Red Hot Summer’s (almost) over
Fierce lady, fierce photo. Iva Handfull @ Prowling for PAWS (Rebar)
Last night’s Prowling for PAWS benefit continues with a final show this evening, 7:30pm @ Rebar. Iva Handfull of Discontinued Trim performs both nights; she’s enormously talented and a little bit dirty, too. When skill and raw sexuality collide, one must pay strict attention.
In other salacious news, Red Hot Summer was a fitting finale to Seattle’s full-scale summer burlesque shows last Thursday night. Five-piece lounge kings Orchestre L’Pow! brought some Portland talent with them. Madison Moone and Charlotte Treuse have performed with the band three times now, getting their start with a Lotería called Dames and Games– an interactive show in which Madison and Charlotte portrayed lotería cards (La Sirena, La Corona, etc.) while the audience played Mexican bingo.
Madison Moone @ Red Hot Summer (Triple Door)
Charlotte Treuse @ Red Hot Summer (Triple Door)
The second half of Red Hot Summer featured excerpts from The Heavenly Spies’ hugely successful XOXOX show. I can’t say enough about these ladies; they’re my latest obsession. Blending dance and burlesque in an incredibly fetching mix, the Spies have just started rehearsing their fall run, Mata Hari, debuting in November. They’ll also shake a tail feather at Seattle International Cabaret Festival this October.
The infamous blue balls. Heavenly Spies @ Red Hot Summer (Triple Door)
Caela Bailey is the honorary blues belter of The Heavenly Spies- yet another reason to love them. Her cover of “I Put A Spell On You” was mind-blowing. Not an easy feat for a little lady and such a big, big song. But she did it- effortlessly.
Caela Bailey (photo Chris Blakely)
*Special thanks to Matt The Photographer and BSP’s ringside pal Chris Blakely for the photo recap. Check out more of Chris’s photography on the sidebar, at right.
Burlesque Seattle Press 
Madison Moone and Charloote Treuse are two of Portland’s best dancers. Moore produces her own highly professional burlesque show in PDX called The Madison Moone Revue; it’s one of the few classical shows presented in the Northwest. She is talented, savvy and especially beautiful. Both dancers will rock your world.
So I hear! Anybody else in PDX that you feel is noteworthy, and/or any troupes? I always seem to narrowly miss the shows when I come to Portland.
If you like classic I’m sure you’ve probably seen The Atomic Bombshells. They’re always fantastic.