Just got back into town from Memphis, where we danced in the Burlocalypse! show with some Tennessee and Mississippi performers. I debuted a new zombie act to Rob Zombie's "Living Dead Girl" (YouTube link coming soon!) that was very well received by the crowd. Ro Manic burned the place down with Sublime's "April 29, 1992 (Miami)", and Puss Powerbottom absolutely broke everyone's mind with "You've Got AIDS/Fever." I am so proud that our little troupe is bringing boylesque to this region! Sadly, Bre Von Buxxxom had to bow out of this show due to injury, but she'll be back for...
DUN DUN DA DAHHHHH!!!
Diamond Dames Burly-Q Revue presents: Eternal DAMEnation! The first of our shows at Juanita's, our new home! Hoping everyone can make it January 21, because you'll be in for a treat: all new numbers from the Dames, plus performances from the Memphis Belles, Cinnamon Twirl, Lady Doo Moi, Somerset O'Neil, and a few more surprises. Personally, I've been working my costuming mojo overtime to make some of the sparkliest outfits I've ever worn onstage.
Showing posts with label burlesque. Show all posts
Showing posts with label burlesque. Show all posts
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Friday, November 25, 2011
How I Lost and Found My Mojo
So, last month's fan show with Red Snapper was an enormous success, one that ended in us sealing a deal with the venue to become an exclusive deal with them. So happy to say that our little troupe has its very own home at Juanita's Cantina in Little Rock! WINNING!
Before the show, though, I must admit that I'd lost my costuming mojo. Normally, I absolutely love putting costuming together for a show, but I just couldn't make myself motivated enough to work on costumes for this one. I finally FORCED myself into the fabric store and made myself sit down and start stitching. Lesson learned-- when I lose my mojo, gotta force myself to start working. Unfortunately, I didn't force myself in enough time to really get the costumes looking the way I wanted and was stuck tweaking them until the day of show. Looking at the pictures from the show, I'm satisfied, but not overwhelmed with joy at how they turned out, so I plan on doing further work before I present those numbers again.
After the show, got incredibly sick (read: mono AND strep simultaneously; I hit the medical jackpot), which left me on bed rest for nearly a week. Whilst in bed, I scrolled through a ton of vintage advertisements and pin up pictures and ended up getting a TON of inspiration for new acts (one even hit me so hard, I nearly jumped out of bed). And, of course, now that I have my costume mojo going, I can't leave the house to get anything to work on. :)
So, lesson learned again-- when stuck for inspiration, scroll through old pictures to get my brain moving.
Just a couple of thoughts for anyone going through something similar.
Before the show, though, I must admit that I'd lost my costuming mojo. Normally, I absolutely love putting costuming together for a show, but I just couldn't make myself motivated enough to work on costumes for this one. I finally FORCED myself into the fabric store and made myself sit down and start stitching. Lesson learned-- when I lose my mojo, gotta force myself to start working. Unfortunately, I didn't force myself in enough time to really get the costumes looking the way I wanted and was stuck tweaking them until the day of show. Looking at the pictures from the show, I'm satisfied, but not overwhelmed with joy at how they turned out, so I plan on doing further work before I present those numbers again.
After the show, got incredibly sick (read: mono AND strep simultaneously; I hit the medical jackpot), which left me on bed rest for nearly a week. Whilst in bed, I scrolled through a ton of vintage advertisements and pin up pictures and ended up getting a TON of inspiration for new acts (one even hit me so hard, I nearly jumped out of bed). And, of course, now that I have my costume mojo going, I can't leave the house to get anything to work on. :)
So, lesson learned again-- when stuck for inspiration, scroll through old pictures to get my brain moving.
Just a couple of thoughts for anyone going through something similar.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Updatage
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!
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!
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Summer and Silent Films
It's oppressively hot here in Arkansas. I mean, more than you'd imagine. We've got temperatures over 100 degrees, and once you add the heavy humidity to that, it's not unusual to have temperatures in the hundred-teens. It's too hot to think! So, it's not unusual that I've been slacking on my exercise (sweat MORE? why??) and diet (but ice cream HELPS!) and feeling like a bloated slug. Snapping back into maintenance mode as of tomorrow to get in better shape for the Memphis Burlesque Showcase.
Speaking of Memphis, I've had several people asking what act I'll be using. The answer: I will actually be debuting a new piece! I'm in the midst of fabulous-izing my costume pieces (read: adding glitter and rhinestones), and will be wearing a couple of custom pieces. Our fantastic stage butler, Puss, is working on a black and white outfit for me, and uber-fan Kat has agreed to make some sparkly pasties for me, which I'm very excited about. Still have a prop or two to locate, but the choreography is already locked into my head and ready to run.
I've been feeling particularly inspired by silent movies lately. It started when I was was looking to see if there was anything with Clara Bow on Netflix (anybody who knows me knows my obsession with Clara), and I fell in love with the acting style used in older films. Burlesque dancers, take my advice and watch some classic movies. Since the audience couldn't hear vocal tone, they had to express all emotion with their faces, which is EXACTLY how dancers need to use their faces while dancing! Plus, I'm loving the 1920's slang used in the title cards.
Speaking of Memphis, I've had several people asking what act I'll be using. The answer: I will actually be debuting a new piece! I'm in the midst of fabulous-izing my costume pieces (read: adding glitter and rhinestones), and will be wearing a couple of custom pieces. Our fantastic stage butler, Puss, is working on a black and white outfit for me, and uber-fan Kat has agreed to make some sparkly pasties for me, which I'm very excited about. Still have a prop or two to locate, but the choreography is already locked into my head and ready to run.
I've been feeling particularly inspired by silent movies lately. It started when I was was looking to see if there was anything with Clara Bow on Netflix (anybody who knows me knows my obsession with Clara), and I fell in love with the acting style used in older films. Burlesque dancers, take my advice and watch some classic movies. Since the audience couldn't hear vocal tone, they had to express all emotion with their faces, which is EXACTLY how dancers need to use their faces while dancing! Plus, I'm loving the 1920's slang used in the title cards.
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