PLANK MAGAZINE LINK

If you are visiting because of the PLANK Magazine article about Greece does Grease,

my actual Choreography blog is

http://www.aprilopeel.com/choreo-blog.html

But the ABCDD's Blog is a great resource! Check them Both out! And make sure you don't miss Screaming Chicken Theatrical Society's production of Greece does Grease!!

T is for Tableau Vivant

A Tableau Vivant occurs when a group of performers create a scene without movement or speech to create a living picture. This was a popular form of entertainment before radio, film or television and were a major feature at festivities for royal weddings, coronations, and royal entries to cities. Due to strict morality laws in the early nineteenth century forbidding women from dancing in the nude, Tableaux Vivants were used as a form of erotic entertainment under the guise of art and culture. If classical art works were permitted to show female nudity, it was understood that it was movement that caused the female form to become sexual. This meant that recreations of classical works using nude women could and would be permitted.

I couldn't find a good naughty Tableau but the one above by Canadian artist Adad Hannah is pretty cool! I'm pretty sure the one guy in the recreation should have his pants off though.. I found the links here and here

S is for Sally Rand

In the 1920s Sally Rand was an actress for both film and stage but became a dancer after the advent of talking pictures. Her name became synonymous with fan dance after her performance at the 1933 Chicago’s World Fair. Wearing a thin body stocking, Sally created the illusion of nudity as she teased her audience while dancing with her two giant ostrich fans. She became an overnight sensation drawing crowds of thousands! She has also been credited for creating the “bubble dance” in which a large balloon or “bubble” was used to again conceal, tease and create interesting poses as she danced.

There is another terrific video of Sally's Bubble dance here.

R is for Reverse Strip

A Reverse Strip is another classic act performed world over by countless stripteasers and comedians. Usually the performer begins nearly nude, then proceeds to dress themselves using elements of tease along the way. Done well, a reverse striptease can be as effective as any straightforward strip routine. Lili St Cyr had a legendary reverse striptease act as does the undisputed Queen of British Burlesque and Miss Exotic World 2007, Immodesty Blaize.

For the life of me, I TRIED to find a quality full length video of a reverse strip but I had some trouble. This video is only a snippet of Immodesty's reverse strip routine.

Her website is here; Check it out! She is boo-ti-ful!!

Q is for Queerlesque

Although Burlesque can be considered a sub-culture, there is also room for genres within said genre. One of the subdivisions of Neo Burlesque is Queerlesque. Queerlesque involves all of the main components of burlesque but with a queer twist or flavor added to the act.

VaVa Vunderbust is an amazing performer who is popular with the gays, the kindof gays, the not so gays.... basically everyone! She often performs numbers that celebrate gay culture and lifestyle! SHE IS AMAZING!!!

Photo by Shimona Henry of Pinup Perfection

P is for Pasties

One of the crucial differences between Burlesque and modern stripping remain the use of Pasties and a G-string as a final reveal versus well, nothing! Pasties refer to the nipple coverings used to conceal the dancer’s nipple. They can be any size, shape or color and are affixed with some sort of adhesive; often double sided tape or spirit gum. They are called pasties as they are quite literally “pasted” on. Pasties were introduced as a way to deter censors. Dancers could show almost all of their breasts but not be entirely topless. Carrie Finnell is credited as being the first dancer to use tassels on her pasties and introduce the world to the fine art of tassel twirling.

The picture above is of Jennie Lee, The Bazoom Girl! The Link has alot of neat Info about her and you should check it out!

O is for Olio

In theatre terms an olio refers to either speciality acts being performed downstage between scenes, possibly when the upstage set is being changed or to a set of variety acts usually occurring in the second half of a show. Variety acts have long been part of Burlesque shows both past and present and can include magicians, jugglers, mentalists, acrobats, singers, and comics. A traditional Burlesque show format would feature a band or musical talent in the first act, an olio of variety acts in the second, and followed by a one act burlesque musical in the third.

The picture above is of Mysterion, a mentalist/magician based in Toronto who sometimes performs with Burlesque shows. ooooOOOoooo.

N is for Neo-Burlesque

Neo Burlesque refers to the current resurgence of Burlesque in today’s modern times. Today’s performers use inspiration from any of burlesque’s history to create a modern performance that can range from classic striptease to out there performance art to a hilarious comedic routine. In Neo Burlesque, anything goes! The common denominator remains an element of striptease, with an emphasis on tease, usually down to pasties and/or g-string but no further. Neo Burlesque also offers an emphasis on body and sex positivity which differentiates it from modern stripping. The current Burlesque movement first found its feet in the mid 90s with revues from Billie Madley, Tony Marando and Michelle Carr’s The Velvet Hammer Burlesque Troupe. The revival is worldwide with festivals in New York, London, Vancouver, Australia, Amsterdam and Helsinki and shows no sign of slowing down.


The photo is of Dirty Martini, Miss Exotic World 2004, currently voted the number one Burlesque performer/starlet in the world

The photo is from a Karl Lagerfield shoot with V Magazine that I found here

And there is an awesome interview with Dirty here

She is my favorite!!

M is for Minsky

The Minsky Brothers Abe, Billy, Herbert, and Morton are a huge part of Burlesque history in New York in the early 1900s. After their father gave them an inconveniently located theatre on the sixth floor in the National Winter Garden on Houston Street, the brothers tried several attempts at “legitimate” entertainment. They tried showing respectable films and hiring vaudeville performers, but neither effort was successful. However, the half naked women of Burlesque had more than enough appeal to keep the Brothers and their theatre full of paying customers. Contributing to their success were innovative ideas like having a runway into the audience to bring the girls closer to the clientele. Minksy’s was also well known for the overtly-scandalous performances from their dancers and were raided several times by morality squads over the years before finally being shut down in 1937. Both the words “Minsky’s” and “Burlesque” were banned in New York around this time. The scandal at Minsky’s also allowed the city to refuse permits for all other Burlesque houses in New York, effectively destroying the Burlesque scene.

I found the neato picture of the Minksky theatre here

L is for Lili St. Cyr

Lili St. Cyr was another standout star of burlesque’s golden age in the 40s and 50s. She was known for the graceful class and creativity she brought to her acts as well as for her stunning beauty and statuesque figure. Her performances would tell a story and she would often base her characters on historical female icons. Some of her most memorable acts included the “Flying G” in which her g-string (attached by a fishing line) would fly off her body into the balcony at the end of her act while the lights dimmed. She was also well known for her bubble bath act in which she would simulate taking a bath onstage.

Found the picture of Lili here

K is for Knicker Picker Upper

Because one of the most integral rules in burlesque is to NEVER EVER PICK UP YOUR OWN CLOTHES, this creates a large demand for Knicker Picker Uppers. A good way for new performers to get their start, a Knicker Picker Upper’s job consists of picking up knickers as well as anything else that may have been discarded by the performers during their act. A KPU may also act as stage manager and is usually responsible for the placing and removing of any props the performer may need for her act. A KPU does not remove any clothing herself but is usually dressed in lingerie or other scandalous costume. Knicker Picker Uppers can be male or female and may have establish a character or identity of their own Other names for Knicker Picker Upper include Maid, Stage Kitty, Sweeper or Stage Bunny.

The photo above is of Miss Fitt, a regular stage kitty at the Vancouver Weekly Burlesque Show Kitty Nights getting some sound advice from the host of Kitty Nights, the Purrfessor. Miss Fitt is an excellent example of a new performer who got their start in Burlesque as a knicker picker upper who is now enjoying a successful transition into the burlesque community as a full fledged Burlesque performer.

For more info on the Purrfessor and Kitty Nights click here
Photographer unknown but I would love to credit you!

J is for Josephine Baker

Josephine Baker was an extremely multi-talented African American performer who first achieved extreme success in Paris in the 1920s as burlesque performer. Known for her signature number, the banana skirt dance, Josephine was at one time the highest paid entertainer in Europe. Josephine lead an extraordinary life; She was known for her many exotic pets including a Cheetah that she was known to walk down the streets of Paris. She also helped to assist the French Resistance during the Second World War by carrying top secret information hidden in her music notes. In the 50s and 60s Josephine returned to the States to fight for African American civil rights. She refused to play in any establishment that was not integrated. It was also at this time that she also began to adopt over 12 children from all over the world as part of her “rainbow tribe.” In 1975, Baker starred in her last revue, which opened to much acclaim. Four days later she was found in a coma in her bed surrounded by all of the shows succesful reviews; she died shortly thereafter.

I is for Ixion

Ixion is the name of the burlesque play brought to New York by Lydia Thompson and her British Blondes. This was one of the first instances of burlesque brought to North America and with women in tights playing men’s roles, the troupe and its mythical spoof became a theatrical sensation, eventually performing their play at Niblo’s Garden on BROADWAY!

Photo of Lydia Thompson in her costume for Ixion found here

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

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

D is for Dixie Evans

Dixie Evans is a notable golden era burlesque dancer- she was known for being the "Marilyn Monroe of Burlesque." Her acts would often resemble the latest plot from Marilyn's most recent film. She is currently the curator of the Exotic World Museum in Las Vegas.

C is for Circuit

In the early nineteenth century, striptease artists would tour burlesque circuits or "wheels"- These circuits were orchestrated by burlesque producers who owned or controlled theatres in multiple cities. Popular acts would be combined to form large troupes to rotate around the cicuit. This was a popular form of employment in the burlesque world as it meant stable employment for up to 40 weeks at a time. (Wish we had a couple of those around now..) The two largest wheels were the Columbia (Eastern) Wheel and the Empire (Western) Wheel. Popular performers who perfected their art performing burlesque circuits include Mae West, Al Jolson, Fanny Brice, Gypsy Rose Lee, Sophie Tucker, W.C. Fields, Burt Lahr, and Bob Hope.

i found the neato pic of mae west here

B is for Bump n' Grind

The Bump n' Grind is a suggestive dance move that has a very important place historically in Burlesque. Back in the 1940s and 1950s, the bump and grind was considered a very risque dance move albeit very popular with striptease artists. To bump is to thrust your hips forward or to either side (almost violently!). To grind is to move your hips around in a circular fashion. Combine the two movements and you'll be ready to set the stage on fire!


Above is a demonstration by the legendary Tempest Storm from YouTube