Burlesque Seattle Press

Jessica Price, Editor/Writer (Seattle)

Driven by a burning desire to document and shed some light on Seattle’s incredible burlesque universe, I launched Burlesque Seattle Press as a way to air my obsession publicly. As a freelance writer, I realized that burlesque was sneaking more and more into my assignments.

Madonna- and years later, Bettie Page- were the gateway drugs that naturally, became a preoccupation with dynamic female entertainers and all things burlesque. This site- now covering Seattle, Portland, and beyond- is dedicated to everyone that has ever thrilled a crowd onstage, with a special big kiss to Seattle-based performers and their far-flung, adopted families.

contact BSP at: burlesqueseattlepress@gmail.com

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Rayleen Coutrney, Contributing Writer (Portland)

Rayleen Courtney took the first steps down her burlycue path in October 2006, upon being bestowed the honor of managing Portland neo-burlesque troupe, the Rose City Sirens. In 2008 she founded SinnSavvy Productions– now one of the Pacific Northwest’s leading burlesque production teams. While maintaining responsibility for Portland’s only weekly burlesque revue, “Savoir Faire”, and the city’s largest ongoing burlesque extravaganza, “The Rosehip Revue”, Miss Courtney also co-produces the Oregon Burlesque Podcast with her special manfriend, Tyler Spencer. Her written musings on peeler culture have been found in The Portland Mercury, and now Burlesque Seattle Press. She lives in Portland, Oregon with Mister Spencer and her exorbitantly lazy and charming canine beast, Jaykob Doo.

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Paul O'Connell/ POC Photo, Contributing Photographer & Writer (Seattle)

I got into burlesque pretty much after my first show. It was an Academy of Burlesque Recital at The Rendezvous, January 2005. My friend Ruby Caliente was performing (she only performed a few times) and asked me to take photos of her routine. The show was sexy, dirty, provocative, funny and titillating. I was hooked. 50,000 thousand photos and 6 years later, I’m ensconced in the world of burlesque and loving every minute of it.

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Madeline Rider, Contributing Writer (Seattle)

Having always had an attraction towards the radical and political, my early exploration of feminism was facilitated by the female punk rock and grunge icons of the 1990s. Through out much of my adolescence and young adulthood, I held onto the image of a strong woman as nitty and gritty, with a pair of Docs, and a take-no-shit attitude. “Glamour” did not fit into this definition, therefore I rejected it.

As the years ticked by and my life evolved, I questioned that definition and struggled to seek balance between my preconceived notions of female strength and my natural inclination to the beautiful and feminine. Enter the Academy of Burlesque.

After my first class at the Academy under the instruction of Miss Indigo Blue, Inga Ingénue, and Ruby Mimosa, I knew I had found what I was looking for. That initial Bump and Grind recital at the Rendezvous paved the way for countless volunteer positions at the Academy and production internships under Miss Indigo Blue and currently Lily Verlaine. A large portion of my time is now devoted to the production and promotion of a life-changing art form and I am happy and grateful to share this with you!