Immortalized

I've had some wonderful and exciting opportunities afforded to me in my short time as a professional burlesque performer.  Today I had my chest immortalized in plaster for Keep-A-Breast Foundation.  Many performers I greatly respect have participated in this project previously, so I jumped at the chance to be part.

I'm glad it was a warm day in Los Angeles.  I was wrapped from the waist down so I didn't get plaster on my dance pants.  My top was bare and I had to put my hair up so I didn't get it all crusty and in the way.  After oiling myself down so the plaster would eventually peel away from my skin, I was mummified by Shaney Jo.  It was a pretty quick process.  As the plaster started drying, I could feel it peeling away from my skin and the cast became heavier than when it was still wet and stuck to my body.  When it was dry enough, I wriggled free and Shaney Jo trimmed it up.  It was exciting and fun to participate.

My cast will be painted by a tiki artist and auctioned off at Tiki Oasis in August.  I can't wait to see the final representation of my immortalized boobs!

Teacher Teacher

Today was the first day of my beginner class.  Because the class was so popular, we had to add a second section so I did two classes back to back.  I have just under 40 students total.  I have a wonderful variety of experience levels and body types in my classes.  I'm really excited to start all these ladies on their journey.

I'm about to tell you a really big secret.  Ready?  Okay.  I break women.  What does that mean?  I have a special knack for helping ladies get comfortable in their own skin.  I was a scrappy kid, and I had a great teacher who helped me discover the divinity and comfort in accepting my own sexuality as a performer and as a person.  I have the same gift.  I love seeing the butterflies emerge from the cocoons and I provide a safe environment for that to happen.  It's an amazing process.

Raising the Bar

It's really important to watch burlesque, especially as a professional burlesque performer.  You can see what you like, what you don't like, and it really helps you develop aesthetic judgment.  That, and seeing other people "bring it" will raise the bar for you as an artist.

Last night was the first time I saw Eliza Bane perform.  She's very tall and elegant, but her costume took my breath away.  She's a costume designer, so it made sense that her costume would be amazing.  The time, money and care that went into her costume was phenomenal.  Every layer was even more incredible than the last.  She was dripping with decadence.  As I watched her from offstage, I was so inspired to invest more time, creativity and money into my next big costume because she really raised the bar.  Holy crap!

(Of course, my next big costume is going to be such a project that I have to work on one piece at a time.  This week I'm getting the boa and maybe the gloves.  The panties will be next.)

Buckingham Burlesque presents The "USO" Show!

Buckingham Burlesque returns this Sat. with a special USO themed show!  Don't miss this rare opportunity to be inside the American Legion Ballroom without membership!  After party follows in the downstairs bar with karaoke!

Why Classic?

I have a few classic numbers in my repertoire, and I often get booked for shows just because I have those classic numbers.  I do a lot of neo-burlesque and comedic numbers to modern music, but the show I produce is classic burlesque.  Since I book newer performers, I insist they do a classic number, even if it takes a while for them to prepare.

So why do I produce a classic show and insist people fit my theme to get booked?  There's a long, wonderful history to this art form.  It demands respect and study.  It's important to know your history, and classic burlesque is our history.  It takes work.  I like seeing that dancers have done due diligence for the genre.

It also seems easier to get booked for private parties with classic numbers.  Classic burlesque seems to be what comes to mind when a layman hears the term 'burlesque.'  I've danced more private parties with my classic numbers than with the newer stuff.  It's important for every dancer to have at least one classic number just for these opportunities.

And that's why I'm so uppity about classic burlesque.

Fabulous Feathers Tour

Some students and graduates of Striptease Symposium joined other members of the Los Angeles burlesque community for a free tour of Fabulous Feathers in Northridge.  I got my fans from Fabulous Feathers and I love their work so I arranged a Saturday tour.  I got to see some feathers being dyed and I fell in love with their steam closet.  It was incredible.

The feathers they have are beautiful, but the most impressive thing about Fabulous Feathers is the customer service.  Jason is very knowledgeable, passionate about feathers and attentive.  Feather stores in Los Angeles are only open Monday through Friday, and Jason opened up special so we could have a tour.  He leaves you alone to shop but he's right there to help you when you need him.  I'm looking forward to returning with another tour group in March.

Community Pool: An Art Party in the New Decade

Community Pool is back! Ring in the New Decade with a night of amazing performances and visual art!

:WHAT IS COMMUNITY POOL?:
Community Pool is an art party put on every month by the Ahimsa Collective- a performing arts organization devoted to spreading non-violence through art. Musicians, visual artists, dancers, clowns, poets, dj's, performance artists, circus acts, and more come together under one roof to create one awesome, crazy night.

:DETAILS, DETAILS:
Jan 17th
7:30pm
$5 at the door
Improv Space in Westwood.

:FUN FACT:
We have a burlesque dancer this time. You know you want to come now.


:THE LINE UP:
7:30- Flying Machine (music)

8:00- Welcome everybody

8:10: Josh Duvendeck (stand up)

8:20: Ketchup Soup (music)

8:45: Jessica Rose Felix (poetry)

8:50: movement- Negin and Laura

8:55: Matt Chester Stand up

9:05: Black Crystal Wolf Deer (music)

9:15: Kit Steinkellner Reading

9:40: Kit's Boyfriend's Band (music)

10:00 Red Snapper (burlesque)

10:15: The Improv Space Mainstage Team! (improv)

:VISUAL ARTISTS:
Rob Tokarz(featured)
Mike Rivera
Michaela McKetrick
Anahit Vart
Michael Jones
Sebastian Kadlecik
Vikki Sanchez -- (Jewelry!)

Come Early! We will sell out.

www.AhimsaCollective.com

The New Fans

I've promised photos of my new fans since I got them.  Here are a couple pics by Dan Hendricks from Monday Night Tease on January 4th.  While these suckers are a lot of work to use, they are glorious.

Raymond Burl, Esq. & the Family Ballyhoo

Mr. Raymond Burl, Esq., world-renowned showman and expatriate of everywhere, brings together the beautiful and brilliant branches of the Ballyhoo family tree for one night only in the city of angels, with an evening that includes performances by

The illictly imported Miss Panama Red
The sharply seductive Miss Red Snapper
The unmistakenly marvelous Miss Ali Oops
The handsome huckster that is Mr. Snapper
The delectably desirable Miss Desi De Licious
The darling and dexterous Miss Lindsay Benner
The libidinous and lascivious Miss Lili Von Schtupp
and the devilishly dangerous Miss Dizzy Von Damn!

A $12 ticket (or $10 if you wear RED lipstick) supplies you with a passport to paradise, a place honeycombed with winsome women, vexing variety acts, and a very special RAFFLE! Free parking abounds and all earthly delights await at 10PM in the historic Unknown Theatre, where will all hope to see you!

Laugh-In!

Last night was Lili's Laugh-In! birthday show.  It was fantastic.  I worked harder doing go-go and Goldie than I usually work when I do a solo!  It was a crazy good time.  We had the wall for jokes and the crazy cocktail party.  I'm so blessed to be part of these theme shows.

This shot of me go-go dancing is courtesy SH Photo.

Monday Night Tease Presents "Laugh-In"

Join Los Angeles' longest running weekly burlesque show for a tribute to the that wonderful 60's whackadoo of a TV show... Laugh-In. It's a 60's style shimmy shaking party complete with a wall of jokes and neon painted go-go girls.

"...nothing else compares....raunchy, knee slapping...everything good burlesque should be..." LA Weekly

Bar opens: 6pm
Doors open:9:30pm
Show starts:10pm
$15 advance, $20 at door if available

3 Clubs
1123 Vine Ave
Hollywood, CA 90038

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/93943

Monday Night Tease! presents The Laugh-In Show
Hosted by:
Patrick The Bank Robber & Mr Snapper

Starring:
Dizzy Von Damn!
Scarlett Letter
Lux La Croix
Lili VonSchtupp

with
Red Snapper
Isabella Star
Karen Reeder
Chris Beyond
and
Tuba as Tiny Tim

No one under 21 years old will be admitted.  Seating is limited for this event. Please arrive early. Bar offers $5 drink specials all night, just ask!  Performers subject to change without notice.

Momma's Got a Brand New Bag

I have a common problem as a burlesque dancer -- storage space.  I have some beautiful new feather fans and I want to keep them intact and beautiful.  (I promise I'll share photos of the fans soon.)  Some dancers store their fans in FedEx triangle boxes, but the feathers get agitated every time they're taken out of the box because the feathers are brushed backwards.  Others use fans where the feathers can be removed and stored in bags within boxes, but those kinds of fans don't work well for me.

I had to figure out a way to store the fans in such a way that the feathers didn't get agitated and wonky every time I put the fans away or removed them from their case.  I decided to make two fabric bags, one for each fan.  The bags can be opened at both ends and have drawstrings with toggles to keep them closed.  I close the bottom end, drop the fan in base first, close the top end and hang the bag by the top drawstring.  I open the bottom drawstring to take out the fan, then flip the bag over to replace the fan -- base first -- when I'm done.  Because the fans are so large, each one has a bag.  I cut the bags so they're slightly longer than the fans and wide enough to caress the feathers.  These bags are amazing, and they're simple and economical storage method for some very expensive tools.

Monday Night Tease!

(I'm kicking off the new year with my new feather fans!)

Monday Night Tease! January 4th, 2010

Bar Opens: 9pm
Seating Starts: 9:30pm
Show Starts: 10pm
Cover charge: $12
****$9 with flyer****

Ask about the $5 drink specials!!!

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

Hosted by:
Andy Wolf

featuring performances by:
Olivia Bellafontaine
Honey Holiday
Red Snapper
Crystal Swarovski
Miss Em
Mariel a la Mode
Scarlett Letter

No photography. Performers subject to change without notice.

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

http://MondayNightTease.com

Musicality: How to Get It

For years I've been observing the musicality of other dancers, and I always strive to improve my own musicality.  I learned to dance to any style of music in my pole dance classes.  This really helped my musicality.  I read a great article in Dance Spirit Magazine that explains musicality, how it works and how to improve one's own.  There are great tips that helped me and continue to help me along the road.  I highly recommend it.