a mood board of my routines and gown, while there's still a lot of the element of surprise still don't worry, I still want to share my choices and give an education to those going to their first Miss Burlesque!
First off:
So the first time everyone sees you on stage is in "The Gown" I think this shows off your personality as who you are as a performer for the first time on stage for those who haven't seen Burlesque before, and re-establishing how you want to be remembered as for your fans. Part of me wanted to go 1950's, but when that dress didn't quite work out as planned, I went for something a little closer to my idea of who I am as a performer.
From late Edwardian (1900's) to the 1930's the designs of dress really started to change into a more column-like form, and the beading designs and occasional pleating at the front reflected that look, while the dresses above are more your 1920's to 1930's, the Edwardians also had some very non-bustled looked coming through which helped along the column look we associate now with the 20's. I would have enjoyed going for the Victoriana kit-out, however for me I very much enjoy shaping dresses to my contours! The 5th picture of the form fitting 1940's dress, is definitely a testament to that "curvaceous" look I like and will be embracing in my gown style. The hint/inspiration for my gown?:
Next, the first routine we perform, the "Classic":
The classic routine is based on the "Golden Era" of Burlesque, something I haven't yet touched on this blog as I'm still looking at Dance Styles of pre-1920's, but the Golden Era was considered 1920-1960 when the acts got raunchier and yet also more stylized than those put on by their Victorian Sisters!
In terms of this Era, I've definitely gone 1950's with my performance, and going with a "Hitchiker" theme thanks to the song from the "Las Vegas Grind" music Volumes "Exit 6" by the Jaguars. This was a song in the end of the 1950's (1959 in fact) that girls actually did strip to, so it makes perfect sense to do the right thing by this song and keep on stripping to it! The hitchiker theme came from the second photo, which is a favourite of mine by Laura Bynes of Mosh for Pinupgirlclothing.com. She looks so glamourous in the middle of the desert, this juxtaposition of remaining glam in a bad situation for me it works as an idea to build on! Of course the look for costuming is all vintage, making my costume using patterns from a vintage wiggle dress slightly modified for body type and lingerie.
Next is the "Neo" Routine:
I think this very much explains itself. This part of the competition is everything post 1960 onwards, especially geared towards the 1990's onward revivalist movement or "Neo-Burlesque" as the term was coined. If it wasn't for those wonderful ladies we wouldn't have Miss Burlesque at this time as it is, quite possibly not at all yet. A lot of the Neo Movement is also in the Parody and the story which adds to what the performer is trying to say, the art is there for a lot of Neo performers and I can say I'm more in the Neo camp than the Classic camp, despite using very classic dancing in a lot of my performances.
Carmen Sandiego is almost a parody in a computer game, especially of spies/jewel thieves and other than Commander Keen and Pinball, this was the computer game of my childhood, we even had "Where in SPACE is Carmen Sandiego?". I love facts and information collecting, and I loved spies thanks to watching dad's James Bond movies even as a child. While I'm not going into the routine, I can tell you now, I have the red trench and the red hat, you wont BELIEVE whats under it though!
Never seen it before? Well click on the youtube video to obtain an education!
And now, the Final Act, The "Unique":
The "Unique" act is a very important act and also one that if you make it to the finals, you have a 50/50 shot of performing, it shows probably the most of who you are as a performer and what makes you unique in a sea of beautiful women wearing even more beautiful pasties!
I hope you all enjoy yourselves when you come along!
You can buy tickets to the March 9th heat (which I start in) and the March 16th final Here!
You can also find out more information about the competition and the competitors at:
http://missburlesqueinternational.com/
**Please note as of publishing the website is down until Monday 4th Feb**
And also the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/missburlesqueaus
Keep on Dazzling!
DD xxx
Sunday, 30 December 2012
Queens of 2012! Hooray!
Evening Dazzlers and Dazzler-ettes!
Given that tomorrow we ring in the new year, I thought we should go over some of the women who have made Burlesque more dazzling and delightful this year with their amazing wins in their respective competitions!
First Up, I've been dying for an excuse to put this one, because goddamn she is smoking! This years "Queen of Burlesque" at the New Orleans Burlesque Festival 2012 was Angi B Lovely, her routine is to a live band is amazing, in fact all contestants used the live band which I think is awesome! Her bumps and classic startup still gets me, so enjoy!
Next up, we're skipping across back home to Australia to this years winner of Miss Burlesque 2012, Briana Bluebell, who made a bang with her winning James Bond routine! Given that I'm entering the 2013 competition, you know what kinda of caliber of dancer we have in Australia!
Now we travel back to the motherland for the World Burlesque Games 2012 in the UK and we find ourselves the winner of the Female British crown, Eliza DeLite, who looks radiant and beautiful and her costume makes me giggle with girlish glee! I don't what it is but I can't embed this baby either! So go to the link!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBh7BZjohT8
Now we head back to America to the 10th Anniversary of the New York Burlesque festival, where while many people's choice awards are voted for, the one I am personally most excited about is "The Cutest Geek in Burlesque award" this year won by Dangrrr Doll, and after watching this, for good reason! Sorry guys, still can't embed with this website still!
http://www.burlesquestars.net/video/dangrrr-doll-at-nybf-2012/5541
And now finally, the reigning queen of Burlesque for 2012 deserve the last spot on this list. She really is such an amazing performer in Burlesque in Australia, Imogen Kelly has paved the way for Aussie Burlesque dancers for the future I hope, and while I couldn't find a video of the Flamingo routine (which I have seen and loved!) I found the next best thing, her Marie Antoinette routine! I'm adding this version purely for my own love of Paul Mcdermott!
So keep well and don't get too drunk lovelies! We'll see you in the new year ready to tease and excite at Miss Burlesque for you lot!
DD xxx
Given that tomorrow we ring in the new year, I thought we should go over some of the women who have made Burlesque more dazzling and delightful this year with their amazing wins in their respective competitions!
First Up, I've been dying for an excuse to put this one, because goddamn she is smoking! This years "Queen of Burlesque" at the New Orleans Burlesque Festival 2012 was Angi B Lovely, her routine is to a live band is amazing, in fact all contestants used the live band which I think is awesome! Her bumps and classic startup still gets me, so enjoy!
Next up, we're skipping across back home to Australia to this years winner of Miss Burlesque 2012, Briana Bluebell, who made a bang with her winning James Bond routine! Given that I'm entering the 2013 competition, you know what kinda of caliber of dancer we have in Australia!
Now we travel back to the motherland for the World Burlesque Games 2012 in the UK and we find ourselves the winner of the Female British crown, Eliza DeLite, who looks radiant and beautiful and her costume makes me giggle with girlish glee! I don't what it is but I can't embed this baby either! So go to the link!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBh7BZjohT8
Now we head back to America to the 10th Anniversary of the New York Burlesque festival, where while many people's choice awards are voted for, the one I am personally most excited about is "The Cutest Geek in Burlesque award" this year won by Dangrrr Doll, and after watching this, for good reason! Sorry guys, still can't embed with this website still!
http://www.burlesquestars.net/video/dangrrr-doll-at-nybf-2012/5541
And now finally, the reigning queen of Burlesque for 2012 deserve the last spot on this list. She really is such an amazing performer in Burlesque in Australia, Imogen Kelly has paved the way for Aussie Burlesque dancers for the future I hope, and while I couldn't find a video of the Flamingo routine (which I have seen and loved!) I found the next best thing, her Marie Antoinette routine! I'm adding this version purely for my own love of Paul Mcdermott!
So keep well and don't get too drunk lovelies! We'll see you in the new year ready to tease and excite at Miss Burlesque for you lot!
DD xxx
Saturday, 29 December 2012
Burlesque History Lesson: We'll dance the Hootchie Coochie!
Hello Dazzlers and Dazzler-ettes!
I've gotta say, with a lot of delving into the information highway called the internet, I've found that a lot of the Victorian Era really got their raunch on in the late 1880's and 1890's and have been dubbed by some as the "Naughty Nineties"! I cant wait to look into this more!
That being said, one of the raunchiest dances that became synonymous with the strip is the cooch dance, also known at the hootch-kootch, hootchie-kootchie, and many other spellings, but essentially its all the same dance.
Cooch dancing is basically Belly Dancing, but again, Victorian spinmasters got their hands on it and it became quite a popular dance to do during burlesque shows, there was a lot of shimmying, shaking and the belly movements were an unusual trick not seen in western countries.
While the first listed time the dance was performed is in the 1876 in a convention in Philadelphia, however it didn't take off until the Chicago World's Fair in 1893 when it was included as part of a main section called "A Street in Cairo" where at one end you could get a Camel ride and the other end you could watch the girls dance their dance from 10am until 10pm every day of the fair! They were definitely more covered up that their burlesque companions, they wore baggy pants and some veils, however, it was the bare stomachs and bare feet that caused the most scandal, as well having their hair out and hanging down their shoulders, having your out in public had you considered to be a wild woman with loose morals!
What came out of it though was that there were women called "Little Egypt" who would then perform similar routines. Funnily enough, it's never been clear who "Little Egypt" was as the organisers never named any of their dancers that name. In fact, it wasn't until 1895 that a dancer in Coney Island New York actually called herself "Little Egypt" when dancing the cooch dance, who , of course, got arrested for her gyrations, which boosted sales for the attraction at Coney Island.
Here's a video of one such cooch dancer, names Princess Rajah, who does it with a chair in her mouth (this video is part of the Library of Congress video archiving project, there is some really great stuff on their youtube channel!)
I've gotta say, with a lot of delving into the information highway called the internet, I've found that a lot of the Victorian Era really got their raunch on in the late 1880's and 1890's and have been dubbed by some as the "Naughty Nineties"! I cant wait to look into this more!
That being said, one of the raunchiest dances that became synonymous with the strip is the cooch dance, also known at the hootch-kootch, hootchie-kootchie, and many other spellings, but essentially its all the same dance.
Cooch dancing is basically Belly Dancing, but again, Victorian spinmasters got their hands on it and it became quite a popular dance to do during burlesque shows, there was a lot of shimmying, shaking and the belly movements were an unusual trick not seen in western countries.
While the first listed time the dance was performed is in the 1876 in a convention in Philadelphia, however it didn't take off until the Chicago World's Fair in 1893 when it was included as part of a main section called "A Street in Cairo" where at one end you could get a Camel ride and the other end you could watch the girls dance their dance from 10am until 10pm every day of the fair! They were definitely more covered up that their burlesque companions, they wore baggy pants and some veils, however, it was the bare stomachs and bare feet that caused the most scandal, as well having their hair out and hanging down their shoulders, having your out in public had you considered to be a wild woman with loose morals!
What came out of it though was that there were women called "Little Egypt" who would then perform similar routines. Funnily enough, it's never been clear who "Little Egypt" was as the organisers never named any of their dancers that name. In fact, it wasn't until 1895 that a dancer in Coney Island New York actually called herself "Little Egypt" when dancing the cooch dance, who , of course, got arrested for her gyrations, which boosted sales for the attraction at Coney Island.
Here's a video of one such cooch dancer, names Princess Rajah, who does it with a chair in her mouth (this video is part of the Library of Congress video archiving project, there is some really great stuff on their youtube channel!)
The dance stayed popular in theatres, but didn't get really popular until the raunch was kicked up a notch in St Louis' Expo in 1896 where the first "strip" cooch dance was performed by a dancer named Omeena, more than likely using veils. Veils were very popular and Oscar Wilde's interpretation of the biblical story "Salome" came out at the same time telling how she did a dance of the Seven Veils strip to get John the Baptist released. These dances became popular in the period of 1904 at another St Louis Expo and 1907 and the strip started to really come in then.
Of course, the most famous interpretation of this dance is Rita Hayworth's performance in the movie "Salome". And of course I'm adding because well, it's fabulous!
There are quite a few parody songs about Salome and Coochie dancing that were written at the time, it seemed that the fad which had come into the 21st century was here to stay....However in 1908, the idea of "Venus" in her clam became the new fad, and the shimmys and shakes of the cooch dancing did not come back in vogue until the 1920's thanks to the flapper lifestyle, which became included in your basic bump, thrusts and shakes you see in early burlesque routines!
That's all for now but I am going to be doing my fave queens of 2012 before NYE for you all in between rehearsals for Miss Burlesque and I am also going to review an interesting book which was part of a Kickstarter I supported recently!
Keep on Dazzling!
DD xxx
Miss Burlesque WA Heat Tickets are now on sale!
Hello Dazzlers & Dazzler-ettes!
As you all know, I'm competing in Miss Burlesque Australia this year and I'm competing in the Western Australia Heats first on March 9th, and if I get into the finals on March 16th! (If I don't I'm still going to be cheering them all on!)
Well *Ahem* Tickets are on sale now!!!
Facebook Event here: http://www.facebook.com/events/421975461207218/
Buy Tickets at: http://www.flybynight.org/
And don't forget to check all us sexy ladies out at: http://missburlesqueinternational.com/
DD xxx
As you all know, I'm competing in Miss Burlesque Australia this year and I'm competing in the Western Australia Heats first on March 9th, and if I get into the finals on March 16th! (If I don't I'm still going to be cheering them all on!)
Well *Ahem* Tickets are on sale now!!!
Facebook Event here: http://www.facebook.com/events/421975461207218/
Buy Tickets at: http://www.flybynight.org/
And don't forget to check all us sexy ladies out at: http://missburlesqueinternational.com/
DD xxx
Friday, 14 December 2012
Burlesque Shows at Fringeworld 2013 Perth!
Hello Dazzlers and Dazzler-ettes!
I'm practicing for Miss Burlesque and sewing in between at the moment, but I've seen the Fringe world shows slowly trickling out and I gotta say, I am really excited about whats coming to Perth for 2013!
I had planned to see about 10 Shows, but I've brought it down to 7, mostly because some were on when I had to go to Melbourne!
Shows to see this year are:
*Trixie and Monkey - Flipping and stripping! (Yay! I've been dying to see these two!)
*Club Velvet - Lady Velvet Cabaret
*Comic Strip - Various Artists (including Captain Kidd!!!!)
*Lucha Royale - Azure Entertainment, These guys won the peoples choice award in 2012!
*Aardvark Variety Hour - One of a few Boylesque shows which makes me happy!
* The Chronicles of Burlesque - Sugar Blue's fringe show which is ALWAYS a sell out!
*The Birdcage - Twisted Vaudeville Circus Feat. Inga Ingenue from the US! they are also doing a circus sideshow and a boylesque version of the Birdcage!
If I have missed any PLEASE tell me! I want to know so I can perve on you all!
Get your tickets at: https://www.fringeworld.com.au/
DD xxx
I'm practicing for Miss Burlesque and sewing in between at the moment, but I've seen the Fringe world shows slowly trickling out and I gotta say, I am really excited about whats coming to Perth for 2013!
I had planned to see about 10 Shows, but I've brought it down to 7, mostly because some were on when I had to go to Melbourne!
Shows to see this year are:
*Trixie and Monkey - Flipping and stripping! (Yay! I've been dying to see these two!)
*Club Velvet - Lady Velvet Cabaret
*Comic Strip - Various Artists (including Captain Kidd!!!!)
*Lucha Royale - Azure Entertainment, These guys won the peoples choice award in 2012!
*Aardvark Variety Hour - One of a few Boylesque shows which makes me happy!
* The Chronicles of Burlesque - Sugar Blue's fringe show which is ALWAYS a sell out!
*The Birdcage - Twisted Vaudeville Circus Feat. Inga Ingenue from the US! they are also doing a circus sideshow and a boylesque version of the Birdcage!
If I have missed any PLEASE tell me! I want to know so I can perve on you all!
Get your tickets at: https://www.fringeworld.com.au/
DD xxx
Monday, 3 December 2012
Photoshoot With David Woolley: The Steampunk Showgirl Shoot
Hello Dazzlers and Dazzler-ettes!
So a couple of Sundays ago, I finally spent the dollars and booked myself my first photo shoot!
I booked myself in with David Woolley, Pinup photographer extraordinaire and who also specializes in Steampunk photo shoots as well! He's been shooting Pinup photo sessions for a few years, but it's in the last year he's started the Steampunk photo shoots. Perth's really lucky to have a photographer that can do both and do both well!
I chose two types of looks, both contrasting, one light and in lingerie, the other darker in my showgirl costume. I had my hair and makeup done by Siouxane, A really really talented FX artist here in Perth whose work I've quietly fangirled over in the past. Listening to her and getting her tips is always a great thing.
The light and lingerie photo shoot came out very femme fatale/Saloon girl, I don't consider this a bad thing, Steampunk western has intrigued me of late, or at least deep south American steampunk!
The costuming I made the majority of, using both modern and vintage reproduction patterns, my favourite is the corset cover, made from a vintage repo 1897 pattern from www.vpll.org, go there, her patterns are amazing! some of it will need tweaking for dancing in I've discovered, but they are surprinsingly light for a bustle skirt and corset cover. I've got more coming in the series, but I wanted to show these because they really are some of my favourite photos, and it's exciting to do these kind of shoots, and I'd love to do more in the future!
The full album is here on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.382874458466850.95373.362402200514076&type=3
You can find David's work and book him for your own Steampunk/Pin up girl session at: http://www.davidwoolley.com.au/ and http://www.vintageglamourphotography.com/
You can drool over Siouxane's work at: http://www.siouxanemartincic.com/
DD xxx
So a couple of Sundays ago, I finally spent the dollars and booked myself my first photo shoot!
I booked myself in with David Woolley, Pinup photographer extraordinaire and who also specializes in Steampunk photo shoots as well! He's been shooting Pinup photo sessions for a few years, but it's in the last year he's started the Steampunk photo shoots. Perth's really lucky to have a photographer that can do both and do both well!
I chose two types of looks, both contrasting, one light and in lingerie, the other darker in my showgirl costume. I had my hair and makeup done by Siouxane, A really really talented FX artist here in Perth whose work I've quietly fangirled over in the past. Listening to her and getting her tips is always a great thing.
The light and lingerie photo shoot came out very femme fatale/Saloon girl, I don't consider this a bad thing, Steampunk western has intrigued me of late, or at least deep south American steampunk!
The next part of the shoot, I went dark hair with a wig, and went all out with guns and exploring looking for treasure, all in my Rhinestone encrusted goggles! My favourite and unconventional accessory! It looks like I can't see in them, But I actually can!
The costuming I made the majority of, using both modern and vintage reproduction patterns, my favourite is the corset cover, made from a vintage repo 1897 pattern from www.vpll.org, go there, her patterns are amazing! some of it will need tweaking for dancing in I've discovered, but they are surprinsingly light for a bustle skirt and corset cover. I've got more coming in the series, but I wanted to show these because they really are some of my favourite photos, and it's exciting to do these kind of shoots, and I'd love to do more in the future!
The full album is here on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.382874458466850.95373.362402200514076&type=3
You can find David's work and book him for your own Steampunk/Pin up girl session at: http://www.davidwoolley.com.au/ and http://www.vintageglamourphotography.com/
You can drool over Siouxane's work at: http://www.siouxanemartincic.com/
DD xxx
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