I'm Ba-ack

Tumblr is getting too busy and shutting down, so I'm back to a more reliable platform.

During my hiatus I have been having an existential crisis, been slacking on housework (bane of my existence), making home-made salted caramel fudge, working night-fill, re-reading Harry Potter from the first book through, finding retro pieces to fill out my wardrobe, studying wicca, playing 'Enslaved', watching Food Documentaries, looking for full-time work (an exercise in futility at this point), living vicariously through Family and Friends on the other wide of the world, dreaming up my Bucket List, going on weekly trips to the Library and Ikea and making plans for my return to Burlesque...

If our ruinous civilization is built on a struggle of good versus evil, then its healing demands the opposite: self-acceptance, self-love, and self-trust. Contrary to our best intentions, we will never end the evil and violence of our civilization by trying harder to overcome, regulate, and control a human nature we deem evil, for the war on human nature, no less than the war on nature, generates only more separation, more violence, more hatred. "You can kill the haters," said Martin Luther King, "but you cannot kill the hate." The master's tools will never dismantle the master's house. The same applies internally. You can go to war against parts of yourself you think are bad, but even if you win, like the Bolsheviks and the Maoists, the victors become the new villains. The separation from self that the campaign of willpower entails cannot but be projected, eventually, in some form, onto the outside world.

Yeah, sure, self-acceptance. . . the concept is pretty much a cliché these days. In its full expression though, the path to Reunion of self-acceptance, self-love, and self-trust is utterly radical, challenging cherished doctrines of how to be a good person. Let me state it as purely as I can: the path to salvation for us as individuals and as a society lies in being more selfish, not less.

Ascent of Humanity

 Nubby Twiglet

Disappointment

So because of emotional and financial troubles, I'm unfortunately gonna have to step back from the Burlesque scene. Boo.
This blog will now be going in a more artsy direction I think... we'll see.

Let's see where the White Rabbit leads me.

Bombshell Burlesque Academy To Do List

For my Chair Tease Class I need to get:
Stay up stockings
Garter Belt
Lace and Ribbon
Heels with No Strap
Halterneck Bra
Halterneck Long Fishtail Gown

I already Have:
Brown Stole
White Gloves
High Control Briefs

How am I going to do this?
OP SHOPS!!!

The first Wednesday night lesson of the Bombshell Burlesque Academy was last night, with Kat Fink teaching Hair, and Viola teaching a Bellydance Burlesque Fusion 'Dance of the Seven Veils' and a 'Chair Tease', which is more old school Traditional Strip.
Classes are $20 each, if you pay as you go, you can find more information here

Miss Burlesque Final

Routine Musings

anniegotgun

Hopefully I can make it to this year's Brisbane Zombie Walk to support the Brain Foundation. Starting 2.30pm on Sunday the 24th October at Wickham Street and stumbling it's way into Fortitude Valley.

I have my head swimming with idea's for a Zombie Routine I may or may not be performing at the after party.

Theme: Cadaverous Criminal
Music: Fiona Apple - Criminal

lemec
Costume: Dirty, Gritty, Unravelled Wool and Picked Lace

cheerzombie
Makeup: Bruised, Blue, and Bloody

miss-deathwish
Dance: Slow, Long and Lean with Sharp Shimmies.

Sydney Morning Herald
Basically:

A sanguine, seeping spurt of a show perfect for Halloween It will be featuring Dirt, Gore and Glamour rolled into a Demonic Delight. Watch the Lady Viviane Mae as a Zombie dicorticate not only layers of livery but also shreds of stale skin!!!

Miss Burlesque Australia

Last night was the Miss Burlesque Australia at the Enmore Theatre in Sydney.

Congratulations to all the girls:

* Miss Burlesque QLD ELLASHAYE D’MORE
* Miss Burlesque NSW BRIANA BLUEBELL
* Miss Burlesque TAS MISS BECKY LOU
* Miss Burlesque WA CLARA CUPCAKES
* Miss Burlesque VIC THE STRAWBERRY SIREN
* Miss Burlesque SA FLAVELLA L’AMOUR

And First Runners Up – Also competing at the Grand Final are:

* Miss Burlesque Brisbane AMELIE LULU
* Miss Burlesque Sydney DANICA LEE
* Miss Burlesque Hobart RUBY RIGHT
* Miss Burlesque Perth GINGER LAMINGE
* Miss Burlesque Melbourne PEACHEY DREAM
* Miss Burlesque Adelaide LUNA ECLIPSE

And Wild Cards:

* RITA FONTAINE (NSW) Chosen by Jac Bowie
* SAPPHIRE DEMURE (SA) Chosen by Cassandra Atkins

Photo by Dominic Kieler from Miss Burlesque Australia Facebook

The Judges were:

IMOGEN KELLY (Australia’s Queen of Burlesque)

goldcoast.com.au
VIXEN NOIR (Erotic Performance Artiste Extraordinaire USA)

Myspace
GLITTA SUPERNOVA (Founder of Gurlesque, Producer, Performer)

Star Observer

LOLA THE VAMP (Burlesque Star) I love her so so much!!

Lola the Vamp Facebook photo by kahlia litzow photography

JO HUI (Editor of Burlesque Magazine) 

DOLORES DAIQUIRI (Australian Burlesque Festival)

doloresdaiquiri on Myspace

The Winner was RITA FONTAINE!!!!

Rita Fontaine Facebook

Huge Congratulations and Excitement for you!!! 

New Website

Can be found here

Any Feedback would be appreciated.

ellygator on Deviantart
This mask is giving me idea's to make my own and feature it in a solo routine. Not Peacock feathers though, maybe an Australian Native Bird instead?

Carousel!!!

Friday 1st October, Barsoma
Chad St James and Lady Cave had the excellent idea of really bringing the Brisbane Burlesque scene back to life. Carousel is a revival of modern, fresh talent and raw shimmies by the girls from The Judy Dolls.

The night began at my sisters place in Gordon Park, M&Ms and brie, guitar solo's and Family Guy, changing outfits. The road was wet, my little hatchback weighed down in the back. Ran into Barsoma, through the light drizzle and upstairs while the Sweet Soul Sisters played a great set of well known Ballard's and r'n'b.

We saw all the chairs downstairs were already taken, so escaped upstairs, taking photos by the gritty art done on skateboards with Large Blue 'Geek' glasses. I had wanted to go to Ric's Bar before Barsoma to see the lovely Lola the Vamp and Coppelia Jane perform, but the weather said no.

First Burlesque Performance of the night was by La Viola Vixen. A brand new 'Heart-Attack' routine with a spectacular Green Spidery Feathery Headdress. Everything about her performance was graceful and exquisite. When talking to the people I was with that night, someone commented that 'she was obviously very confident on stage, had no nervousness about her at all.' I do adore Viola. She is the first Burlesque performer I met only 2 or 3 months ago at a Dr. Sketchy's. Her posing was raunchy without being crass, and she always maintained a sense of refinement and glamour. She has been running a Bombshell Burlesque Academy, Term 4 is starting next week.

Julz DiVine  was next with an incredibly sexy chair routine done with typical French elle est bonne. Her costuming was amazing, a remarkable Red Top Hat and Feathers. Her poise was breath-taking. I loved it.

Lady Cave was the third routine of the night. I found her style of Burlesque to be drastically different to the routines by Viola and Julz. It was darker and more alternative, with a track that showed off her musicality. Lady Cave impresses me even when she is just being herself, let alone performing. My sister's and I could not shut up after her performance. Her body (stomach!) is perfect. Tight and lean. I love her exotic high cheekbones with the classic bob profile. She is inspirational and creative. On the night there was a 'Where are you taking me?' Zine. It is a cheeky guide to the Brisbane Burlesque, Pinup, Music, Fashion, Philosophy, Photography and Art, Tea Parties and Events. Basically everything I started this Blog for! The zine ranges from band info, to 'how to make a couch fort', a blue cheese scone recipe which makes me want to have a mad hatters tea party, ways to be a Naughty Little Anarchist Fuck, Places to go for food (Sky room has a Book Club and Stitch'n'Bitch; Flamingo Cafe has great Cheap Monday specials.), how to do a vintage Marilyn Hair Style, and info on a 'Finders Keepers' Market in November.

I was most disappointed to miss out of Dynamite Boom Boom and Blaike Starlet. I was being painted by The Pillowbook Girls, letting out my inner 80s punk rocker.

Davina Mercy was up next with a Parasol Routine. The rise and fall of her arms was hypnotic. Undulating Hips, Fluttering Fingers, Swelling Sighs. She stilled the room with a glance.

The Diamond Dahlia was the last solo performance of the night and she just oozed class and opulence. I love large Fan routines, because it really epitomises the 'hide and peek' aspect of Burlesque and makes it that much more sumptuous.

The Judy Dolls did a dynamic and sassy last routine of the night, dressed in white Air Hostess Uniform Hats, Pencil Skirts and Bandeau's that were snapped off one by one. It was a sublime ending to a night that was an unmitigated success.

Whatever Lola Wants

 Dan Blank did this WONDERFUL music Video of the Satin Dollz
I love it so much it hurts.

For some reason, the embed code does not want to work, so just click on the links below for the juicy goodness of Old Hollywood glamour.

Whatever Lola Wants

Making of

Enjoy.

Whatever Lola wants...Lola gets
And little man, little Lola wants you
Make up your mind to have.... no regrets
Recline yourself, resign yourself, you're through
I always get... what I aim for
And your heart'n soul is what I came for

Whatever Lola wants... Lola gets,
Take off your coat
Don't you know you can't win?
You're no exception to the rule,
I'm irresistible, you fool, Give in!

Reveiw

We drove into the car park at McWhirters and saundered around the block chatting away about how great Garuva's Tranquility Bar was last week. The footpath was uneven, and I really had to focus on where I was stepping, but was so excited when I turned the corner into Constance St and saw the sign for Barsoma. There was a VW Bug on the side of the road painted Green and Gold. A girl from the class crossed the road with curlers in her hair. Another one was on the phone just outside the door.
The space was retro, clean and comfy. The bartenders were cheeky. The change rooms were full of props and graffiti. I had booked a table for six. Myself, my boyfriend (without who I would not have even been able to go to dance classes), my two sisters and their respective partners. It was about 5:30pm and I saw Chad and Kat trying to figure out who was dancing where and how. La Viola Vixen had been stuck in Sydney, having her flight cancelled. As Lola kept saying 'She has been kidnapped by Virgins'

The wrap sheet was scrawled on a napkin.
The photographer was taking photos of the mayhem.
The girls and I were trying to figure out music and fans and run through with the stage in mind.
Talking over the top of each other and giggling nervously.
It was exciting and time was accelerating closer and closer to the time we were meant to perform and I was trying to split my time between my little family at my table (now eating pizza and beer-battered chips) and the girls backstage, getting changed, bossing each other around, complementing the costumes, oozing with pride and nervous excitement.

=UtenaTenjou1212
Our fan performance was first on stage, starting at 7pm. We marched in, on stage and in front, the stage lights hot, the faces we were performing too, eager. Of course there were mistakes (It was our first time on stage, and it was uneven) but for the most part, we did it. And it was Hot. I felt like my smile was going to quiver off my face.
Once off it was a quick scramble to get changed and get back out there to watch a solo. Jasmine from Aladdin became a bikie chick. I was finally able to relax and watch some of the video that my sister took of my performance. It needs editing, but will be on you-tube soon and I will be linking to it! Many photos were taken, drinks ordered, dirty jokes told.

~PsikoPower
The band, 'Card Houses' got up and played a set, great to listen to, too loud to really talk over. Classic kind of rock with a lead singer who was playing with a synth alot. Not dance music either, just kinda chill the room out a bit.
The Parasol routine was next, and was so cute with the hide and peek. I especially love the part where the legs are shown up over the Parasol on the floor. The music was cut off awkwardly, because it was not the same mix that they had been learning and practicing to. More solo's.
Paige La Belle was cheeky during her Go-go routine, and probably the most comfortable solo performer that night, and everyone cheered her on. Ruby Le Rose was next doing an extremely risque chair routine, and then a long wait (wardrobe malfunction) for the last solo performance: Lily le Raven.
Chad St James, Lola and Lady Cave all stepped forward taking turns on the mike to entertain, educate and tease. There was one serious moment when Lady Cave gave some great advice to all amateur Burlesque girls. Get people to come, and get them to drink. That is how you get paid. The more gigs we get in Brisbane, the better, the less we have to travel to do shows, the better. It definitely gave me some food for thought.

*JAtothemuthafinC
All in all it was a great night and venue with a very supportive and understanding environment for us to start in. Big thank you's to Chad St James, for being full of drama and angst, and keeping us feeling like stars. Lola the Vamp for cheering us up and on. Kat Creasey for stepping in for Viola. Huge thank you to my Boyfriend, who is supportive of this new crazy venture I'm doing (he watches my son for me when I have to go to dance class), helps me come up with ideas, and he pays for my costumes (unemployment sucks ass). Also my sister, Elly and her Hubby Rick, for drinks and pizza and parking, photos and video and many drunken antics, Jai and Rob for their support and encouragement. Everyone else who turned up! All the girls at the Bombshell Burlesque and Beauty Academy for professionalism and keeping the show going :)
I am so glad to be a part of this and just want to sink deeper and deeper into it. I kept saying after the performance, "Oh, my God! I wanna do it again!"

And I do.

Recursion

We want to be wanted. We want to know who we are and be known. To feel the erasure of all our flaws and inconveniences as that insane rush of instinct blows away everything else and becomes lust. It’s a kind of messy recursion.
- Recursion by Remittance Girl, Short story for Sex Scene- An Anthology Downloadable for Free on LuLu

Dita in FHM

The Imagine Sunglasses from Modcloth. I want these for summer. $11.99 US

Le Love

Cyanide and Happiness

claudiu-popescu

Insanitea...

and...

Love the corsetry and the red hair...

Insanitea on Deviantart

Feature on: Lola the Vamp

"A highly developed aesthetic and a sly wit...super sexy without ever being tawdry, Lola is in a league of her own". - The Age

The Burlesque Ball 2010 Performance

'Watch Out For' Exclusive Interview

Flickr Feed

Official Website

Photo From Lola's Official Site (love the Tricorn hat)

"Burlesque uses the body and sexuality like a musician uses an instrument and sound - to see where else it can go. To say all burlesque always says the same thing about women and sex is like saying that music is all about instruments and sounds, it is to deny the wealth and richness of meanings and ideas in burlesque today" - Lola the Vamp
This ephemeral classic beauty prances en pointe with many influences, from Ballet, to Art Nouveau, to Symbolism, Dark Gothic glamour and Pure Intuition. She is Sexy, and she is Smart. I first met Lola at Dr. Sketchy's Anti Art School at the Glass Bar, only a couple of months ago. I went to brush up on my sketching powers and also to meet new people, and artists are, of course, the most interesting people to meet. She was wearing a wonderful punkish tartan gown, was soft spoken and velvet eyed. I loved her already, and hadn't even seen her perform or even that she did Burlesque!

"Lola, the vamp, a woman so in control of her art form as to be more dominant the greater her state of undress, was magnetic. We are fish on hooks!" Miss Victoria Mist, review of Sugartime, Sydney.
She did introduce me to La Viola Vixen that night who I went on to take lessons from. Anyone who knows me knows that Google is my friend, and I researched Burlesque, and the influences and intelligence that has gone into Lola's routines are well above the norm and usually over the audiences head. But she knows. This gives her a Mona Lisa type of quirky charm, that she has shadows swirling underneath the surface about to break, but never quite doing so.

"My shows are about my ideal striptease performer and I am equally influenced by French Cabaret showgirls who go topless with amazing costumes, as I am by American burlesque dancers who wear pasties (and amazing costumes!)." - Lola the Vamp
I had seen you tube videos of her performances, usually poor quality and not showing all of her, and often cutting out her footwork altogether, So I was extremely excited to see her perform at Ric's Bar last night. I am a punctual person and so climbed the long flight upstairs into an intimate, smoky room. The balcony allowed smokers, the Bar Tender wore glitter, a vest and bow tie, and had 'tips' scrawled on his abs. The women's bathrooms has magazine cutouts plastering the walls with clever and crude graffiti. The drinks were cheap, the wait went quickly. Lola, La Viola Vixen and Amelie Lu Lu went downstairs for 5 minutes and came up with a rowdy bunch of, how shall I put this? Bogans. It was only 9pm and already people were slurring drunk.

Lola took to the stage in all black, with a black sequined wire frame which made her look as though she had just stepped out of an Alphonse Mucha poster from Paris. Her movements were refined, her face was both at times demure and at other times, sassy. Her poise and dignity was in sharp contrast with the bawdy crowd, but that was part of the appeal. I felt as though her movements were only being appreciated by a select few, and that a secret was being passed along those few that really valued what Lola was doing.

The culmination of her routine was sliding around in a glass half dome, filled with water. It did bring to mind the Martini Glass routine, so popular in the United States. The element of water has so many symbolic connotations, being one of the 'Classical Elements' of Air, Water, Earth and Fire. Greek Philosophers attributed water to having powers of emotion and intuition. In Indian Mythology, Water is attached to the Moon, and Venus and also imagination. In astrology, the 'water signs', are Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces.

"Water personalities tend to be emotional, deep, nurturing, sympathetic, empathetic, imaginative and intuitive; however, they can also be sentimental, over-sensitive, escapistic and irrational." Water - Wikipedia

Water is essentially a feminine symbol of intuition, of feeling. It also helps that the wet shine on her legs, herself being immersed in the bowl (the womb, if you will) simulates sex. She is sweat, she is penetrating. And the climax of course, is splashing the bowl empty onto the crowd and floor, simulating the point of completion and ejaculation.

“I am always creating shows for the PHD submissions, then writing about that process and creative theory, design, movement, costume. There’s a level of fetishism, in the psycho-analytic sense of the word, it’s broader than the sex shop theory. I use antique pieces in the show; I find it ties the show to something before me” Lola the Vamp
The night quickly degenerated from there, with regular house music being played, regular drunks grabbing too much, but the sleaze and the darkness only highlighted the glamour and the light even more. To Lola; you are an inspiration to me, only a beginner in this world, and I thank you for that.

“It’s a flight of fantasy; it’s supposed to take you into another world, an alternate reality. I am aiming for a spectacle; it’s not the kind of thing you see every day…” Lola the Vamp