Southwest Burlesque Showcase

I'm dancing on Friday night, teaching on Saturday and vending my pasties all weekend.

A New Beginning

Photo by Dan Hendricks

My first professional burlesque performance was to "Monkey Wrench" by Foo Fighters in January 2008.  A significant amount of thought, care and money went into the costume and routine.  I haven't performed the number in over a year, but I've always enjoyed doing the number.  I'm on a new path with my burlesque, and this beloved number no longer fits that path.  I considered selling all the props and costume pieces; I'm just afraid no one who bought it would love it as much as me.

So I'm not selling it.  Instead, I'm giving the props and costume to my younger sister.  (She's still working on a burlesque name.)  I know she'll do well with the number, improving on the choreography and the costume.  I would've just passed everything to her quietly, but the burlesque community is small and protective.  I don't want anyone to give my sister a hard time for stealing a routine or copying my costume. :)  I'm sure the entire thing will become uniquely her own.  Small Sister, here's to you making the family proud!

Creating a Simple Burlesque Costume - Part One: Selecting Your Understructure

I wrote this for a workshop I taught at Theatre Unleashed in 2008 and revised parts of it to post here.  Please do not republish without permission, but feel free to link back to this blog entry.  I'm sharing this information because I know I have readers who are burlesque pioneers who need a little guidance.   These are instructions for making a very simple burlesque costume, and are a good guideline for beginners.  :)

The simplest burlesque costume consists of a decorated bra, panties and shimmy belt.  You don't have to spend a ton on your understructure, but you want to be sure you have good support.  You'll be decorating your understructure with some heavy items.

What to look for in a bra:

• Padded cups to support the weight of fringe and rhinestones and to hide the shape of your pasties.  Some dancers like their pasties to peep out of their bras.  If you go for this look, make sure the bottom of your pasties fit under the bra so your bra doesn't push the pasties off your nipples.
• Comfortable size so your boobs don't fall out the sides -- underwire should rest on your ribcage and not be suspended off your boobs.  If you want larger breasts for the silhouette of your costume, you can always sew pads into your bra.
• Appropriate style that you don't need a rocket scientist to remove.

I recommend getting a cheap bra and panty set in your regular size.  You may select a standard bra with shoulder straps and a rear closure.  You might want a bustier with or without straps.  You might go with a halter, but be sure your halter has neck ties or alter your halter and add neck ties so you can easily get out of your bra.  You may go with a front closure so you can pop open the bra and let it fall off your arms and to the floor.

If you'd like another piece to strip off your midsection, or if you want something to cover what some dancers refer to as "the boyfriend area" (meaning they'll show their boobs but the midsection is too private for public viewing), you may decide to wear an underbust corset or waist cincher with plastic boning.  You might also consider a cupless bustier.  I had one of these that zipped down the front, making removal very easy.  I got mine on eBay for $12.  Walmart has something similar for around $13.  Check local lingerie stores and department stores for the best option.  Underbust corsets and waist cinchers are considerably more expensive, especially if you want something good.  You can find off-the-rack corsets and cinchers for under $100, but it costs to get something custom made for your body.  (Anastasia von Teaserhausen made the corset I wear with my mega costume.  It moves well with me, is durable and unique.  I highly recommend her stuff if you really want to invest in something that will last.)

What to look for in a panty:

• Comfortable fit, meaning they don't cut into your body and you'd be willing to wear them in front of others.
• Ability to accommodate a "safety panty" (a nude panty or g-string to keep your lady bits from saying hello to the audience).
• Appropriate style for your body type.

Again, I recommend you get a cheap panty.  The safety panty protects your costume from getting messy, particularly since it's hard to wash costume panties when they're decorated.  You can select your safety panty later, but keep in mind that there should be room under your costume panty for a safety panty.

The panty style is up to you.  Some dancers wear thongs, others wear boy shorts.  Figure out what panties are most flattering for your butt.  Don't get a g-string for your costume panty of your first costume unless you know the venues where you'll be performing will allow it.  (Many places have a rule that the panty must be at least 1" wide and cover the buttcrack.)  If you do purchase boy shorts, know that the center seam can and will creepy crawl its way into your most sacred of crevices.  To hide the creepy crawl, you can get a cuchini or have longer fringe on your shimmy belt.

What to look for in a simple shimmy belt base:

• 3" to 4" wide ribbon that is 3 to 4 yards long so you have enough to wrap around your lower abs and tie in back.

I usually buy double-sided satin ribbon.  It's thick enough to support glue, rhinestones and beaded trim.  It costs around $3 a yard.

If you want to play along and work on your costume as I post, you have this weekend to go find your understructure garments.  Next week I'll get into selecting embellishments.

Monday Night Tease! presents That 70's Ho

Red Snapper is guest producing a birthday show!

That 70's Ho celebrates not only the heart of the 70s but Miss Red Snapper herself.


Monday, February 7th, 2011

Monday Night Tease! presents: That 70's Ho

Featuring performances by:

Legs Malone (NYC)
Glama Sutra
Panama Red
Red Snapper & Mr. Snapper
Dizzy Von Damn!
Anastasia von Teaserhausen
Mr. Buddy
Rex the Impossible
Lord Londonbridge
Dick Envy
Rob The Balloon Guy

Bar Opens: 6pm
Seating Starts: 9:30pm
Show Starts: 10pm

Cover charge for February 7th, 2011
$12 (tickets available at the door)

Ask about our Sino Tequila drink specials!
Sino Tequila

3 Clubs
1123 Vine St.
(Vine at Santa Monica)
Los Angeles, CA 90038

No photography. Performers subject to change without notice.

21+, full bar.

Need help?
Email Lili with any questions: lili@burlesque411.com

Follow us on twitter: @MNTease
You'll get updates and flyers for discounts.
http://twitter.com/MNTease

Dance Class Challenge: 8/10 - Kundalini Yoga

Both Catherine d'Lish and Evie Lovelle have bragged to me about the wonders of Kundalini yoga.  In fact, Evie and I tried on a few occasions to go to Kundalini yoga at another location but life happened and we never made it.  I was delighted that Kundalini yoga followed the other class I took at Dance Garden today.  I could squeeze in one more dance class without losing my motivation in LA traffic.  (I'm counting yoga and Pilates in my count since they focus on core strength and work the muscles engaged in dancing.)

Kundalini yoga has plenty of singing, which is a little strange but the sounds are intended to work areas of the body that don't usually get worked in classes.  I liked that the goal wasn't technical perfection of the poses but working within one's current ability to attempt that perfection.  The instructor, Jessica, said at the beginning of class that the exercises would create energy.  I was amazed that at the end of three dance classes, I was more energetic than when I started my day.  I feel very awake and alert a solid four hours after class.  It was fantastic.  I'm sure I'll hit Kundalini again this year.

Dance Class Challenge: 7/10 - Ballet for Bellydancers

This was the first class I'd taken at Dance Garden in Atwater Village in a couple years. I'm the first to admit I'm not a strong bellydancer. I don't spend a lot of time working on that skill set.

Kamala, the instructor, was very nice. However, this wasn't the class for me. I'm accustomed to a longer set of barre work. I'm very focused on the technical aspects and the musicality of ballet. This fusion class would be helpful to a bellydancer who has never studied ballet. I did learn a new term for a move I've been doing for years (soutenu en tournant - a full turn in 5th position in which the feet change position while turning). I also managed to butcher the arabesque-bellydance combination at the end of class.

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Dance Class Challenge: 6/100 - Hypnotic

I was off from dance classes for a couple weeks.  I got so busy preparing for my Texas tour, and I was concerned about hurting my right hand and being unable to fan dance.  It's happened before so I was very cautious.

Today was my triumphant return to Hypnotic.  I love this class.  Today we worked on a lap dance routine.  I consider myself proficient at lap dancing, but it's always wise to review basic technique.  I first started learning how to lap dance nearly five years ago, and now I have a professional sexual confidence when I perform one.  And I look pretty awesome when I do a head toss. :)