Friday, May 30, 2008

The Candy Gram: Charlotte La Belle Araignee

In our ongoing Q&A series --"The Candy Gram"-- we ask the same quirky questions of burlesque's various performers. For the next two weeks, until the 2008 Miss Exotic World pageant, we'll be featuring special editions of The Candy Gram with the burly queens competing in the festivities. If you want to be added to the mix, drop us a line at kellydinardo AT gmail DOT com. Today, say hello to Charlotte La Belle Araignee.

What is your hometown?
Pomona, Cal.

How long have you been interested in burlesque/performing?
I've been doing it for 18 years now.

How many pairs of pasties do you own?
About 25

What are your three favorite songs to perform to?
The Ghost of Stephen Foster, Nasty Man and The Black Widow.

What three items could you not live without as a performer?
Stilettos, tons of feathers and rhinestones!

Who had the biggest influence on your career?
Alice Cooper

Who is your favorite burly queen?
Katz

What is your favorite item of clothing?
Corsets

What's the last movie you saw?
Mrs. Pettigrew

What's on your must-see-TV list?
Dancing With the Stars

What book is on your nightstand?
Don't laugh ...... Fabulosity!

If you could go anywhere for vacation, where would you go?
Italy

If you could have any superpower, which one would you want? Why?
To be invisible.....I love sneaking up on people and spying!

Satisfy your appetite for more Candy Grams: Bunny Love, Amber Topaz, Amelie Soleil, Red Hot Annie, HoneyLu, Kimberlee Rose, Vicky Butterfly, Dominique Immora, Yasmine Vine, Cherry Bomb, Millie Dollar, Joanie Gyoza, Bonbon Vivant, Lola Martinet, Frankie Boudoir, Vixen Violette, Ravenna Black, Veronica Lashe, Amber Ray, Beatrix von Bourbon, Angie Pontani, Tanya Cheex, Bloody Belle, Clams Casino, Trixie Little, Michelle L'Amour, Margaret Cho, Miss Dirty Martini, Princess Farhana, Miss Delirium Tremens, Paris Green, Jo Boobs, Jack Midnight, Heidi Von Haught, Diamond Minx, The Titillation Twins, Scratch, Creamy Stevens and Gina Louise.

Thursday, May 29, 2008

The Candy Gram: Bunny Love

In our ongoing Q&A series --"The Candy Gram"-- we ask the same quirky questions of burlesque's various performers. For the next two weeks, until the 2008 Miss Exotic World pageant, we'll be featuring special editions of The Candy Gram with the burly queens competing in the festivities. If you want to be added to the mix, drop us a line at kellydinardo AT gmail DOT com. Today, say hello to Bunny Love.

What is your hometown?
New Orleans

How long have you been interested in burlesque/performing?
I've been interested in performance that leads to taking my clothes off since I was a kid. I've been performing "real" burlesque for about 12 years.

How many pairs of pasties do you own?
I probably have 15 pairs of pasties, but I don't always wear them, I'm a big fan of glittered nipples.

What are your three favorite songs to perform to?
Harlem Nocturne, Young Americans and Night Train.

What three items could you not live without as a performer?
Glitter, hairpieces and false eyelashes.

Who had the biggest influence on your career?
Marilyn Monroe and Lucille Ball.

Who is your favorite burly queen?
Julie Altas Muz

What is your favorite item of clothing?
My new ostrich feather pink stole, custom made for me by Miss Tickle.

What's the last movie you saw?
Some Like It Hot on the big screen at Film Forum.

What's on your must-see-TV list?
America's Next Top Model and Gossip Girl, I'm embarrassed to admit.

What book is on your nightstand?
A New Earth Awakening to Your Life's Purpose by Eckhart Tolle

If you could go anywhere for vacation, where would you go?
Thailand. I've never been there and I've always wanted to go.

If you could have any superpower, which one would you want? Why?
I would want the same powers as Jeanie from I Dream of Jeanie, because she could do anything with a blink and a nod!

Satisfy your appetite for more Candy Grams: Amber Topaz, Amelie Soleil, Red Hot Annie, HoneyLu, Kimberlee Rose, Vicky Butterfly, Dominique Immora, Yasmine Vine, Cherry Bomb, Millie Dollar, Joanie Gyoza, Bonbon Vivant, Lola Martinet, Frankie Boudoir, Vixen Violette, Ravenna Black, Veronica Lashe, Amber Ray, Beatrix von Bourbon, Angie Pontani, Tanya Cheex, Bloody Belle, Clams Casino, Trixie Little, Michelle L'Amour, Margaret Cho, Miss Dirty Martini, Princess Farhana, Miss Delirium Tremens, Paris Green, Jo Boobs, Jack Midnight, Heidi Von Haught, Diamond Minx, The Titillation Twins, Scratch, Creamy Stevens and Gina Louise.

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Video of the Week

We'll return to our special edition series of The Miss Exotic World Candy Gram interviews tomorrow. Today, enjoy this video from Bambi the Mermaid's performance at last year's pageant.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

The Candy Gram: Angie Pontani

In our ongoing Q&A series --"The Candy Gram"-- we ask the same quirky questions of burlesque's various performers. For the next two weeks, until the 2008 Miss Exotic World pageant, we'll be featuring special editions of The Candy Gram with the burly queens competing in the festivities. If you want to be added to the mix, drop us a line at kellydinardo AT gmail DOT com. Today, say hello to Angie Pontani, who performs solo and as one of The World Famous Pontani Sisters.

What is your hometown?
I was born in Trenton, NJ, but I cut my teeth in Brooklyn, where I have been since I was a teenager.

How long have you been interested in burlesque/performing?
13 years. I started as a chorus girl in the Dutch Weismann Follies. One of the city's first resurgence shows that was truly underground. It was held in the producers apartment, which he literally turned into a speakeasy! I wasn't even old enough to enter a bar through the front door, yet I was shaking it three nights a week in this amazing, illegal show. By the end of my run with the show, which was about four years, I was a featured solo act. It was an amazing experience and I have been working in burlesque ever since.

How many pairs of pasties do you own?
Probably about 20 or so, though only a dozen are in serious rotation.

What are your three favorite songs to perform to?
36-22-36 by Bobby Bland, it's my favorite act!
Take Me out to the Ball Game - a special King Curtis remake. I love baseball and I do a Mets baseball themed act to this song, I adore it!
La Vie En Rose. I do a very traditional sheer dress pointe dance to this and the song and Edith Piaf's voice is just so lovely I get lost in it.

What three items could you not live without as a performer?
snaps
flash tape
red wine

Who had the biggest influence on your career?
Elvis, he wasn't exactly a burlesque dancer in the traditional sense but his inclination to do everything in such an over the top way really moves me. Everything from his jump suits, dance moves, every day clothes, cars, personal style, music (especially the '70s stuff), is just so over the top, there is such attention to every detail. Through those things you can just see how passionate he was about his music, life and performance. I love that and find it wildly inspiring, especially because he was such an innovator of style. Graceland itself is like a set, it couldn't be more perfect in my eyes.

Who is your favorite burly queen?
Blaze Starr, love-love-love her. She was an amazing performer, lived an amazing life and is just so full of sass. She gave me permission to recreate her smoking couch act a few years ago in Las Vegas and I was honored. I was sweating rhinestones waiting for her response. She is an original wild girl, gorgeous and full of class and sass. That is a tough mixture that doesn't happen a lot and I admire it.

What is your favorite item of clothing?
Recently I was in Australia where I discovered Wheels and Dollbaby, an amazing clothier. My life will never be the same! My current fave is a velvet black pencil skirt with covered buttons down the front accompanied by a sheer pink silk blouse. I can't stop wearing it, I vacuumed in it yesterday.

What’s the last movie you saw?
I don't get to the movies much, in fact I can't even remember the last time I went. I think the last movie I saw must have been the last Rocky. My sister lent it to me on a rainy Sunday & I thought it was good! He gives his son this fabulous speech about how being tough and being a winner isn't about actually winning every time. It's really about having the tenacity to just keep getting back up and not stopping and that's real courage and spirit and general awesomeness. That's being scrappy & Rocky-like.

What’s on your must-see-TV list?
I'm not a big TV girl, but I do have the western channel. They run classic westerns constantly. I need to see an episode of Gun Smoke at least once a week, I love Miss Kitty on Gun Smoke.

What book is on your nightstand?
Gone With The Wind and The Biography of Buffalo Bill, talk about show biz, he was the king!

If you could go anywhere for vacation, where would you go?
New Mexico. I'm super lucky that I get to travel so much with work. I've been all over the world and country and have seen some fabulous places, but it's funny because the only place I have actually ever wanted to go to was New Mexico and I've never been! Growing up I was obsessed with it. I even subscribed to New Mexico magazine. It seems like it would really be an amazing place, plus I love chilies and they grow the best!

If you could have any superpower, which one would you want? Why?
I think I would love to be able to disappear, become invisible. It would be fabulous to be able to read minds or throw fire balls, but you can really work the invisible thing. Not only would that power enable you to leave sticky situations on a whim, but you can multi-task by spying, moving things around, torturing your friends, etc... But, only for the good of all humanity though!

Satisfy your appetite for more Candy Grams: Amber Topaz, Amelie Soleil, Red Hot Annie, HoneyLu, Kimberlee Rose, Vicky Butterfly, Dominique Immora, Yasmine Vine, Cherry Bomb, Millie Dollar, Joanie Gyoza, Bonbon Vivant, Lola Martinet, Frankie Boudoir, Vixen Violette, Ravenna Black, Veronica Lashe, Amber Ray, Beatrix von Bourbon, Angie Pontani, Tanya Cheex, Bloody Belle, Clams Casino, Trixie Little, Michelle L'Amour, Margaret Cho, Miss Dirty Martini, Princess Farhana, Miss Delirium Tremens, Paris Green, Jo Boobs, Jack Midnight, Heidi Von Haught, Diamond Minx, The Titillation Twins, Scratch, Creamy Stevens and Gina Louise.

Monday, May 26, 2008

The Candy Gram: Amber Ray

In our ongoing Q&A series --"The Candy Gram"-- we ask the same quirky questions of burlesque's various performers. For the next two weeks, until the 2008 Miss Exotic World pageant, we'll be featuring special editions of The Candy Gram with the burly queens competing in the festivities. If you want to be added to the mix, drop us a line at kellydinardo AT gmail DOT com. Today, say hello to New York's Amber Ray.

What is your hometown?
Milwaukee, Wi

How long have you been interested in burlesque/performing?
In the naivete of my late teens I was one of those who thought strip clubs were places where women with fishnets, furs, big wigs and rhinestones, ruled. I started stripping when I was 18. I was always doing burlesque in strip clubs until I found my people, my community, my family in NYC.

How many pairs of pasties do you own?
At least 15

What are your three favorite songs to perform to?
Thinking of Baby - Elmer Bernstein
Talk Show Host - Radiohead
Green Onions - Count Basie

What three items could you not live without as a performer?
Red lipstick, black liquid eyeliner and, OF COURSE, a fabulously layered costume.

Who had the biggest influence on your career?
This all came so natural to me. I just knew what I wanted to make myself into. I guess MTV, Madonna, the whole 80s POP phenomenon really got me going.

Who is your favorite burly queen?
Well Dixie, for her wild performances and keeping the Art of Burlesque Alive in History and Blaze Starr for her generally fabulous package. I love performers for different reasons. Cathrine Dlish will always be one of my favorites. She Oozes and her moves and looks are absolutely intoxicating.

What is your favorite item of clothing?
My Peacock Costume-Corsets!!!

What's the last movie you saw?
A Dirty Shame and The Life Aquatic - both in one night, Both absolutely FANTASTIC!

What's on your must-see-TV list?
Desperate Housewives
Ugly Betty
Pushing Daisies

What book is on your nightstand?
The Boy Who Fell in Love with the Moon by Tom Spanbauer

If you could go anywhere for vacation, where would you go?
Gay Paree, OF COURSE! I have a whole life waiting for me there!!!

If you could have any superpower, which one would you want? Why?
Telekenesis, so I could move all kinds of people and things with my mind.

Satisfy your appetite for more Candy Grams: Amber Topaz, Amelie Soleil, Red Hot Annie, HoneyLu, Kimberlee Rose, Vicky Butterfly, Dominique Immora, Yasmine Vine, Cherry Bomb, Millie Dollar, Joanie Gyoza, Bonbon Vivant, Lola Martinet, Frankie Boudoir, Vixen Violette, Ravenna Black, Veronica Lashe, Amber Ray, Beatrix von Bourbon, Angie Pontani, Tanya Cheex, Bloody Belle, Clams Casino, Trixie Little, Michelle L'Amour, Margaret Cho, Miss Dirty Martini, Princess Farhana, Miss Delirium Tremens, Paris Green, Jo Boobs, Jack Midnight, Heidi Von Haught, Diamond Minx, The Titillation Twins, Scratch, Creamy Stevens and Gina Louise.

Friday, May 23, 2008

The Candy Gram: Ravenna Black

In our ongoing Q&A series --"The Candy Gram"-- we ask the same quirky questions of burlesque's various performers. For the next two weeks, until the 2008 Miss Exotic World pageant, we'll be featuring special editions of The Candy Gram with the burly queens competing in the festivities. If you want to be added to the mix, drop us a line at kellydinardo AT gmail DOT com. Today, say hello to Ravenna Black.

What is your hometown?
Seattle

How long have you been interested in burlesque/performing?
Technically, since I was three. When anyone asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I said "A ballerina or a princess!" Close enough!

How many pairs of pasties do you own?
I dunno; I make most of mine so they’re constantly being reinvented or replaced. Plus I have a bad shopping habit so I do tend to buy them sometimes, too.

What are your three favorite songs to perform to?
At the moment, my three favorites are:
- The Ghost of Smokey Joe, a variation of Cab Calloway’s Minnie The Moocher, as recorded by my favorite swing band, Lee Press-On and the Nails
- Keep on Churnin’ Til the Butter Comes by the legendary Wynonie “Mr. Blues” Harris
- Barnyard Bop by my friend and fellow Seattle-ite, rockabilly genius Marshall Scott Warner.

What three items could you not live without as a performer?
Fake eyelashes, Dermablend, and double-sided carpet tape.

Who had the biggest influence on your career?
Miss Indigo Blue, without a doubt.

Who is your favorite burly queen?
Dee Milo, ever since I met her working as the back-stage dresser at my very first Exotic World. Her performance of “The Red Dress That Survived The Flames” brought tears to my eyes, and her encouragement that night, and ever since, has meant the world to me. She’s helping me re-create the “Bridal” version of her signature act, which nearly got her arrested in the 50’s, and I only hope I can do it justice.

What is your favorite item of clothing?
High fuckin’ heels, baby! I am 4’ 11” so I need all the help I can get.

What's the last movie you saw?
Fred Claus, with my kids.

What's on your must-see-TV list?
Uh… Wife Swap? Haha!

What book is on your nightstand?
Consensual Sadomasochism: How to Talk About It and How To Do It Safely by William Henkin and Sybil Holiday (AKA burlesque legend Holiday O’Hara).

If you could go anywhere for vacation, where would you go?
I have always wanted to visit Bora Bora, but I hear Tacoma’s nice.

If you could have any superpower, which one would you want? Why?
I would want to be able to fly, because I’m afraid of falling and it would sure beat sitting in traffic!

Satisfy your appetite for more Candy Grams: Amber Topaz, Amelie Soleil, Red Hot Annie, HoneyLu, Kimberlee Rose, Vicky Butterfly, Dominique Immora, Yasmine Vine, Cherry Bomb, Millie Dollar, Joanie Gyoza, Bonbon Vivant, Lola Martinet, Frankie Boudoir, Vixen Violette, Ravenna Black, Veronica Lashe, Amber Ray, Beatrix von Bourbon, Angie Pontani, Tanya Cheex, Bloody Belle, Clams Casino, Trixie Little, Michelle L'Amour, Margaret Cho, Miss Dirty Martini, Princess Farhana, Miss Delirium Tremens, Paris Green, Jo Boobs, Jack Midnight, Heidi Von Haught, Diamond Minx, The Titillation Twins, Scratch, Creamy Stevens and Gina Louise.

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Video of the Week

To get you in the mood for Miss Exotic World, check out Desire d'Amour from last year's pageant.



And, part two ...

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

A Call Out

Your regularly scheduled Video of the Week is being postponed until tomorrow. Today, I have a call out for help with a magazine story I'm writing. If you're interested in participating, I'd love if you would e-mail me the answers to the two questions below. I'm asking people to send me the responses by e-mail and not post responses in the comment section, but I will do an expanded post with your feedback at a later point.

So, if interested, please e-mail me at kellydinardo AT gmail DOT com with your thoughts on the following:

1. What advice do you have to help women tap into their sassier side? What can they learn from burlesque to do so?

2. Which current celebrities are a hit or miss in terms of tapping into their inner burlesque star? And why are they a hit or miss?

Please also include how you would like to be credited should I use any or all of your response. If you'd like to be credited by your performance name, please also include where you're based.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Forget Britney

In this month's Smithsonian magazine, Sam Wineburg, a history and education professor at Stanford University, surveyed 2,000 11th and 12th graders to see who they considered to be the most famous Americans – excluding presidents and their wives. Marilyn Monroe landed in the number eight slot. Now, before anyone gets their tassels knotted up about where teens' priorities are, Monroe and Oprah were the only two on the list that were also likely candidates of an episode of E!: Hollywood True Story. But, I wonder if any of the 2,000 teens realize who Lili St. Cyr was or that Monroe modeled herself on the burly queen.

For those of you curious about the list, here's the complete top ten list:


1. Martin Luther King Jr.
2. Rosa Parks
3. Harriet Tubman
4. Susan B. Anthony
5. Benjamin Franklin
6. Amelia Earhart
7. Oprah Winfrey
8. Marilyn Monroe
9. Thomas Edison
10. Albert Einstein

And, a poll of 2,000 adults age 45 and over produced a list with only two differences – Betsy Ross and Henry Ford replaced Monroe and Einstein.

Monday, May 19, 2008

All The News That's Fit To Strip

The New York Times takes a look at the city's current burlesque scene, New York's burlesque stars and the history of burly in the Big Apple. Author Mark Caldwell writes:

"Burlesque, that fabled if slightly soiled fantasy realm whose heraldic totem was the twirling pasty and whose undisputed queen was Gypsy Rose Lee, has returned to New York, dripping with rhinestones and trailing clouds of glitter. Under the rubric neo-burlesque, a Depression-era genre whose hallmarks were smut with attitude, bargain-barn glamour, rock-bottom ticket prices and a proudly stuck-out tongue is reasserting itself, flourishing in unexpected corners around the city."

Jo Boobs points out The New York Times did a similar story in 2003 and writes, "I'm thrilled that they're interested enough in burlesque to write about it, and thrilled about the awesome folks in the article, but I confess I get a little bit baffled that it's still being treated like it's "back" when it's clearly, simply, HERE."

In other news ...

Seattlites love themselves a little burlesque. This Friday, they can help Sinner Saint Burlesque troupe get to Miss Exotic World.

Will the Fountainbleu in Miami do burlesque again?

Friday, May 16, 2008

The Candy Gram: Amber Topaz

In our ongoing Q&A series --"The Candy Gram"-- we ask the same quirky questions of burlesque's various performers. Until the 2008 Miss Exotic World pageant, we'll be featuring the burly queens competing in the festivities. If you want to be added to the mix, drop us a line at kellydinardo AT gmail DOT com. Today, say hello to Amber Topaz.

What is your hometown?
London

How long have you been interested in burlesque/performing?
I trained as a dancer from the age of eight mainly ballet. Then I moved to London to go to performing arts college. I have been a working actress since I was 19. I performed professionally in musical theater and found it restrictive and uncreative so I started writing music and I met a photographer who asked me the model for him in a pinup, vintage style. After many shoots he suggested I do burlesque. Now I get to fully express through music, comedy, dance and costume. I have been perform burlesque professionally for almost three years.

How many pairs of pasties do you own?
About 10.

What are your three favorite songs to perform to?
Music is the rhythm of my life how can I choose?

What three items could you not live without as a performer?
False eyelashes, high heels and my sense of humor.

Who had the biggest influence on your career?
There is no single who, but there is a what. I had only been performing Burlesque for seven months and I attended Miss Exotic World 2006. It blew my mind. It totally inspired and I was in awe. Dirty Martini and Kitten Deville were so foxy and such powerful forces on stage. Erochica Bamboo was hilarious. She was so pregnant she was about to give birth. She was being all graceful and dramatic when the music switched to shimmy her way into near labor. She shimmed her knicker right off!
In the legend's show Satan's Angel raised the roof still twirling fire tassels way into her twilight years

Who is your favorite burly queen?
All of the above.

What is your favorite item of clothing?
Depends how I feel. Right now it's my original 1950s halter neck silky blue ruched swimsuit.

What's the last movie you saw?
Appocalypto

What's on your must-see-TV list?
There's nothing worth watching.

What book is on your nightstand?
Theta Healing

If you could go anywhere for vacation, where would you go?
New Zeland, Peru, Mexico, Brazil, North India ... I love traveling and there are so many places I have yet to discover.

If you could have any superpower, which one would you want? Why?
To completely heal human suffering. Then there would be no poverty, disease, starvation, abuse, neglect, wars and so on. I am working on it!

Satisfy your appetite for more Candy Grams: Amelie Soleil, Red Hot Annie, HoneyLu, Kimberlee Rose, Vicky Butterfly, Dominique Immora, Yasmine Vine, Cherry Bomb, Millie Dollar, Joanie Gyoza, Bonbon Vivant, Lola Martinet, Frankie Boudoir, Vixen Violette, Ravenna Black, Veronica Lashe, Amber Ray, Beatrix von Bourbon, Angie Pontani, Tanya Cheex, Bloody Belle, Clams Casino, Trixie Little, Michelle L'Amour, Margaret Cho, Miss Dirty Martini, Princess Farhana, Miss Delirium Tremens, Paris Green, Jo Boobs, Jack Midnight, Heidi Von Haught, Diamond Minx, The Titillation Twins, Scratch, Creamy Stevens and Gina Louise.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Miss Exotic World 2008

The official announcement on the Burlesque Hall of Fame's annual All-Star Burlesque Weekend is out.

The four-day festival, which will take place Thursday, June 5 — Sunday, June 8 at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, will include performances from the reigning Miss Exotic World, Immodesty Blaize, left, Michelle L'amour, Kitten DeVille and more than a 100 of the world's top burlesque performers representing over 10 countries and 25 states.

Beyond Friday's Striptease Reunion and The Miss Exotic World Pageant on Saturday, there’s also a weekend long Burlesque Bazaar, a display of memorabilia from the Burlesque Hall of Fame, a Pinup Safari with Don Spiro, daily poolside dance parties and the debut of Dr. Sketchy’s Las Vegas . Don't miss any of the fun.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Video of the Week

The Pinchbottom Burlesque duo at Exotic World 2007.

Monday, May 12, 2008

All The News That's Fit To Strip

When the feathers get stored away, Miss Gypsy Charms morphs into Sarah Vernon, 32-year-old sociology tutor, PhD student and brains behind a rapidly growing dance academy. She talks about her double life with the Edinburgh Evening News. She tells the paper:

"Burlesque is becoming such a popular form of entertainment. More and more people are understanding that it is just the right balance between glamour and fun, it's sexy and it's a chance to dress up. It's comedy too. If you look up 'burlesque' in the dictionary, it says it's a comedy, a parody. It has the moves of striptease but really it's mixed up to provide a parody element. Burlesque has become synonymous with striptease, but that's not necessarily all there is to it."

In other news ...

Did you know the genius behind Baskin-Robbins was inspired by burlesque? After a trip to Minsky's Burlesque in Chicago, where 21 girls were on display, he put up a big sign proclaiming "21 Flavors 21" at his Glendale, Calif., shop.

Millie Dollar's hearing loss hasn't held her back in the world of burlesque.

To witness artful burlesque in action, a Florida reporter caught the Boudoir Beauties, a longstanding West Palm Beach-based collective of art/stripteasers.

Friday, May 9, 2008

The Candy Gram: Trixie Little

In our ongoing Q&A series --"The Candy Gram"-- we ask the same quirky questions of burlesque's various performers. Until the 2008 Miss Exotic World pageant, we'll be featuring the burly queens competing in the festivities. If you want to be added to the mix, drop us a line at kellydinardo AT gmail DOT com. Today, say hello to Baltimore's Trixie Little.

What is your hometown?
Baltimore

How long have you been interested in burlesque/performing?
Performing for 10 years. Burlesque for 5.

How many pairs of pasties do you own?
Presently 13

What are your three favorite songs to perform to?
Total Eclipse of the Heart - Bonnie Tyler
Night Train - Alvino Rey
Tiny Bubbles - Don Ho

What three items could you not live without as a performer?
1. Rhinestones
2. Eyelashes
3. Urban Decay Tanning Stick (secret cleavage enhancer!)

Who had the biggest influence on your career?
Pee Wee Herman

Who is your favorite burly queen?
Wild Cherry- total bad ass from 40's-50's New Orleans. She has the best stories of sass, surviving and life lessons- like making sure you get paid well for people to see what you've got.

What is your favorite item of clothing?
A bikini or a dirndl- hard to choose.

What’s the last movie you saw?
Hairspray! Love that Tracy Turnblad scene where she sings Good Morning Baltimore while feeding rats and driving to school atop a garbage truck! Great dance numbers and costumes too.

What’s on your must-see-TV list?
So You Think You Can Dance and Jackass/Wild Boyz reruns- I love those guys.

What book is on your nightstand?
Several- reading in bed is my favorite hobby! Striptease by Rachel Schteir, Kiss Me Like A Stranger by Gene Wilder, Sacred Contracts by Caroline Myss and The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell

If you could go anywhere for vacation, where would you go?
India

If you could have any superpower, which one would you want? Why?
I have one- Irrepressible Cuteness. It serves me well in my mission to make the world mind-blowingly HAPPY!

Satisfy your appetite for more Candy Grams: Amelie Soleil, Red Hot Annie, HoneyLu, Kimberlee Rose, Vicky Butterfly, Dominique Immora, Yasmine Vine, Cherry Bomb, Millie Dollar, Joanie Gyoza, Bonbon Vivant, Lola Martinet, Frankie Boudoir, Vixen Violette, Ravenna Black, Veronica Lashe, Amber Ray, Beatrix von Bourbon, Angie Pontani, Tanya Cheex, Bloody Belle, Clams Casino, Trixie Little, Michelle L'Amour, Margaret Cho, Miss Dirty Martini, Princess Farhana, Miss Delirium Tremens, Paris Green, Jo Boobs, Jack Midnight, Heidi Von Haught, Diamond Minx, The Titillation Twins, Scratch, Creamy Stevens and Gina Louise.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Video of the Week

The lineup for the 2008 Miss Exotic World pageant has been announced. To get you in the mood, The Candy Pitch will bring you performances from previous years until this year's festivities kick off June 5. Today, here's Hot Pink Feathers at Exotic World 2007.

Friday, May 2, 2008

The Candy Gram: Amelie Soleil

In our ongoing Q&A series --"The Candy Gram"-- we ask the same quirky questions of burlesque's various performers. If you want to be added to the mix, drop us a line at kellydinardo AT gmail DOT com. Today, say hello to Amelie Soleil.

What is your hometown?
Newcastle, UK

How long have you been interested in burlesque/performing?
I began theater at 12 and had danced from a young age. When I was older I became obsessed with vaudeville which led to a career in circus for five years. Sadly, I suffer from involuntary clown syndrome so am far too clumsy! After several injuries I didn't perform aerial for about a year. During this time, I read up on 1920s American circus and became interested in burlesque and made my debut a few months later. I'm not crafty and have always been a tomboy but now, well, I recently bought a kit to bedazzle everything I own and the house is covered in glitter!

How many pairs of pasties do you own?
Surprisingly few. I have one heart shaped pair made by Adora Belle that have been everywhere with me. Plus several act specific pairs and a few comedy pairs. I think every dancer owns at least one makeshift pair, I've resorted to cocktail parasols before.

What are your three favorite songs to perform to?
Seven Nation Army cover by Nostaliga 77, a really strong song that lends itself so well to fan dancing. I love to perform aerial to non-canon music such as Imogen Heap's Old Piano. My partner in Frayed Knot, Edd Muir and I are currently choreographing to Gopher Mambo by Y Sumac which has been a longtime project for us. It's just an amazing song and perfect for acrobatics.

I have a terrible habit of shrieking "Shh!" then stopping dead in public places to listen to piped music, pull out my notebook and then spend the next hour in a daydream about a possible act. In fact most of my act music has been found in this manner!

What three items could you not live without as a performer?
When I'm performing aerial, rosin to put on my hands for grip, at other times I don't feel right on stage unless I have a hair flower. I definitely couldn't live without my notebook to record notes, train times and lovely new friend's details.

Who had the biggest influence on your career?
The people I went to circus school with for encouraging creativity in a hugely traditional genre and my grandmother for ensuring I would be forthright enough to explore what I wanted to do from an early age. She grew up in a small town in Canada but always encouraged traveling and living for yourself. My gram was brilliant at vintage hair & make-up and I think would find it quite funny her previously scruffy granddaughter is now struggling to twist her hair into pin curls.

Who is your favorite burly queen?
Wow, I really don't have a favorite performer. Although her style is completely different to my own, I find Michelle L'amour fascinating. I'm very much a fan of earlier music hall style burlesque so any stars from that age too

What is your favorite item of clothing?
It changes everyday but currently my Wizard Of Oz ruby high heels!

What's the last movie you saw?
The Orphanage -- brilliant but straw children are more terrifying than I ever thought!

What's on your must-see-TV list?
I don't watch television but sometimes buy box sets. I've just finished watching House which reaffirmed my long held childhood love of Hugh Laurie and I became embarrassingly addicted to Heroes.

What book is on your nightstand?
I read really quickly so I've just finished A Quiet Belief in Angels by RJ Ellory and have nearly finished Kavalier & Clay by Micheal Chabon. I also have several Stephen Fry books on hand for chilling out in the bath. Normally, I have several books on the go and am seriously considering setting up a burlesque bookswap for performers. I'm always on the lookout for books on European mythology & folklore

If you could go anywhere for vacation, where would you go?
Japan. It's another childhood obsession this time with Geishas that's made the country my destination of choice. I don't want to go until I can have at least a month to explore so maybe next year.

If you could have any superpower, which one would you want? Why?
Definitely to be like the little guy from Heroes who could "talk" to technology. How great would that be? No longer would my phone fail mid call, emails drop mid send and my alarm clock would always work. Plus I would always have my own on stage lighting design!

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