Belly Dancing in Candyland!
Posted by Jana Edele | Filed under News
The Velvet Kittens' shows are known for presenting a variety of DFW talent, from dancers, singers, musicians, actors, stand-up comics, to specialty acts. For the past three years belly dancing has become a standard in our Candyland charity shows, and we are delighted and appreciative of our amazing guest artists for contributing their time and talents to our annual toy-drive spectacular!
Allow us to first introduce you to:
Duniani
A mutual love of tribal fusion belly dance brought Star of Dallas, and LaLa of McKinny, TX together to create Duniani, a duo that brings to the stage elements of American Cabaret Belly dance, American Tribal Style, hip-hop, pop-lock and more. LaLa and Star have combined their specializations in different styles of belly dance to create original, unique choreographies, and a style that is all their own.
And now let us present:
Aisha Aladeen
Aisha Aladeen began belly dancing in 1982. She has performed in many varied venues over the years, including Middle Eastern restaurants, renaissance fairs, parties for large families and local festivals. Aisha specializes in traditional Egyptian style.
Did you RSVP for Candyland? Seats are going FAST! Please RSVP here. Include your name, number of guests, email address, and phone number. Final confirmations will be by phone.
Holiday Treat!
Posted by Jana Edele | Filed under News
The Velvet Kitten cast from the MBS Production of The Beulaville Baptist Book Club Presents: A Bur-less-Q Nutcracker will be making a guest appearance at the Velvet Kittens' charity toy-drive this Saturday!! Set to the original Tchaikovsky Nutcracker score, these Velvet Kittens will perform burlesque style dancing to this holiday classic…it's the Nutcracker like you've never seen!
This Burlesque Nutcracker is inspired by the Velvet Kittens, and the play conceived and written by Mark-Brian Sonna of MBS Productions. Read more about the MBS Production of the Burlesque Nutcracker here.
Read what critics have to say about the Burlesque Nutcracker, choreographed by the Velvet Kittens choreographer and creator Jana Edele and MBS Productions’ creator Mark-Brian Sonna:
"…the real treat here are the dances, choreographed by Sonna and Jana Edele. The Velvet Kitten members are sexy and display classical ballet training."
Mark Lowry, Theater Jones
"…clever choreography. Choreographer Mark-Brian Sonna and Jana Edele show where their true talents lie. The blending of burlesque dance with the traditional Nutcracker ballet music is borderline genius. Of course this would have been impossible to do without skilled dancers…MBS Productions have shunned tradition and has delivered a new holiday favorite all wrapped and tied up with a fishnet stocking.
Lyle Huchton, Associate Theater Critic for John Garcia’s THE COLUMN
“…talented, well-schooled dancers creating the burlesque bevy. And can they dance!!! The playing space is narrow; but the gals twirl, soar, leap, and boogie down in perfect cadence and rhythm without the slightest hesitancy. It's an unforgettable send-up, as are Mark-Brian's cheeky buns clad in snug lilac tights. Kudos to choreographer Jana Edele…”
Alexandra Bonifield, Pegasus News
“The choreography by Mark-Brian Sonna and
Jana Edele, is ingenious, inspired and amusing. By turns graceful and bawdy, with just the right balance of edification and dance-hall shimmy.”
Christopher Soden, Edge Dallas
Want to read more about what the press has to say about the Velvet Kittens? Visit here.
Workout with the Kittens!
Posted by Jana Edele | Filed under News
Tone and tease your way into the New Year, and get a head start on your fitness resolutions!
Burlesque Dance-Fitness Classes are a great and fun alternative, or addition, to your fitness regime.
We offer Burlesque Body Sculpt and Burlesque Basics at the Verandah Club in Dallas, TX (2201 Stemmon Freeway, on Wycliff behind the Hilton Anatole Hotel). For your convenience we offer weeknight, weekday, and weekend classes. Non-members can enjoy our $15 drop in rate in December. All burlesque classes at the Verandah Club are free to members in December!
You can also use our burlesque dance-fitness classes to learn burlesque style dancing, and get a jump on learning movement to be incorporated in one of our specialized choreographed Vixen burlesque dances in 2010!
Novice and experienced dancers alike can enjoy our continual Vixen Series of burlesque workshops.
Coming in January 2010:
The Valentine Vixen: A Private Performance Workshop
The Valentine Vixen is a part of our Vixen Series of burlesque workshops. The Vixen Series focuses on conventional and contemporary burlesque dance moves in sophisticated choreography. Powerful, playful, and classy burlesque movement is incorporated into one complete burlesque dance number, and focused on for the inclusive workshop session. These dances are designed for a tête-à -tête at home private Vixen performance. The Vixen Workshops make a great gift, and sinsational Valentine surprise!
Burlesque Class/Workshop Schedule, Dec. 13 – 19
Posted by Jana Edele | Filed under News
Sunday, December 13, 2009
5:00 - 7:00pm - Vixen Burlesque Workshop: Naughty and Nice Vixen
At Stone Cottage Theatre (15650 Addison Rd, Addison)
$35.00-Must RSVP in advance
Monday, December 14, 2009
6:30 - 7:00pm - Intro to Burlesque Body Sculpt (FREE)
7:00 - 8:00pm - Burlesque Basics
$15.00 for non-members
At the Verandah Club (2201 Stemmons Freeway, Dallas)
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
7:00 - 9:00pm – Vixen Burlesque Workshop: Naughty and Nice Vixen
At Hyena's Comedy Night Club (605 Houston St, Fort Worth)
$35.00-Must RSVP in advance
This is the LAST Naughty and Nice Vixen workshop in 2009! If you would like to take the workshop and can't make the date, you can schedule a private workshop individually or for your group. Contact us.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
12:30 - 1:30pm - Burlesque Body Sculpt
$15.00 for non-members
At the Verandah Club (2201 Stemmons Freeway, Dallas)
8:00 - 9:00pm - Vixen Burlesque Workshop: The Kitten Vixen
At Dance Fusion (621 S. Mayfield Rd, Denton)
**Must have attended last week's class to attend. Otherwise, you'll need to schedule a private lesson to learn material.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
1:00 - 2:00 pm - Burlesque Body Sculpt
$15.00 for non-members
At the Verandah Club (2201 Stemmons Freeway, Dallas)
Showtime! Candyland: A Night of Sweets!
10:30 pm, Admission: One unwrapped toy! At: The Stone Cottage Theatre (15650 Addison Rd, Addison TX 75001) LIMITED seating. Must RSVP (Please include name, email address, valid phone number, and number of guests accompanying you to Candyland) Confirmations will be by phone.
Additional information on Weekly Classes:
$15. 00 per class, drop-ins welcome; Free to Verandah Club members through December
Burlesque Body Sculpt: A Saucy, Seductive Workout to Build Attitude, Confidence and Muscle, incorporates classical and contemporary dance exercises with burlesque dance movement and mood appropriate music to create a fun and playful tone-and-tease dance class. The end result is an all around workout of most all the major muscle groups, strength and stamina, flexibility and coordination, and attitude and confidence. Burlesque Body Sculpt is a fantastic, fun, and exciting approach to dance-fitness, toning and strengthening, and getting a head start on your resolutions!
Burlesque Basics is an introduction of burlesque dance with simple exercises and combinations, basic dance terminology, and proper execution of movement, isolations, and performance. Burlesque Basics is a great beginning foundation for those new to burlesque dance. Fitness benefits include stretching, improving posture, core strength, and leg toning.
Free class: Intro to Burlesque Body Sculpt is every Monday night in December, 6:30 - 7:00 pm at the Verandah Club. Non-members should call for a guest pass to attend the free class: 214-761-7895. (guest pass not needed for other burlesque classes at the Verandah Club). Intro to Burlesque Body Sculpt is followed by Burlesque Basics, every Monday night.
Additional information on the VIXEN workshops:
$35.00 per workshop, must RSVP in advance
The Naughty and Nice Vixen takes burlesque to the next level. This Vixen burlesque workshop is all about flirty fun! The Naughty and Nice Vixen burlesque dance is choreographed in our Kitten-esque "Sugar Moonlight" fashion to a holiday classic sexy sensation. Incorporating classic burlesque choreography, burlesque basics movement, and a feathered boa, this dance is a little naughty, a little flirty, and a little…kittenish!
Tonight: 2009 Holiday Hafla
Posted by Jana Edele | Filed under News
From Sa'diyya: "Come out and enjoy a wonderful belly dance show featuring beginners through professionals!"
Sunday, December 13, 2009
6:00-8:30pm
Kasra Persian Restaurant (525 West Arapaho, Suite 21, Richardson, TX 75080)
$18.00-call (214) 387-0738 to make a reservation. Price includes admission, entertainment, buffet, drinks (non-alcoholic), and gratuity!
Duniani will be performing this evening. If you miss tonight's show, you can see Duniani in action at our annual charity toy-drive show, Candyland, on Dec. 19th!!
RSVP for Burlesque Show!!
Posted by Jana Edele | Filed under News
Reserve your seat for our next burlesque show, Candyland: A Night of Sweets!, beginning today!
How to RSVP:
Click here and include 1. your name, 2. your email address, 3. contact number, and 4. the number of guests accompanying you to Candyland!
Showdate: Saturday, December 19, 2009
Showtime: 10:30 pm
At: Stone Cottage Theatre (15650 Addison Rd, Addison, TX 75001)
Candyland: A Night of Sweets is our annual charity toy-drive and vaudevillian-extravaganza! Candyland includes an assortment of performers in a true variety show format. Belly dancers, cabaret singers, stand-up comedy, guest hip-hop dancers, the comical antics of our loveable emcee extraordinaire Johnny Johnson, and starring our Velvet Kitten burlesque dancers Skye Vega and Stevie Swan, all combine together to generate a modernized bona fide burlesque spectacular! Seating is LIMITED for this magnificent burlesque-vaudevillian musical extravaganza!
The Variety Guests featured this year include: Hip hop dancing by House of Funk Theatre Company, Belly Dancing by Duniani, Cabaret Vocalist Ruby Sapphire, Belly Dancer Aisha Aladeen, and the stand-up comedy and vocals of Dawn Diamond! Added bonus: This year we will be presenting some of our most ambitious Velvet Kitten burlesque students! Through our workshops in Fort Worth, and our Vixen Performance Invitational workshop, we have orchestrated our most glamtastic students to take the burlesque stage (for the first time) with us at Candyland!
And remember…there is a price for this inclusive unadulterated burlesque spectacular! Admission to Candyland is one unwrapped toy (per guest).
~All toys donated go to Dallas Mavericks' Brandon Bass Reach Back Foundation.~
Special thanks to Velvet Kittens' sponsors: OMG Hairstyles, Hyena's Comedy Night Club, and MBS Productions.
Performance Invitational Workshop
Posted by Jana Edele | Filed under News
The Kitten Vixen begins tonight, and is the one and only performance invitational workshop of 2009. We will be accepting reservations through the website until 4:00pm today. After which you will need to call Dance Fusion to reserve any open spots or to be put on the waiting list.
All students who attend this workshop are extended the invitation to perform with us on stage at our Dec. 19th charity event. This Vixen workshop focuses on the Kitten repertoire number: If Loving You is Wrong. Button-up man's shirt, bowler hat, and cane are the essential props in this Kitten standard.
This Vixen Workshop is one workshop divided into two classes: Dec. 10 and 17. 8:00 - 9:00 pm at Dance Fusion (621 S. Mayhill Rd, Denton, TX 76208).
$35.00 per student. December Special: Sign-up and attend with one or more friends and each student receives the $25 discounted rate.
Attire: Gym, dance, or yoga wear. Please layer clothing. Footwear: Athletic or dance shoes are appropriate. Students may also learn choreography barefoot. If you have heels you would like to work in, you are more than welcome to bring them. We suggest only wearing heels at the end of the class. Information regarding shoes and costuming for performance will be discussed at first class.
RSVP here. After 4:00pm, by calling Desi at Dance Fusion (940) 595-0573.
You must attend the workshop on both dates to acquire the performance invitational. If you miss one day of the session, you can schedule a private lesson to learn missed choreography. The performance invitational is optional. You can attend the workshop and decline to perform.
Due to the popularity of this workshop, we will continue to offer performance invitational workshops beginning in the New Year.
Last chance to be a Vixen!
Posted by Jana Edele | Filed under News
The Naughty and Nice Vixen holiday burlesque workshop concludes this month. Last workshop dates are in Denton this Saturday, Addison this Sunday, and Fort Worth next week on Tuesday.
The Kitten Vixen (Performance Invitational workshop) is offered in Denton, and is one workshop taught in two class segments (December 10th and 17th).
These Vixen workshops are $35.00 each. We are also offering a December Special: The Buddy System! Sign-up and attend with one or more friends, and each person receives the discounted rate of $25.00 per person.
RSVP for a Vixen burlesque workshop today!
Can't make a workshop? We will be continuing our weekly drop-in classes at the Verandah Club in Dallas. Get a head start on your resolutions with these Velvet Kittens' burlesque dance-fitness classes, Burlesque Body Sculpt and Burlesque Basics!
Spoonfed Tribe at Lola's in Fort Worth
Posted by Jana Edele | Filed under News
Saturday, December 26, 2009
8:00 pm
At Lola’s 6th Street Saloon (Fort Worth, TX)
From Spoonfed Tribe:
Opening the night will be Worcuzza – Matt and Chad Cocuzza of the Tribe playin beats with Charlie Worley kickin Jams all Over the Top
Then Mike Dillon’s Go Go Jungle will Funk Out and get the hearts pumpin
Brad Houser will be fillin in on Bass this evening
Finally Spoonfed Tribe will take the stage and whip this while mess into a force of nature. New Blood, New Energy, and some new music are fueling this one.
Holiday Mixer and OMG Discounts
Posted by Jana Edele | Filed under News
From the Velvet Kittens sponsor, OMG Hairstyles:
December Deal from OMG:
