Yeah, I know I've been horrible about keeping up with this blog. Forgive me?
The biggest news is that I competed in my first showcase-- the Memphis Burlesque Showcase, just right across the river. I felt more nervous that I have in a long while (and that's saying something); questioning my costume, my choreography, my props, and feeling generally outclassed. But, I swallowed it and focused on just getting through my routine. Had one major wardrobe malfunction, but I had our handy butler help me out (which most people said they thought was part of the act!) and finished by going full pasties for the first time (I had previously confined myself to a net bra). Special thanks to awesome fan and burlesque supporter Kat for making my beautiful skull pasties, by the way!
Met some amazing dancers, who I would love to work with again soon (I mean it!). And, at the end of the evening, the judges awarded me the Most Classic award. I was seriously shocked, as I figured it would easily go to someone more experienced than I. It was a wonderful and unexpected cap to the whole evening.
I also had the opportunity to be a stage kitten for the Dragon*Con Cabaret in Atlanta, GA. The theme was comic book heroes and villains, so I put together a Black Canary costume for the occasion. Again, met some amazing dancers, some of which I was almost too shy to talk to because I was in complete awe! But I met the likes of Big Momma D, Blaze, and the one and only Scarlett Letter. Huge props to Stormy Knight for putting the whole show together. I had a blast and came away inspired to make more costumes and add to my choreography.
The following day, I attended Talloolah Love's forum on Belly Dance, Burlesque, and Orientalism, which led to some lively debate from the burlesque dancers seated on one side of the room and the belly dancers seated on the other (not being cliquish! it just worked out that way!). Again, felt some serious costume inspiration afterwards, and felt really good about the future of burlesque, what it means, and where it's headed.
After that, came home and performed in a 9/11 tribute show, which gave me a chance to break out the costume and music for "Vickie and Mr. Values" again. This one's fun, but I was a little off my game due to my red gloves disappearing somewhere between my house and the venue. Thankfully, Bre Von Buxxxom let me use her black gloves after her number.
Next on the agenda: working on my costume for the October 13 show with Super Happy Fun Time Burlesque. Can't wait to actually get my hands on the material and start creating, and waiting for a paycheck can be murder sometimes (lol). Also waiting for the feathers for my first set of fans to arrive-- the other ladies have been very nice about waiting to put their fans together until my feathers get here so we can all work on them at the same time and help each other out.
That gets you pretty well caught up! More later!
