It's time for round three.

- by Madeline Rider (Contributing Writer, Seattle)

Unfortunately, I have not yet had the privilege of attending the previous incarnations of Heidi Von Haught and Randi Rascal’s infamous production That’s Fucked Up. Lucky for me, the third installment of the notoriously deviant variety show runs this Friday through Sunday at ReBar, “the only venue unscrupulous enough to host such an orgy of grotesquerie!” As fellow Burlesque Press Seattle cohort and editor Jessica Price notes in her previous posts on the TFU legacy (see here, here, and here), the producers have chosen to evolve their strategy regarding act submission and curation. As opposed to handpicking previously known and seen acts, this time around we saw Facebook posts requesting a two part audition including both a written submission and a physical conceptualization of the final piece. In a community where “change” and “evolution” of the art form seems to be on the tips of everyone’s tongues, this open-minded approach to the curation process is indicative of not only the boundary pushing promised within the show itself, but of revolution in Seattle burlesque production.

When I sat down with Heidi and Randi, as well as TFU performer Wiggy Stardust, in August of last year to talk with the trio about reProduction: A Burlesque Benefit for NARAL Pro-Choice Washington, I was given a clear look into the personal motivations behind the politically-charged producers. Each individual’s experience contributed to the commentary made within their pieces. Often silly and occasionally dark, as producers and performers Heidi and Randi take the little nagging voices inside of them- the same ones we are probably all familiar with- that recognize the urgent need for change, and materialize them into a splendid display of hilariously uncomfortable yet none-the-less palatable critical thinking and performance. While all this serious commentary is happening, they still manage to bring a certain levity that rounds out an immensely entertaining show.

With what seems like impeccable timing, this Friday’s opening of That’s Fucked Up 3- a show whose producers claim “discomfort leads to growth”- comes on the tail-end of a shocking post on Seattle’s own Sydni Deveraux’s Q&A column Stripper Talk on her blog Living in a Glitter Wonderland. After fielding a rather ignorant (and insulting) question quite tactfully, Ms. Deveraux’s comment thread exploded with conversation and discussion regarding political correctness, cultural boundaries, and addressing intentionality and motivation behind politically charged satire within burlesque and performance art. A purposefully controversial show such as TFU3 serves as a vehicle for a similar conversation and as I have much faith in the brains of producers Heidi Von Haught and Randi Rascal, as well as the performers listed on their bill, I look forward to my first experience with what’s fucked up.

At 7:00pm on February 10, 11, and 12th at ReBar, That’s Fucked Up 3 is hosted by Armitage Shanks and features Waxie Moon, Sabrina Chap, The Luminous Pariah, Jackie Hell, Tata Hari, Oakland’s Juciy D. Light, Wiggy Stardust, Flirty Sanchez, Paris and Trojan Orignal, Bella Bijoux and Jenny Penny. Tickets are 21+, $15adv/$18dos and available at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/222279. ReBar is located at 1114 Howell Street, Seattle WA 98102.

Read more from Sydni Deveraux’s Living in a Glitter Wonderland at http://thegoldenglamazon.wordpress.com/.

Never let it be said that Stripped Screw is inflexible.   In their brazen history (so far) are roughly half a dozen lineup changes, scads of intriguing themes (What to Wear to the Apocalypse, anyone?), a helping of atypical narratives mixed with multiple road shows, guests, venues, and side projects… and a few hefty surprises.  But we’ll get to that in a moment.

What’s most important is that in that Stripped Screw circa 2012 has some might lofty aspirations, and they’re edging a little outside their own safety net with every show.  In other words, under the sharp eye of Violet Tendencies and her well-chosen company, Stripped Screw (and Violet’s own Valkyrie Productions) is making impressive strides forward in the densely populated burlesque city of Seattle.

Stripped Screw’s successful Disney After Dark show (which toured regionally in Portland and Olympia) returns for three nights March 8-10.  The shows will take place at the beautiful Columbia City Theater, which was built in 1917 and is the oldest vaudeville theater in the state of Washington.  The cast includes all of Stripped Screw Burlesque: Violet Tendencies, Stella D’Letto, Kylie Koyote, Kutie La Bootie…plus auxiliary Screw Roxie Moxie, returning from Texas especially for Disney After Dark.  Other guests include Prince(ss) Longfellow, Paris Original, Trojan Original, Bella Bijoux, Iva Handfull and Tin Pan Sally.

As for that big announcement… in addition to featuring Baby Le’Strange from Rose City Shimmy (Portland) and Evilyn Sin Claire of Sinner Saint, Stripped Screw has confirmed a big, beautiful star will guest in Disney After Dark:  the one and only Tigger, all the way from New York City.

Tigger started stripteasing in 1992 and was one of the first performers in New York’s burlesque revival.   There weren’t many men performing under the banner of “burlesque” at that time;  years later Tigger met up with other pioneering male performers like San Francisco’s Roky Roulette and Baltimore’s Evil Hate Monkey.  Over the years, Tigger became an accidental mentor and teacher to a new generation of burlesque and boylesquers.   He is a cherished performer in the world of modern burlesque.

As for how Stripped Screw got Tigger’s attention for Disney After Dark, the ladies had this to say:

“We were watching a recording of our Olympia show from last September… our Technical Director,  Selby Von Selby, said  ‘ Wouldn’t it be cool to have Tigger join the cast? How often do you think Tigger gets to be Tigger?!’  We all gasped with delight and laughed- of course it would be amazing, but really, Tigger?  Come here to do D.A.D. with us? Our lovely Princess scolded us saying it doesn’t hurt to ask… so we asked!  After sharing our story line, photos and video- Tigger was IN!”

Tigger at Coney Island (Photo by Laure Leber)

Disney After Dark: March 8, 9 & 10 at Columbia City Theater, Shows at 9 pm

Tickets on sale now at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/221638

The Seattle Erotic Art Festival has been gaining momentum for the last ten years, with every year encouraging greater freedom of expression and encompassing ever-widening genres of erotic-based art and performance.  The Festival has always been a supporter of the burlesque community and its many performers, photographers, and advocates.  Last year’s Red Light District themed highlights included a wealth of visual art, as well as a live action Lusty Lady replication and a seamless performance directed by David Crellin (aka Armitage Shanks) combining aerial, modern dance, pole-dancing, and burlesque/boylesque.

The Seattle Erotic Art Festival isn’t only about stimulating your eyes.  The Festival is the flagship program of the nonprofit Foundation for Sex Positive Culture, which works constantly, selflessly- and when it comes to the arts, glamorously- to advance sex positive growth and tolerance.   The Foundation’s  mission statement says it best:

“We believe that the appropriate uses of sex extend beyond reproduction.  They include creating personal pleasure, bonding interpersonal relationships, promoting spiritual growth, and enhancing emotional and physical health.  In a sex positive world, everyone has the freedom and resources to pursue a fulfilling and empowering sex life”.

The 2012 Seattle Erotic Art Festival takes place June 16-24, marking the tenth anniversary of the Festival.   Organizers are anticipating this will be the largest presentation yet.   A call for art submissions has just been released:

10th Anniversary Seattle Erotic Art Festival CALL FOR ART: Seeking Visual Art, Short Film, Performance Art, Installations, and more

The Seattle Erotic Art Festival is accepting art submissions February 1 through March 10, 2012 for the tenth anniversary Festival, to be held June 16-24, 2012 at Fremont Studios. Selected art will be featured throughout the two-weekend event to thousands of patrons.

“This will be the Festival’s biggest and best year yet,” says Festival Director Clayton Hibbert. “We anticipate growing to over 10,000 attendees, and are thrilled that our first weekend is part of the Fremont Fair, June 16 and 17, which attracts over 100,000 people to the neighborhood. This is a great opportunity for artists to show their work to thousands of excited new patrons.”

Fremont Studios is well-equipped to professionally showcase all art forms. It features ample space for an extensive visual art gallery and large Festival Store, a modern, 50-seat movie theater for an Erotic Short Film Exhibition, a built-in stage for performances, and more.

The art submission deadline is Saturday, March 10 at 11pm PST. All artists 18 and older, from anywhere in the world, are encouraged to submit art now at SeattleErotic.org.

Call for Visual Art: On average the Festival sells more than 25% of exhibition art, has low submission fees, and competitive commission rates. Artists may submit up to five works of erotic art of any medium. Sculptors, multimedia artists and painters are particularly encouraged to apply. The 2012 jury consists of Dan Savage, author, media pundit, sex advice columnist of “Savage Love,” and co-founder of the nationally recognized It Gets Better Project; Daniel McGlothlen, erotic art collector, bondage photographer, performance artist, and previous Festival artist; Ellen Forney, celebrated cartoonist and frequent Festival artist; Jim Duvall, award-winning photographer and founder of the Seattle Erotic Art Festival; Mistress Matisse, columnist, sexuality activist, and previously accepted Festival artist. An additional juror is in the process of being confirmed.

Call for Short Film/Video: For the second year, short film will be a main attraction at the Festival, presented at Fremont Studios in a modern 50-seat movie theater. Filmmakers are encouraged to submit up to three works, each up to 30 minutes in length. The Erotic Short Film Exhibition is curated by Three Dollar Bill Cinema (producer of The Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival and The Seattle Transgender Film Festival). The jury will consist of a Three Dollar Bill Cinema review panel and the Seattle Erotic Art Festival Director.

Call for Installation Art: Installation art is extremely popular at the Festival, and artists enjoy significant notoriety as a result of media and audience reviews. For the third year, the Festival is continuing to offer its grant for interactive visual artists. Selected artists will be granted up to $750 to create works of art that feature a participatory element and encourage the audience to become part of the art. Artists may submit up to three installation proposals. Installations are selected by a Festival Curatorial Team.

Call for Literary Art: This is the fourth year of the Literary Art Exhibition, featuring work by poets, playwrights and authors from across the nation and world. Selected works are exhibited through live readings and collected in a professionally printed anthology. Artists may submit up to five pieces. The Literary Art Exhibition is curated by a team of literary experts.

Call for Store Art: The popular Festival Store is a museum-quality shop that features thousands of works of erotica selected to meet every budget and taste. The Store includes prints, small works, jewelry, cards, books, DVDs, collectibles, and more. Pieces are selected by the Retail Director.

Call for Performance Art: The Festival showcases a main stage production as well as ambient performances throughout the space. Performers are encouraged to submit an application to create an original piece or adapt an existing piece of work, based on an aspect of the erotic. Performances are selected by the internationally-acclaimed performer, writer and director David Crellin (aka Armitage Shanks). There is no submission fee to submit a performance application.

Call for DJ Proposals: The Festival books DJs for daytime and evening hours. During the day, music is selected to compliment art gallery viewing; at night the Festival becomes a seductive dance party. DJs are selected by the Music Director. There is no submission fee to submit a proposal.

Additional Details: Artists may apply to as many Calls for Art as they wish, though each Call for Art has distinct requirements and may have submission fees. Early-bird (discounted) submission fees apply until Wednesday, February 15, 11pm PST. All artists outside of North America apply for free. All artists and models depicted must be age 18 or older.

For additional information about any of the Calls for Art, please visit SeattleErotic.org or email info@SeattleErotic.org.

Rose City Shimmy visits Seattle this Thursday, January 26 (Emily Rinard Photography)

Portland’s Rose City Shimmy will be the featured performers for the Winter Guest Series at Noc Noc this Thursday, January 26- if you haven’t seen these girls yet, they really will knock your knickers off. Rose City Shimmy lovingly refers to itself as a burlesque collective- the performers within coming from varied stylistic backgrounds while continuing to perfect their art in the uninhibited production environment of Portland. This weekend several of Rose City’s members took a moment to chat with Burlesque Seattle Press:

Burlesque Seattle Press: Rose City Shimmy is Portland’s best known burlesque collective. Would you introduce the ladies, and explain the back story of how you came to perform together?

Itty Bitty Bang Bang: Rose City Shimmy is made up of 5 of Portland’s veteran performers: Meghan Mayhem, Baby Le’Strange, Hai Fleisch, Charlotte Treuse and Itty Bitty Bang Bang. Shimmy was born out of our new-found friendship through burlesque and a common creative vision. At the time of our founding in 2008, a handful of fantastic performers had gained some notoriety in Portland, but most had moved on to other cities. The scene was basically building itself back up from scratch and was poised to really take off. The 5 of us first crossed paths after regularly appearing on the stage of a monthly variety show together. Some of us had some prior experience (Meghan was co-founder of Cherry Blossom Cabaret in Hawaii and Hai was a founding member of San Francisco troupe Kiss Que C’est). The rest were burlesque beginners (Baby, Charlotte and Itty all had 1 year or less under their belts). We all had big dreams for the Portland burlesque scene. We knew it would be a rough glittery road to travel alone – so Shimmy was formed!

Baby Le’Strange: We found ourselves performing together regularly on the circuit. We decided to start producing shows together, since we meshed so well and our styles differ, which makes us well rounded to the audiences.

Itty Bitty Bang Bang (Photo by Emily Rinard Photography)

What do you think being a “collective” rather than a “troupe” lends to your creative fusion individually, and then as a unit of like-minded performers?

Itty Bitty Bang Bang: From the beginning we all wanted to create something that would give us all a vehicle to perform and a support system, but also allow us to pursue our personal burlesque goals at our own pace. We wanted to produce unique shows together while maintaining a lot of flexibility for each of us to do our own thing when we need to. It allows us to come to each other with collaborative ideas when inspiration strikes us with a real passion and enthusiasm. As a group we find that our performance styles complement each other well, and we are able to put really dynamic burlesque experiences together. Although our busy performance schedules haven’t allowed us to produce together as much as we’d hoped, when we do it’s a blast because we see eye to eye on so many levels. Each of us brings a different strength and talent to the process so the finished product is a true representation of what we can bring to the table when we work together. We hope to bring more of our visions to life in the future. More than anything, I think we all define our “collective” simply as our burlesque family. We connected through our shared experiences in a young Portland scene and the obstacles that it presented… now we’re Shimmy sisters!

Baby Le’Strange: We are all free agents in the burlesque community; there are no rules per se placed on any of the Shimmy gals to always perform together. We are all so busy with burlesque and our real lives. I really wish Portland could support a weekly show of Rose City Shimmy like it does with Sinner Saint. It is really hard work to put on a weekly show with themes changing all the time. I ultimately would love to have that happen with Shimmy…alas day jobs are essential to being a burlesque performer in our town. We all also have different visions in some perspective.

What have been your performance experiences in Seattle so far? (I know I have seen Charlotte here at least once or twice…)

Charlotte Treuse: Yes, I love Seattle, and try to perform there whenever I can. Of course I have worked mostly with the Sinner Saint ladies, but I have also danced with Madison Moone and Orchestre L’Pow! at The Triple Door and Can Can, and when I was just starting out Ginger Snapz hired me to portray the color green in her Wizard of Oz Multicultural Cabaret. That was a fun night!

Baby Le’Strange: I have performed at the Pink Door a few times a couple years ago when there weren’t as many performance opportunities in Portland. I have also guested with Sinner Saint multiple times. I had the pleasure of doing one of their kamikaze shows and it was an amazing and challenging experience. I wish I could have more improv burlesque opportunities like that more often.

How did you get to know Sinner Saint Burlesque?

Baby Le’Strange: In 2008 Charlotte and I had the pleasure of being a part of the Tease-O-Rama Roadshow, Portland edition. Baby Doe reached out to us and wanted some Portland people to come up for the Northwest kickoff pre-party which was held at Sinner Saint that Thursday night. It was a great experience. I really had no clue what I was doing at the time since I had only been performing for a few months. So ultimately it was terrifying with big names in the audience and I was a clueless newbie on stage. Great experience though. So during this all I met all the Sinner Saint ladies and kept a great connection with them over the years. I have guested at least once or twice a year since then. They have had the pleasure of watching me grow as a performer and they gave me some great opportunities and friendships.

Charlotte Treuse: Baby and I had both been selected to perform for the Portland Tease-O-Rama Roadshow in 2008. Sinner Saint was throwing a Tease-O-Rama Meet and Greet, and asked Baby Doe if she could recommend any local performers that would also be participating in the Roadshow. She recommended us, we fell in love with the ladies of Sinner Saint, and have been performing with them a couple times a year ever since. Offstage, as well, the Sinner Saint girls are some of my personal favorites. Attending BurlyCon and BHoF these past few years has definitely cemented the friendship.

In 2012, more frequent “cultural exchanges” of performers between Seattle and Portland would be an excellent way to mix things up and keep everyone firing on all cylinders creatively, since both communities have such strong performers. It will keep everyone nicely cross-pollinated and inspired. How would you describe the feel of Portland burlesque currently?

Baby Le’Strange: I think it is more closely connected than most burlesque communities around the world. We all really know and support each other. I wish I had the time and energy to go out and support every show. Also being so close to Seattle has been amazing. Having BurlyCon in the backyard is really lucky for all of us.
A couple Seattle shows have traveled down here and I have had the pleasure of being a part of Strip Screw’s Disney After Dark- and Randi Rascal’s SpeedBump tour is coming here, featuring Charlotte and I. Even though I don’t live in Seattle, I feel really closely connected to their community as well. I consider myself a performer on the fringe of things, pushing boundaries and such. There seem to be more opportunities for that in Seattle. I also run with the Queer performance community here which is really open to my weird acts.

Baby Le’Strange (Photo by Emily Rinard Photography)

Baby, you always have a hand in some interesting shows- recently you and Hai of Rose City both performed in Black Lodge Burlesque (a night inspired by David Lynch), morphing Dennis Hopper and Isabella Rosselini’s parts from the film Blue Velvet. You and Hai also recently performed in Sign of the Beast Burlesque, which embraces metal and burlesque. It feels like Portland’s creative thinkers will take chances and go to some interesting places- would you say that’s true? (For one thing, Portland seems to incorporate a lot of live music….)

Baby Le’Strange: I am really glad this is FINALLY happening. Some producers are getting more edgy with their concepts which I enjoy. I love classic burlesque, but I really don’t have any traditional acts. I really enjoy the shows that Vera Mysteria and Rocket have been producing. They aren’t afraid to take risks and they let me be as crazy with my concepts as I want to be. Coming soon is Black Lodge Burlesque 2, and a Muppets themed show in the summer. I will be portraying my favorite hippie puppet, Janice.

Hai Fleisch: Yes, it’s true that we have performed with quite a few live bands; The Stolen Sweets, Sassparilla, Trashcan Joe, The Twangshifters, and Orchestra L’Pow for example. We feel that a live band really adds an extra punch to the show. The interaction with more people onstage is always fun.

There are a lot of themed shows popping up in Portland lately, which wasn’t the case for a long time. Rose City Shimmy put on our Wild West Burlesque Showdown the Summer of 2010 because we felt there was finally an audience for burlesque in Portland, and that they would like to see a comprehensive show. Once there were people to perform for theme shows it was the natural progression, especially with the way that the scene has been exploding lately. There are so many more peelers AND audience members. Performers get a chance to flex their creative muscles and people who might not normally come to see burlesque are drawn to shows because they are interested in the theme. Critical Hit Burlesque has put on several fantastic Geeklesque shows, which Hai, Itty and Baby have all performed in. Charlotte is bringing a little something to the next one, February 4th. Hai, Baby, Meghan and Itty have all shown their love for metal in the Sign of the Beast burlesque shows. Hai also did a Laura Palmer with her man in the David Lynch show and Charlotte has also performed in a few of Miss Kennedy’s themed shows. And there are more popping up every day. It has really been an exciting way of showcasing the variety of talent in town and the many different ways that “Burlesque” can be interpreted onstage.

Charlotte, you have a special affinity for New Orleans. Where have your performed there, and what is the special allure of New Orleans to you?

Charlotte Treuse: New Orleans really is one of my favorite places. My love affair with the city started in 2009 with The New Orleans Burlesque Festival, which was just an incredible experience. It was my first time traveling to perform in a big festival, and my first time in a city I had always wanted to explore. I know it’s incredibly cliché, but I was thoroughly seduced the minute I set foot in the French Quarter. The palpable history, and the way the city embraces every single one of your senses is both sexy and oddly comforting. I’d never been somewhere so connected with it’s past and yet still so alive. Yeah, I love it there.

Then add to that the fact that I have met some of my dearest friends in New Orleans, and it really is a winning combination. Rick Delaup is a fantastic producer, and I just adore the Southern burlesque girls. They school me every time I perform with them, and I love them for it! I’ve performed at the New Orleans Burlesque Festival all three years so far, and will keep applying. I’ve also guest starred with Bustout Burlesque at The House of Blues.

Charlotte Treuse & Hai Fleisch (left to right, Photo by Kaylin Idora)

You’re keeping the stage warm for Sinner Saint this Thursday, January 26 (as well as February 23), at Noc Noc- what can we expect from the shows? Any clues?

Baby Le’Strange: Lots of energy, a mix of classic and comedy. A dancing hot dog. We will be without Meghan Mayhem in January, but she will be joining us for the February show where there will be more group numbers.

********* Catch Rose City Shimmy here in Seattle January 26 and February 23. For more information, you can find Rose City Shimmy on Facebook and at the sidebar, right.*********

Get thee to Noc Noc!

Mod Carousel is well worth the risk of a snowflake or two on your pretty neck this Thursday, January 19. The second of two performances of their Super Hero show, part of the Winter Guest Series at Noc Noc, is already nearly sold out. Everyone knows Seattle has talented ladies galore; we should also be hugely proud of our stupendously talented gentlemen.

The Luminous Pariah, Trojan Original, and Paris Original are the core members of multidisciplinary neo-burlesque collective Mod Carousel, though you have probably also seen all three performers guesting or collaborating in many other projects throughout the last few years. We are extremely lucky to have such innovative and wildly creative talents in our midst. In Thursday’s encore the boys will once again test their strength- the show’s synopsis frames the plot as an epic journey to destroy a villainous vixen while leaving a trail of discarded clothing in their wake.

Mod Carousel’s Super Hero will be featured in London from June 5-July 15, and then make a stop in Alaska from July 20-28. Here are some photos from the production’s premiere at Noc Noc, courtesy of our good friend Greg Holloway:

Mod Carousel at Noc Noc last Thursday (Photo by Greg Holloway)

A Bjork-like Leeni wrapped in a swan...(Photo by Greg Holloway)

You'll have to go on Thursday to make sense of this. (Photo by Greg Holloway)

Next up for Mod Carousel’s Luminous Pariah and Paris Original will be more travel. Here’s the press info for upcoming tour dates for a little show with big, big energy…SpeedBump:

SpeedBump: A Neo-Burlesque Road Trip features the Luminous Pariah, Paris Original, Randi Rascal and Wiggy Stardust in 11 cities across the U.S.

Exploding from Seattle’s red-hot neo-burlesque scene, daring teasers the Luminous Pariah, Paris Original, Randi Rascal and Wiggy Stardust are taking their show on the road! SpeedBump is a vision for the future of burlesque, setting up collaborations with local boundary-smashing performers in various cities across the Western half of the U.S. to showcase innovative and explorative facets of the genre.

Irreverent, political, genre-blending and gender-bending- the unique talents of these fabulous four converge to highlight the most thrilling aspects of the neo-burlesque movement. Drag, Dance, Performance Art, and Anthropology come together in an edgy spectacle fusing the ecdysiastic and academic with grace and charm (and a healthy dose of skin).

Wiggy Stardust (Photo by Julia Bruk)

The Luminous Pariah in “Fierce”, an act outfitted in recycled polyethylene. (Photo by Debora Spencer)

Please click HERE for tour dates and up to the minute information, or see The Luminous Pariah on the sidebar at right.

**********************************************************************************************************************

***UPDATE 1/19/12: THE EVENT BELOW HAS BEEN CANCELED DUE TO WEATHER ***

And for those that feel more like staying snug a little farther up the Hill this Thursday, our friends over at Central Cinema are once again hosting a Burlesque Along- this time featuring burlesque mixed with… what else? Reform School Girls. A brilliant pairing of the “women in prison” film niche with live burlesque. Central Cinema’s powers that be should be given some serious credit for experimenting with a new genre in their regular Burlesque Alongs. Wendy O. Williams (lead singer of the Plasmatics, and one of the stars of the film) certainly would have been proud. Before her death in 1998, she was known as a real life hellion.

Reform School Girls: Burlesque Along takes place at Central Cinema Thursday, January 19 at 8pm. For more information and tickets, click HERE.

Reform School Girls poster, 1986

Sinner Saint Burlesque in Dark Matter (POC Photo)

The final night of Sinner Saint Burlesque’s Dark Matter just last week was a love-filled affair. The hard-working girl gang performed their collective bottoms right off for an audience full of friends, fans, and adopted family- bidding Seattle farewell a few days before their return to London for a seven week run of feature shows. The pride and mutual admiration in the air was palpable, and the ladies gave it their all as they always do.

I barely had time to speak with Sinner Saint about the background of their acts prior to departure. Dark Matter was billed as an alternative holiday show: “staring deeply into that longest night, baring what’s under and within our deep, dark fantasies” and promising to “uncover the arcane, tempt the taboo, and celebrate the celestial bodies of Sinner Saint Burlesque”. And that it did.

Host and renowned belly dancer Delilah alluded to the bizarre world of Ambien-induced hypnotic episodes, and with that the show wasted no time in channeling the subconscious. Evilyn Sin Claire modernized “Walking After Midnight” by succumbing to a trance-like state, performing what would be most accurately described as “sexual parasomnia” (or more simply- a lucid dream pillow-humping with a smitten sheep standing by, happy to participate).

Polly Wood explored the role of smoldering seductress in “Whore of Babylon”, and Lady TaTas reinvented herself in a hilariously spot-on interpretation of a pageant child. Her dancing was wooden and rife with baby-steps, her smile frozen, and her costume garish- all at the behest of TaTas’s attendant pageant-mom (played by guest star Flirty Sanchez). With the discovery of some pink stripper heels, all hell breaks loose and little TaTas finds a new way to win a popularity contest, as well as some much better dance moves to pair with her pasties.

The most visually arresting act of the evening was Jesse Belle-Jones in a breathtaking fan dance inspired in part by the act of drawing down the moon as well as the mystery of the female body. Encircled in pristine white feathers, a slash of red appeared as one of Jesse’s blood-red gloves suddenly cut through a white fan. Jesse is always mesmerizing, proving again and again in her uniquely cinematic acts how capable she is of changing the entire atmosphere of a room while she occupies the stage.

The girls return to their home at Seattle’s Noc Noc on March 1- in the meantime, their stage will be kept warm by an array of beloved Seattle performers each week. Acclaimed multidisciplinary neo-burlesque collective Mod Carousel (featuring the outstanding power trio of The Luminous Pariah, Paris Original, and Trojan Original) will appear tonight as well as next Thursday, January 19. Also confirmed (as mentioned previously on BSP), Portland’s Rose City Shimmy will guest star Thursday, January 26 and February 23.

Check back in the coming weeks for more details on both Mod Carousel and Rose City Shimmy. Both collectives have very full dance cards this winter and spring…

Here are some photos from the closing night of Dark Matter, courtesy of our very own Paul O’Connell:

Belly dancer Delilah, the host for Dark Matter (POC Photo)

Evilyn Sin Claire in a dream state (POC Photo)

And dreaming of sheep...(POC Photo)

Jesse Belle-Jones, a vision with white fans (POC Photo)

Jesse Belle-Jones, striking in red (POC Photo)

Lady TaTas as a pageant girl (POC Photo)

Stripper Heels (POC Photo)

Polly Wood (POC Photo)

Polly Wood, barely concealed (POC Photo)

Evilyn Sin Claire's End of Times (POC Photo)

Evilyn the Enchantress (POC Photo)

Lady TaTas (POC Photo)

The Infamous Nina Nightshade dazzled at the Movers, Shakers, & Innovators showcase during Burlesque Hall of Fame 2011 (POC Photo)

-by Rayleen Courtney (Contributing Writer, Portland)

Making a production comeback after a fruitful performance schedule in 2011, The Infamous Nina Nightshade is sitting down in her director’s chair once again and breathing new life into Bergamot Burlesque. Although Nightshade is already well known in both Portland and Salem as having an exceptional knack for hand-selecting classic talent, she is outdoing even herself this time. On Friday, January 13th and Saturday, January 14th, both aforementioned cities will be gifted with the opportunity to take in a show headlined by the Venus Of Dance: living legend, Dee Milo.

Miss Nightshade is known within her community for having a distinctive adoration of the early pioneers of her art form. After returning from her own exhilarating performance at the most recent Burlesque Hall Of Fame Weekend, she set to work curating a stunning lineup featuring Dee Milo as the primary enchantment. Now Oregon’s two largest cities are set to be visually pampered as Nightshade’s vision becomes reality.

Show-goers should prepare to enter trance-like states during performances from Hai Fleisch, Charlotte Treuse, Itty Bitty Bang Bang, Bettina May, Gretchen Dances, The Infamous Nina Nightshade herself, and of course Dee Milo. They will be shaken back to reality between the acts, via the charming antics of international emcee Vincent Drambuie.

A special note for non-drinking-aged fans of burlesque: the Salem edition welcomes adults aged eighteen and up! Tickets for both shows can be found at www.brownpapertickets.com, or click on the individual city links below.

The details:

Friday, January 13, 2012
The Star Theater
13 NW Sixth Ave; Portland
Doors 8:00pm / Show 9:00pm
$12 General Seating
$60 VIP Tables (Seats up to 4 people)
Ages 21+
For tickets, CLICK HERE

Saturday, January 14, 2012
Salem Grand Theater
191 High St NE; Salem
Doors 8:00pm / Show 9:00pm
$12 General Seating
Ages 18+
For tickets, CLICK HERE

Dee Milo guest stars with Bergamot Burlesque- January 13 in Portland, January 14 in Salem.

The Infamous Nina Nightshade at Burlesque Hall of Fame 2011 (POC Photo)

Rayleen Courtney, founder of SinnSavvy Productions (and also BSP’s first contributing writer) and Sophie Maltease, co-founder of Critical Hit Burlesque, recently received approval from Chicago-based NGR creators Michelle L’amour and Franky Vivid to begin a Portland chapter of the popular (naked) literary night.

The ladies’ inaugural reading will be Saturday, January 21 at downtown Portland’s historic Star Theater.

Who's that girl? Portland burlesque lightning rod Rayleen Courtney is NGR PDX's first poster girl. (Flyer design by Tyler Spencer and Jonathan Adams)

Here’s the scoop from NGR PDX:

Portland’s inaugural event will feature a stunning lineup of local readers, including: Baby Le’Strange, Kit Katastrophic, Delilah Sinn, and both Rayleen Courtney and Sophie Maltease themselves. Rounding out this sultry cast is the event’s featured guest of honor: Heidi Von Haught, co-producer of NGR Seattle! Known for her stellar contributions to the national burlesque and erotic arts scenes, Von Haught’s presence on a Portland stage will be quite a treat for our city and is advisably not to be missed. Of course, no event of this nature would be complete without an incandescent mistress of ceremonies, which NGR Portland finds in modern burlesque luminary, Angelique DeVil!

This event takes place on Saturday, January 21st at the historic Star Theater (13 NW 6th Avenue, Downtown). Doors will open at 8:00pm, and the readings will begin promptly at 9:00pm. Only drinking-aged adults will be permitted, and attendees are advised that this event features full nudity.

Tickets are very strongly encouraged, are priced according to seating, and can be found at http://ngrpdx.eventbrite.com/

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And isn’t it about time Seattle and Portland do a little more cultural exchanging? Rose City Shimmy fans are in luck…the Portland ladies near and dear to our hearts will be performing in Seattle on January 26 and February 23, taking over the stage for Sinner Saint while they are featured once again in London. More on this to come in the next few weeks, but for now feast your eyes on this photo from one of the most proficient and artful burlesque photographers around, Kaylin Idora:

Rose City Shimmy appearing in Seattle Jan. 26 and Feb. 23. From left to right: Charlotte Treuse, Itty Bitty Bang Bang, Baby Le'Strange, Hai Fleisch (Kaylin Idora Photography)

***For more information on Rose City Shimmy, please visit the sidebar at right.***

As 2011 draws to an end I wanted to reflect back on all the burlesque my eyes had the pleasure of seeing. I went to over 50 shows and took over 15,000 photos. My camera took me to Seattle of course, and also Austin, New Orleans, Portland and Las Vegas. I thought it appropriate to do a year end favorite photos blog. I initially picked over 300 photos but I knew I had to narrow it down, something that’s always difficult. I asked Jessica Price to help bring it down to a nice number of 50 (actually we arrived at 52 photos in all, our largest posting ever).

Here’s hoping next year will be even more fun and adventurous for all you Burlesquers out there. Have a Happy & Titillating New Year! ~ POC

And now, a look back at what you accomplished in 2011:

January 2011: Catherine D'Lish kicks off a brilliant year @ the Gypsy Centennial, Triple Door, Seattle

February: Miss Kitty Baby @ Sinner Saint Burlesque-The Very Super Special Feelings Show-ReBar

February: Trojan & Paris Original @ Sinner Saint Burlesque-The Very Super Special Feelings Show-ReBar

March: Randi Rascal @ Stripped Screw-Love Sick-Rendezvous

March: Itty Bitty Bang Bang w/ Orchestre L'Pow! @ Big Time Burlesque Bossonova Ballroom-Portland

April: Sarah Marsh @ Texas Burlesque Festival-Austin Texas

April: Ivy St. Spectre, Inga Ingenue, Honey D. Luxe @ Through the Looking Glass-The Triple Door

April: Perle Noire @ Texas Burlesque Festival-Austin Texas

April: Tempting Tarts Burlesque @ Tarts on Broadway-Rendezvous

May: Tamara the Trapeze Lady @ Nightcap at The Triple Door

May: Lily Verlaine @ Nightcap at The Triple Door

May: The Luminous Pariah @ Seattle Erotic Arts Festival-Fremont Studios

May: Kitten LaRue & Lily Verlaine @ L'Edition Francaise-The Triple Door

May: Trojan Original & Elizabeth Rose Seattle Erotic Arts Festival-Fremont Studios

May: Lady Tata's @ Beebo Brinker Cabaret-ReBar

May: Sassy Delure @ L'Edition Francaise-The Triple Door

June: Waxie Moon @ BHoF The Orleans

June: Ray Gunn @ BHoF The Orleans

June: Sweety-j Jamaica @ BHoF The Orleans

June: Trixie Little @ BHoF The Orleans

June: Charlotte Treuse @ BHoF The Orleans

June: Angelique DeVil @ BHoF The Orleans

June: Kristina Nekyia @ BHoF The Orleans

June: Miss Indigo Blue REIGNING QUEEN OF BURLESQUE! @ BHoF The Orleans

June: Minetta Lane & Violet Tendencies Stripped Screw-Disney After Dark-Rendezvous

June: Dickie Gazoonie @ Tempting Tarts Burlesque-Sweets and Treats-Rendezvous

June: Wiggy Stardust @ Tempting Tarts Burlesque-Sweets and Treats-Rendezvous

June: Captain Kidd @ BHoF The Orleans

July: Polly Wood @ Sinner Saint Burlesque-Noc Noc

July: Evilyn Sin Claire @ Burlesque Behind The Pink Door

July: Fuchsia FoXXX @ Beebo Brinker Cabaret-ReBar

July: Kitten LaRue @ Freedom Fantasia-West Hall

August: Black Cherry & the Cherry Bombs @ Tempting Tarts Burlesque-Tarts Across America-Rendezvous

August: Jenny Penny @ reProduction-Theatre Off Jackson

August: The Shanghai Pearl @ reProduction-Theatre Off Jackson

September: Angie Bee-Lovely @ New Orleans Burlesque Festival-Harrah's

September: Stormy Gayle @ New Orleans Burlesque Festival-Harrah's

September: Ginger Licious @ New Orleans Burlesque Festival-HOB

September: Armitage Shanks @ New Orleans Burlesque Festival-HOB

September: Ginger Valentine Queen of New Orleans Burlesque Festival-Harrah's

September: Coco Lectric @ New Orleans Burlesque Festival-Harrah's

September: Sugar Lee @ New Orleans Burlesque Festival-the Republic

September: Sydni Deveraux @ New Orleans Burlesque Festival-the Republic

September: Iva Handfull @ New Orleans Burlesque Festival-HOB

September: Miss Petite Coquette @ New Orleans Burlesque Festival-Harrah's

September: Ginger Valentine & Missy Lisa @ New Orleans Burlesque Festival-The Republic

September: Lydia DeCarllo @ New Orleans Burlesque Festival- Harrah's

October: Stella D'Letto @ Stripped Screw-Keep It Up-Columbia City Theatre

October: Heavenly Spies @ Betty Burlesque-Can Can

October: Inga Ingenue @ The Atomic Bombshells Lost In Space-The Triple Door

October: La Petite Mort @ Tempting Tarts Burlesque-Tarts of Darkness-Rendezvous

October: The Atomic Bombshells @ Lost In Space-The Triple Door

The Corps du Burlesque brought a whole lotta holiday cheer to Land of the Sweets 2011. (Photo by Greg Holloway)

The holidays are officially over when the final curtain falls on Land of the Sweets: The Burlesque Nutcracker. This year’s run of shows sold out unbelievably fast, and Lily Verlaine and Jasper McCann ushered in several new cast members and acts this year, making this one of the largest and most successful stagings to date.

Photographer Greg Holloway, who has just completed work on the 2012 Sinner Saint/Electric Burlesque calendar (available at all Sinner Saint Burlesque shows), shared a few favorites from his photo collection from the night he attended:

The elusive Babette La Fave (Photo by Greg Holloway)

Waxie Moon, King of Rats (Photo by Greg Holloway)

The Aerial Suites made their Seattle debut in this year’s Land of the Sweets. (Photo by Greg Holloway)

The exquisite Paris Original (Photo by Greg Holloway)

Lily Verlaine in the Stargazer Gown (Photo by Greg Holloway)

Wednesday DuMonde (Photo by Greg Holloway)

Land of The Sweets returns for the holidays in 2012. (Photo Greg Holloway)

***For more of Greg’s beautiful performance photography, please visit his site on the sidebar at right. And don’t forget to pay a visit to Land of the Sweets, also at right, to tide you over until 2012. ***