The History of Burlesque
Posted by Jana Edele | Filed under News
Many people associate late era strip tease artists as the definitive symbol of what burlesque was on the stage. In actuality burlesque has a whole often unrecognized history commonly not associated in today's re-creation, and with focus mainly on the striptease era of the theatrical entertainment. From its ancestry before, to its origins in the 1800's, from comedy and dancing girls, to the late era burlesque strip tease, here are a few websites to gratify your curiosity and have you speaking like a burlesque historian in no time!
Burlesque I – For the Beginnings of Burlesque History
http://www.musicals101.com/burlesque.htm
Burlesque II – When Strip Tease Ruled the Burlesque Stages
http://www.musicals101.com/burlesque2.htm
From History.com - Burlesque
http://www.history.com/encyclopedia.do?vendorId=FWNE.fw..bu208400.a#FWNE.fw..bu208400.a
Folly Burlesque – From the Folly Theater
http://www.follytheater.com/history_burlesque.html
Jazz Age Chicago - Burlesque Theater History
http://chicago.urban-history.org/ven/ths/burlesque.shtml
Burlesque in the French Quarter - 1940-50
From the Burlesque Guide
http://www.burlesqueguide.net
And we can't forget Wikipedia!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burlesque_(genre)
Did you know…comedy clubs of today are very much this era's vaudevillian-burlesque houses? Beginning in open mic forums (and often failing in open mic forums), stand up comedians climb with perseverance, determination, and drive up the comedy stages, proving they can tickle your funny bone and claim "top banana" (headliner) status.
And we can't help but take this moment to shamelessly plug our brand new classic burlesque show, Sugar Moonlight, premiering at Hyena's Comedy Club in Dallas! Visit Hyena's (with Arlington, Fort Worth, and now Dallas locations) for a bit of a comedic burlesque experience today.
Go-go Amy and Bettina May’s How to be a Pin-Up Girl Class!
Posted by Jana Edele | Filed under News
Pretty Things Pin-Up Girl Class is touring the class through Texas!
From go-go Amy and Bettina May:
Vintage Pin Up models and Burlesque starlettes Bettina May and go-go Amy have put together a fabulous class that teaches ladies how to release their inner bombshell. In the class you will learn how to do Vintage Hair and Make Up get posing and modeling tips and then at the end of the day we will dress you up and do a fabulous photo shoot with you. You will leave the class with a book covering everything you learned in class plus a CD of your pictures and a signed release giving you ownership of your images.
For more information go to www.myspace.com/pinupgirlclass
DFW's First Male Burlesque-Strip Tease Artist!?
Posted by Jana Edele | Filed under News
Have you met Danny-Boy? Allow us to introduce you to this Velvet Kitten burlesque strip tease performer!
In an old-fashioned burlesque style of strip tease, this special guest entertainer provides a particularly amusing experience in today's burlesque scene with his enjoyable number! If you missed his unveiling in last weekend's show, he'll be making another appearance at this Saturday's Velvet Kitten burlesque show at Rembrandt's Dutch Pub! 10 pm show time!
A little history of Danny-Boy: Danny was the musical director and saxophone player of Hyena's Fort Worth burlesque show, the Red Light Burlesque Revue, debuting in 2005. This former UNT jazz major works continually as a musical director and also as a band leader, sound designer, and actor. He also was the co-writer/co-producer and musical director of LCB's first production, Cirque de Amore, and continually works all Velvet Kitten live music productions. You can often catch Danny-Boy playing at open jams and with local jazz bands in DFW. He is also the musical director and sax player of the Shish Boom Band, premiering this March at the Hyena's new Dallas location in our new classic burlesque revue, Sugar Moonlight.
MORE Burlesque! Burlesque! Burlesque!
Posted by Jana Edele | Filed under News
Also coming in March…the premier of Sugar Moonlight: A Classic Burlesque Revue…a whole new burlesque experience! The mystery, glamour, and nostalgia of the hip Sunset Blvd Clubs of the 60's L.A. and the magic of the classic showgirl dancers from the Rat pack days of Vegas will make its way into the heart of DFW in a new weekly Velvet Kitten Burlesque extravaganza!
Accompanied by swanky jazz of the Shish Boom Band, original costumes designed by Eric Sands, the Velvet Kittens introduce an innovative classic burlesque floor show. Embracing the original Vegas shows, talented and trained dancers and singers slither and sway their way from beginning to end of this burlesque spectacular you won't want to miss! 10:30pm, every Thursday at Hyena's Comedy Club located in Dallas in Mockingbird Station, next door to the Angelica Theater. Opening night will be announced very soon….
~The Velvet Kittens are Dallas/Fort Worth's only burlesque troupe and show offering a variety of professional and trained talent, and an assortment of burlesque experiences! Whether you're more drawn to the comedy, the burlesque tease, the professional and trained dancers, or the skilled and sexy singers, the VK shows offer our audiences a professionally produced showcase of talent! Re-creating the burlesque stage experience, only professionals at the top of their game went on to succeed and continue in showbiz….we hold our entertainers up to the same professional standard set by the vaudevillians and burlesque stars of the past. Come and experience our world!~
~We also have a couple of other surprises up our sleeves, so DFW, fasten your seatbelts! It's going to be a "bumps and grinds" ride!~
Burlesque! Burlesque! Burlesque!
Posted by Jana Edele | Filed under News
Thank you to everyone who came out to last night's show! Upcoming show dates for our monthly Rembrandt shows: March 7 and 21st! Showtime: 10:00 pm
No cover! Reservations not required, but recommended. Arrive early to ensure seating (sorry for those of you who were standing!!). Fun, Laughs, Good Times! Recreating the Golden Age of Burlesque, the Velvet Kittens present two monthly performances of our vaudevillian-burlesque revue show. A mix of comedy and sass, tease and professional talent…the VK showcase the best of area talent! No other burlesque show is quite like this…
Rembrandt's Dutch Pub is located at 703 McKinney Ave in the West End/Victory Park area in Dallas, TX.
BURLESQUE SHOW TONIGHT!!!!
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Last chance to see From Your Valentine: The Velvet Kittens' Valentine's Burlesque Show!
Meet Coco Red and Stevie Swan, the newest Velvet Kitten Burlesque Dancers!
Plus…special surprise @ tonight's show…
Showtime: 10:00 pm
At: Rembrandt's Dutch Pub (703 McKinney Ave, Dallas TX…West End area)
~ Admission: No Cover (all Kitten shows at Rembrandt are free…shhh!)
~Reservations not required but recommended
Thursday Night, Free Live Entertainment!
Posted by Jana Edele | Filed under News
Our new Thursday burlesque show Sugar Moonlight hasn't started yet! But if you're looking for some live entertainment tonight, here are our Kitten suggestions:
Shish Boom Band sax player Daniel Totten, and musical director of Sugar Moonlight's house band, will be playing the blues at Mambo's open jam night tonight! From 9pm - midnight Mambo's is the hot spot for some of DFW's finest musicians! Drink specials all night and free live entertainment!
Mambo's is located at 1010 Houston St. in the lovely down town Fort Worth's Park Central Hotel (across from the FW Convention Center). For more information about Mambo's: www.parkcentralhotel.com/mamboscantina.asp
Staying in the Dallas area? Free show tonight at Dallas' newest comedy club Hyena's Comedy Night Club! Hyena's located at 75 & Mockingbird Lane, in Mockingbird Station next door to the Angelica Theatre. Doors open at 7:30, and show starts at 8:30pm. Tonight's comedic guest is funny man Eric Schwartz! For more information about Hyena's: www.hyenascomedynightclub.com
Eric Schwartz, aka Smooth-E, is more than meets the four eyes. This stand-up comedian, sketch player, rapper and actor seamlessly weaves through a countless lineup of original characters and musical pieces, making him a favorite at clubs, colleges, on television and the web. One of the most-downloaded comedians, this rare talent can't be hidden, and Schwartz€˜s popularity is quickly rising. "E! News Daily" host Ryan Seacrest says Schwartz is "rocking the web" with "video that's got everyone Googling". Smooth-E personifies the fresh-blended creation for which he is named. Mixing comedy, music, and viral internet videos, millions of fans worldwide have begun to “surrender to the blender”. Myspace.com consistently ranks Schwartz in the top three comedians with millions of views each month. Defying the boundaries of traditional stand-up, his multimedia appeal has the power to capture radio spins and national headlines. When a story happens in Hollywood, Smooth-E instantly whips up hilarious songs and videos often seen on CNN, Fox, “The Tonight Show”, E!, celebrity tabloid shows and more. A trend setter in the digital comedy age, Smooth-E writes the groundbreaking material, makes the beats and creates high production-value videos while the ink is still drying on the newsprint. Eric is making noise and refusing to turn it down.
Just a reminder…Burlesque Show this Saturday!
Posted by Jana Edele | Filed under News
Come check out Dallas-Fort Worth's only on-going burlesque show this Saturday! Starring the Velvet Kitten Dancers and Singers, Comedian Dawn Diamond, the hysterical emcee Johnny Johnson, meet the newest Burlesque Kittens…and a little special surprise we have planned for this Saturday's show…
At: Rembrandt's Dutch Pub in Dallas (703 McKinney Ave, in the West End area)
Show time: 10:00pm
~ Reservations not required; but recommended. ~
And remember…there's never a cover at our Velvet Kitten Burlesque shows at Rembrandt's Dutch Pub!
Coming in March…
~ The Velvet Kittens will offer two entirely different burlesque experiences!! ~
Fasten your seatbelts! It's going to be a "bumps and grinds" ride! The Velvet Kittens, DFW's premier burlesque show, will be introducing Dallas' only weekly burlesque extravaganza! Featuring the musical talents of the Shish Boom Band, the VK Burlesque Dancers, and the amazing vocals of saucy singer Lola Love, we present to you a whole new burlesque experience! Beginning in March you can catch Velvet Kittens' newest burlesque production: Sugar Moonlight: A Classic Burlesque Revue! Live Jazz music, the beautiful and sensual Kitten burlesque dancers and singers…this is one burlesque spectacular you won't want to miss!!
The Velvet Kittens will also be performing our monthly vaudevillian-burlesque revue shows at Rembrandt's Dutch Pub. Starring the VK dancers, singers, and the hilarious comedy of comedian Dawn Diamond! And you never know what little surprises we have in store for you! (Every Kitten Burlesque show at Rembrandt is free…shhhhh!)
Yes, we are still auditioning dancers!!
Posted by Jana Edele | Filed under News
We are looking for dancers for our 2 monthly vaudevillian-burlesque shows, as well as for promotional and paid gigs.
Send resumes/bios and current headshot/full body shot to le_cabaret_burlesque@yahoo.com. Please put "Kitten Auditionee" in the subject line.
Auditions will consist of learning a jazz combination. We ask you wear dance clothing (as you would wear in dance class: leotards, shorts, etc) that show your body, as well as audition in jazz shoes or sneakers, ballet shoes, or barefoot. We firmly request you audition without heels. We want to see you dance!
About the VK performers:
The Velvet Kittens present an entire burlesque show made up of a complete cast of singers, dancers, comedians, actors, and musicians. All performers are trained professionals of their chosen disciplines. We are looking for classically trained dancers with a strong background in jazz. The VK dancers perform stylized jazz numbers, and we request you view our videos for an idea of the choreography and costuming.
About the VK burlesque shows:
The Velvet Kittens perform modernized burlesque shows re-creating the Golden Age of Burlesque. Our "vintage nightclub entertainment" focuses on the earlier years of burlesque entertainment, where the stage was the training and performance ground for rising stars that later graced and starred on the silver screen, TV and radio. With a mix of music from different eras and genres: jazz standards, classic rock, cabaret, Broadway, and pop, the VK present a modernized burlesque show embracing the tease (and strip tease) but the spotlight remains focused on the talent and training of the performers, not the "gimmicks" of later burlesque strip houses in the ending years.
Qualifications:
~Must be classically trained, with jazz or contemporary education
~Female
~Must be height/weight proportionate
~Must be minimum of 18 years of age
~Must be able to fully commit to rehearsal and show schedule
***Many times we have allowed performers that had previous training in dance, but however had chosen not to pursue as a career or continue their training, and use this show as an opportunity to return to the stage, dance, &/or as a hobby or creative outlet. We are always appreciative of everyone's interest, however, we have found that these dancers don't always understand the professionalism in rehearsals, knowing their choreography, and often lack the ability to perform accurately & consistently on the stage, as well as the individual responsibility necessary. We are requesting that interested dancers provide resumes with training as well as currently be working professionals in dance (teaching, performing, &/or taking classes).
***For those of you who are interested in performing burlesque as solo artists, as a hobby, or for the artistic experience, the Velvet Kittens will be offering a free workshop that focuses on building/creating a stage persona, music, choreography, subtext, make up, costuming….and offers a live on stage performance opportunity! If you do not meet the current qualifications but are still interested in auditioning, please contact us! This VK burlesque workshop will be the perfect opportunity for us to get to know you as an individual performer, and a position into the group can be offered. This workshop will be open to the public non-Kittens as well. And….its FREE!!!
Celebrate Ailey's 50th Anniversary!
Posted by Jana Edele | Filed under News
If you've never had a chance to see the legendary and treasured Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater live, now's your chance! This notable company will be performing at Fort Worth's Bass Hall this Tuesday and Wednesday (Feb. 24 & 25) at 7:30pm. Many of Ailey's works, inspired by the Texas born choreographer's personal experiences, will be featured. The company is currently celebrating its 50th anniversary, and has been under the artistic direction of Judith Jamison since Ailey's death in 1989. One of the most famed and noted pieces of Ailey's, Revelations, is a powerful work of art not to be missed on the live stage.
Reserve tickets at basshall.com.
To learn more about the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, visit their website: www.alvinailey.org