Thursday, November 26, 2009

H is for Hootchie Koo


The Hootchie Koo was a term first used to describe belly dance. This form of dancing first appeared in North America at the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. Performed by a dancer named Little Egypt, an uncorseted stomach shimmying and shaking around was consider extremely suggestive by members of the Victorian era. Soon after, it came to describe any sort of sexualized, scandalous dancing.

I found this rad picture of Little Egypt here

G is for Gown and Glove



Gown and Glove refers to a classic style of burletta wherein the dancer begins dressed in both a gown and gloves which she then removes during the course of her act. Popular during the golden era of Burlesque, the gown and glove still remains a staple among burlesque shows today.

Above is a youtube video of Angie Pontani, one of the world's best burlesque artists and Miss Exotic World 2008; This is her take on a classic gown and glove (a nice cut and paste version) I saw this act in Seattle this year and it was AMAZING!!

F is for Fanny Brice


Comics were a huge and very popular part of a burlesque show in the early 19th century and not unlike today, most were male. Fanny Brice was one exception to that rule. After getting her start in lesser known burlesque houses, Fanny was approached by Florenz Zeigfeld (see Z is for Zeigfeld) to star in his Zeigfeld follies which she did for over twenty years singing and performing comedy. Fanny went onto many successes and became a household name. The influence of comics like Fanny and others are evident in host material and in the comedic acts, burlesque and otherwise, that grace burlesque stages worldwide today.

I found this hilarious picture of Fanny here

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

E is for Exotic World


Exotic World refers to the Burlesque Hall of Fame Museum and its annual fundraiser the Miss Exotic World Pageant. Considered the Olympics of the Burlesque world, entrants from around the globe vie to win categories such as best debut, best group, and the grand title of the reigning Queen of Burlesque. Originally held on an abandoned goat farm in California, the Pageant weekend is now held annually on the first Saturday in June in Las Vegas.


For more information click here and here

The picture is of this year's (2009) winner Kalani Kokonuts