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.

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.

Video of the Week

The Pinchbottom Burlesque duo at Exotic World 2007.

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.

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.

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.

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!

Satisfy your appetite for more Candy Grams: 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.