Dance Class Challenge: 13/100 - Jazz Dance

I was pretty warm and sweaty after Stretch Zone, but Evie and I committed to taking a second class with Bill tonight.  Since it's Thursday, everything started on the left foot and gave me a great challenge.  The temperatures dropped as night fell, but I'm sure I burned off my dinner and post-class popcorn snack in class.

Bill teaches fluidity of movement, incorporating it in the warm-up, choreography and cool-down.  My body is getting more accustomed to his style of teaching and dancing.  I'm still terrible at spotting during turns and my body wants to start on the right foot instead of the left, but I'm making improvements.  I look forward to taking this class again and again and again.

Dance Class Challenge: 12/100 - Stretch Zone

I did a double dose of dance classes tonight.  I talked Evie into joining me on this ridiculously warm evening on this adventure.  This was my first time taking a stretch class with Bill.  (Let me just add that his class descriptions are totally accurate.)

I got such a wonderful and pain-free stretch during this class.  I also worked up a bit of a sweat doing these simple moves that engaged my core and really stretched my weak areas (hamstrings and back).  It was a wonderful class.  Bill is great and really understands kinesthetics.  The only negative is that I wish the class fit into my schedule a bit better.  I was able to go this evening because I got out of my day job early.

Las Vegas Burlesque: Passionate Pioneers

I had the pleasure of spending time with Cha Cha Velour, Vi Vacious and Miss Karla Joy when I was dancing in Las Vegas last weekend.  I love to find out more about the local burlesque community whenever I travel, helping me see how I can improve things for my own community or what others can gain from some of our successful actions.

Las Vegas is an adult playground.  Tourists can take in the latest hit show on the Strip without having to leave the comfort of their own hotels.  Streets are lined with mini-catalogs for barely legal Asians, blondes with big butts, and all manner of prostitution wish books.  With no lack of distractions (much like Los Angeles but with more smoking and legal prostitution), I could see how tough it would be to put together a burlesque community here.

Of course, these passionate pioneers are getting it done.  Cha Cha's monthly event, Live Burlesque! in Las Vegas, showcases local talent and out-of-town guests, burlesque numbers with variety acts peppered throughout the evening.  The friendly audience reminds me of the audiences I see at Monday Night Tease: lots of regulars who seem to know a number of performers because they come to all the shows, people who want to see their first real burlesque show and have been curious about it for a while, and folks who ramble in from the connected front bar to see the cause of all the excitement.  Saturday night was standing room only, and backstage was packed with performers.  It was an electric evening of entertainment.

Offstage, these ladies also hold classes and offer words of wisdom to new performers to help cultivate their community.  They're very passionate about connecting those with a budding interest in burlesque to the history of the art form.  They've figured out that it takes investment to get the community they want.  I look forward to seeing more rising talent they've influenced the next time I'm in Vegas.

Brolesque 3-Week Course

Steak N. Shake, student of Red Snapper

It's time for a Brolesque 3-week intensive!  Men, learn burlesque technique to showcase your virility, comedy and talent.  Whether entertaining your lover or performing for a paying crowd, it's time to get your game face on.  Here's the schedule:

• Sunday 4/3 - history of men in burlesque and striptease, warm-up, special considerations about the male anatomy, choreography part one
• Sunday 4/10 - how to striptease with any garment, warm-up, giving good face, choreography part two
• Sunday 4/17 - the magic of reveals, tassels and you, props, warm-up, choreography part three

Entire series for $55, drop-in $20 per class. No women allowed (besides your teacher)!  Classes are 80 minutes each, 3pm to 4:20pm.

All classes held at Studio A Dance, 2306 Hyperion Avenue, Los Angeles, CA  90027.

RSVP to msredsnapper at the ol' gmail. :)

Live Burlesque in Las Vegas! presents The Man Show

I'm very excited to bring the Stepford Wife to Las Vegas!  This is also Mr. Snapper's first burlesque performance outside California.  I hope you're able to make it if you're in the area.

Surviving Burlesqueland

Holy cow Burlesqueland was fun this year!  Three shows, one class, an outing and a day at the Park.  Holy mackerel!

Caveat time.  It was fun except for the allergy attack that kept me from my Naked Girls Reading stint on Saturday.  Oh, and the 24-hour sinus thing that took my voice, zapped my energy, kicked up my temperature and kept me from performing Sunday night.  Yeah, fun except for those things.

I got sick last year the day after we went to the Park.  You'd think I would've learned a valuable lesson from that.  Nope.  I worked on stuff for Burlesqueland for several months: costume, props, music, merch.  My weekends since my Texas trip have been spent almost entirely focused on stuff for our little festival.  The past three weeks have been early mornings, long hours at the day job, lots of crafting upon the return home and a late bedtime.  I ate convenience foods because I didn't have time to dedicate to proper meal preparation.  I exhausted myself so that I was ready to collapse when the event finally arrived.  I was so wiped out that I fell asleep on Pirates when we hit the Park.

I love that I'm such an active participant in the Burlesqueland festival, but I have to take some lessons from this if I'm going to survive future years.

1. Sleep is good.  In the weeks leading up to the local festival, get eight hours sleep each night as the norm.  Only make exceptions on show nights.
2. Meals are good.  Spend 20 minutes to throw something tasty in the crock pot that will last a few days.
3. Stock up on healthy snacks for those heavy crafting nights.  It's smarter to grab a handful of carrot sticks or apple slices as a pick-me-up than to devour an entire bag of delicious cheese curls.
4. Use stuff that's already done!  Mr. Snapper and I built everything for my Wild Ride act.  We're using that again.  It's stressful putting together a brand new act on top while devoting an appropriate amount of attention to the other activities of the festival and daily lift.  If you missed Red Snapper's Wild Ride, it'll be back in 2012 and it'll be even better.  I'm also reusing the host costume Scarlett Letter whipped up for me in 48 hours.
5. Take a little personal quiet time during the festival, even if it's ten minutes of meditation each day before heading into the flood of activities.
6. Communication is key to keeping everything on track and keeping frazzled nerves to a minimum.  I know I'll work on hosting bits much sooner if I'm hosting again next year.

I love Burlesqueland but I wore myself out this year so I was prone to illness.  I hope I learn my lesson by 2012.

Burlesqueland: Peepshow Menagerie presents Burlesqueland (Night Four)

PEEPSHOW MENAGERIE presents BURLESQUELAND!!!

(Night FOUR of The 3rd Annual BURLESQUE DAY AT DIZNEYLAND )

TWO Nights of BURLESQUE! ONE Day At The Park!
...
Don't miss the final night of the biggest Los Angeles Burlesque Show of the year!

Peepshow Menagerie is a monthly comedy burlesque show which takes place on the third Thursday of every month. Each show is a jaunt into pop culture references and naughty hijinks. We adhere to the original tradition of burlesque which wasn't just about striptease but also about comedy, music, magic, and variety acts.

This March we are taking our audience back to their childhood, again-AGAIN, with our annual foray into the world of mouse ears and fairy tales. "Burlesqueland!" (aka its unofficial title of 'Burlesque Day At D-land') was a huge hit for us the last two years with a great audience and we expect it to be even bigger this year.

This year we have even more performers, several 'hidden mickeys', guest stars! On this second night, we are lucky to have Miss DIA BLOW (whose interview in the CAMPUS CIRCLE you will be able to read this month) and Mr. STUMPINGTON PUTZ of 'DOC & STUMPY' fame!

There will be guest appearances by MR. SNAPPER and CHRIS BEYOND
See 'Dizney' inspired Burlesque from:

SCARLETT LETTER
"Best Solo Performance" and "Legend's Award" winner at the 2010 Boston Burlesque Expo

RED SNAPPER
"Rubust and Sassy" ~ LA Weekly


ANNA BELLS
ANASTASIA VON TEASERHAUSEN
RED SONJA
DIA BLOW
ISABELLA STAR
LA FILLE DAMNEÉ
(more burlesque acts TBA)

with a group burlesque performance by
RED SNAPPER'S BURLESKATEERS

Balloon-Antics by
BUSTER BALOON

with a special appearances by
MR. SNAPPER & CHRIS BEYOND

Hosted by:
DIA BLOW annd STUMPINGTON PUTZ

Live at BORDELLO
901 East First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Doors open at 9pm with the show starting at 9:30pm (But we always advise being there early in order to get the best seats and/or view of the stage.)

Admission is only $12 at the door.

21 & Up / Full Bar

Go to http://www.peepshowmenagerie.com/ for performer bios and more info as it comes.

NOTICE: This is only NIGHT FOUR of a FOUR DAY EVENT...

NIGHT ONE: Thusday, March 17th - Live at BORDELLO, in Los Angeles we will be opening the weekend with over 15 performances with guest stars and baggy pants comedy galore! Definitely not a show you want to miss!

DAY TWO: Friday, March 18th - We're all Going to Disneyland!

NIGHT THREE: takes place at GOLDEN APPLE COMICS on Saturday, March 19th in Hollywood. For more information about that show please go to the NAKED GIRLS READING Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/NGRLosAngeles

We hope to see you at this show and that some of you join us for our annual trip to Dizneyland on the 18th. Imagine being able to go on rides with your favorite burlesque beauties!

If you are a fan of Burlesque and Disney - DO NOT MISS THESE SHOWS! We guarantee that these shows will make up for the fact that a certain house of mouse produced that 'Burlesque Movie.'

(These shows are not endorsed in any way by the Walt Disney Company or any of its parks or businesses.)

Burlesqueland: Naked Girls Reading at Golden Apple Comics

Join us on Saturday, March 19th, as NAKED GIRLS READING presents a very special night as part of Peepshow Menagerie's Four Day "BURLESQUELAND!!!" event!

See Five Beautiful Naked Girls reading GRIMM FAIRY TALES Comic Books along with many stories about "THAT THEME PARK" we all know and love and MORE!

Featuring Our Lovely Naked Readers:
...
SCARLETT LETTER
(Best Solo Burlesque Performance and Legends Award Winner at the 2010 Boston Burlesque Expo)

ANITA COOKIE
(Best Variety Act, 2009 Burlesque Hall Of Fame
also a member of Naked Girls Reading NYC)

RED SNAPPER
(Burlesqueland Postergirl / "Robust and Sassy" ~ L.A. Weekly)

with
JESSABELLE THUNDER
SPY KITTEN

-------------------

LIVE SIGNING FROM ZENESCOPE COMICS:

Comic Artist: ERIC BASALDUA
(Zenescope Cover Artist)

Comic Writer: DAN WICKLINE
(Grimm Fairy Tales)

Comic Colorist: NEI RUFFINO
(Neverland, Wonderland, various DC Comics)

Comic Artist - TESS FOWLER
(Wonderland, Charmed)

and RAVEN GREGORY
(Zenescope Writer / Executive Editor

-------------------

Door Admission - $20

Advance tickets are also on sale for this event at hrrp://www.peepshowmenagerie.com

People who buy advance tickets will get an additional door prize courtesy of Naked Girls Reading.

Admission includes a free comic book and an intimate wine reception for people 21 & Up will follow the reading.

18 & Up - Adults Only

No cameras allowed during the performance.

There will be a free raffle to win a poster signed by all of our naked girls.

-------------------

Naked Girls Reading is a group of beautiful ladies who love to read…naked. That’s really it. There’s not a whole lot more to it.

Should there be?

There’s something beautiful, something altogether more intimate, about a woman reading pretty much anything in her, well, altogether. It’s just that simple. So why are we still talking about it? Because people can’t seem to accept its simplicity.

Naked Girls. Reading.

or Girls Reading. Naked.

However you need to explain it to yourself is fine. And while you do, we’ll be over here…reading.

...in this case, reading Comic Books...

Naked.

Burlesqueland: Peepshow Menagerie presents Burlesqueland (Night One)

PEEPSHOW MENAGERIE presents BURLESQUELAND!!!

(Night ONE of The 3rd Annual BURLESQUE DAY AT DIZNEYLAND )

TWO Nights of BURLESQUE! ONE Day At The Park!
...
Celebrate SAINT PATRICK'S DAY with the biggest Los Angeles Burlesque Show of the year!

Peepshow Menagerie is a monthly comedy burlesque show which takes place on the third Thursday of every month. Each show is a jaunt into pop culture references and naughty hijinks. We adhere to the original tradition of burlesque which wasn't just about striptease but also about comedy, music, magic, and variety acts.

This March we are taking our audience back to their childhood, again-AGAIN, with our annual foray into the world of mouse ears and fairy tales. "Burlesqueland!" (aka its unofficial title of 'Burlesque Day At D-land') was a huge hit for us the last two years with a great audience and we expect it to be even bigger this year.

This year we have even more performers, several 'hidden mickeys', guest stars, and because of the great reception they got last year, we are bringing back our opening Baggy-Pants comedy act, MR. SNAPPER & MR. BUDDY.

Hosting the night will be our Burlesqueland "poster-girl" RED SNAPPER along with PATRICK THE BANK ROBBER, REX THE IMPOSSIBLE, and MR. SNAPPER

And the day after Peepshow Menagerie's show, as we did last year and the year before, we are all going to Disneyland!

See 'Dizney' inspired Burlesque from:

VENUS DeMILLE
Winner of the "Legend In The Making" title at the 2005 Miss Exotic World pageant

SCARLETT LETTER
"Best Solo Performance" and "Legend's Award" winner at the 2010 Boston Burlesque Expo

DIZZY VON DAMN!
Miss Viva Las Vegas 2008

ANITA COOKIE
"Best Variety Act" - 2009 Burlesque Hall Of Fame

CHARLOTTE LA BELLE ARAIGNE'E
RED SNAPPER
BOBBIE BURLESQUE
SOPHIA SIRENA
MISS ANGIE CAKES
JUDY LUCK
MISS JOSIE BUNNIE
JESSABELLE THUNDER
BOOZEHOUND BURLESQUE
MISS KARLA JOY
HOLLY GO DARKLY
CRYSTAL CRAVEN

Baggy Pants Comedy by
MR. SNAPPER AND MR. BUDDY

with a special appearances by
CHRIS BEYOND

Hosted by:
RED SNAPPER
("Robust & Sassy" ~ L.A. Weekly)

Live at BORDELLO
901 East First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Doors open at 9pm with the show starting at 9:30pm (But we always advise being there early in order to get the best seats and/or view of the stage.)

Admission is only $15 at the door.

21 & Up / Full Bar

Go to http://www.peepshowmenagerie.com/ for performer bios and more info as it comes.

NOTICE: This is only NIGHT ONE of a FOUR DAY EVENT...

DAY TWO: Friday, March 18th - We're all Going to Disneyland!

NIGHT THREE: takes place at GOLDEN APPLE COMICS on Saturday, March 19th in Hollywood. For more information about that show please go to the NAKED GIRLS READING Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/NGRLosAngeles

DAY FOUR: Sunday, March 20th - Live at BORDELLO (Again!)
We will be wrapping up our Four Days of BURLESQUELAND at the same place we started it...at BORDELLO. Tickets are only $12 (doors at 9pm) because we will have less acts, but the bonus is that they are totally different acts and the show opens up with a musical performance by STEREO BLUES.

We hope to see you at this show and that some of you join us for a trip to Dizneyland the next day. Imagine being able to go on rides with your favorite burlesque beauties! This will be our biggest show yet with more performers on one stage than we've ever had on one stage with acts parodying rides like The Haunted Mansion and The Tiki Room (and more) as well as acts parodying many of your favorite Disney movies!

If you are a fan of Burlesque and Disney - DO NOT MISS THIS SHOW!

Secret Phrase for Swag

I'm debuting my little swag bags at Burlesqueland's first event tomorrow night.  If you'd like one, come to the merch booth and give this phrase:

Doodlebug sent me

I look forward to sending you home with a little Snapper.

Burlesqueland: Sneak Preview

Mr. Snapper has been working on props for Burlesqueland like crazy while I've been working on my costume and choreography for two numbers.  Since I'm doing a particular "Wild Ride" this year, the prop building has been intense.  Here's your sneak peak.

The first photo is of one of the two devils that will appear in my number.  Mr. Snapper sculpted this one (we call him Mars) and I sculpted the other (Richard).  This is just after his first coat of paint.  If you want to see the entire thing, you'll have to come to the show.

The second photo is of the front of my Snappermobile.  Mr. Snapper built and painted the entire thing.  It looks pretty darn amazing.  Of course, you'll have to come to Thursday night's show to see it in action.

Dance Class Challenge: 11/100 - Kundalini Yoga

I went to Kundalini yoga again yesterday at Dance Garden.  I was snowed under with work for the Burlesqueland festival but I had to get off my couch and keep the discipline of going to class; there's always something that can get in the way of making it to class, and this was something I could drop for an hour or so.  The added bonus: class is free the second Saturday of every month.  The price was right, and I needed the energy that Kundalini yoga offers.

We did a different set of exercises than we did the last time I was in class.  This week really worked the pelvis, hips and legs.  It was so intense that my body froze up at a couple points and I couldn't move to do the exercises.  My hips are so sore today.  I am glad I went, but there's no way I'd be able to function in a dance class today.

In my past two classes, I realized where I have flexibility weaknesses.  My hip flexors are awesome, but I don't have the flexibility in my hamstrings to get into the splits yet.  I don't have much flexibility in my shoulders or back.  I was diagnosed as having a 15% permanent disability in my back from a car accident I had when I was sixteen.  I wonder how much of that is part of my problem.  I need to find some exercises to do at home to increase my flexibility in all these areas.

Dance Class Challenge: 10/10 - Jazz Dance

I haven't taken a proper jazz dance class in 18 years.  Evie has been recommending Bill's jazz dance class at Studio A for a while, and I finally had the opportunity to take it last night.  I really like Bill as a person and a studio owner because he's been very kind and accommodating with me when I needed to rent space for classes.

As an instructor, Bill is energetic and fun.  You can tell he loves what he does.  His warm-up stretched all the things I really needed to stretch after a week on the couch hunched over craft projects.  The across-the-floor section of the class was fun and there was no pressure to perform for the instructor.  We learned a combination, drilling it over and over without music, then adding music, increasing the speed of the beat of the songs as we continued dancing.  I left the class sweat but not winded (important for an anaerobic asthmatic like me) and bought a punch card for five classes.

Something wonderfully unique about Bill's class is that he teaches one combination each week.  On Tuesday he starts everything on the right side - warm-up, across the floor and combination.  On Thursday he starts everything on the left side.  It was a delightful mental challenge for me to start thinking with starting an entire combination on the left.

The Spread

Here's the official Burlesqueland spread.  Enjoy!

Now It's Time to Say Hello!

I'd hate for anyone in So Cal to miss this epic four-day event.  Here's the schedule of events:

• Day One: Peepshow Menagerie at Bordello, 9pm.
• Day Two: We're all going to a certain Southern California theme park.
• Day Three: Fabulous Feathers tour (free) from 1pm to 3pm in Northridge.  Naked Girls Reading at Golden Apple, 7:30pm.
• Day Four: Burleskateer choreography class at Studio A from 3pm to 5pm, $30 (rsvp to me by 3/19).  Peepshow Menagerie (different show) at Bordello, 9pm.

All in the Family

My small sister received my former costume so she can create her own version of Monkey Wrench.  I'm very excited for her.  This was my first professional burlesque number and it was a lot of fun to dance.

I also sent her the special monkey pasties I wore in last year's Beatles show at Peepshow Menagerie.  She sent me a proper photo for my blog to share.

If all goes well, she'll be performing in my hometown of Hot Springs in a few months.

Dance Class Challenge: 9/10 - Hypnotic

After a sabbatical for touring, puppy rearing and dog neutering, I finally made it to another dance class!  Part of the challenge for me is still making it to dance classes when life is busy making other plans.  I managed to make it to class tonight and hope to make it to three more classes over the weekend (fingers crossed).

Tonight's Hypnotic class was a review of the basics.  It's always nice to review the basic technique of a style.  It makes one a stronger dancer to return to the basics.  It was also a great workout.  I feel nicely stretched.

The Letter Follies: March Edition

Now only $5

Shows at 10pm and 11:30pm

Join the lovely ladies of Star Garden and the talented burlesque beauties Lavendar La Rue, Miss Angie Cakes, Miss Josie Bunnie, Red Snapper, and Scarlett Letter.

Beautiful dames, pasties optional and pole work - be ready for a wonderful and entertaining night.

 

Star Garden

6630 Lankershim Boulevard

North Hollywood, CA