Heard Around Town
Posted by Jana Edele | Filed under News
Looks like our friend Big Dick Hunter of Live 105.3 Wild Ass Circus is about to reach a much larger audience.
Richie Whitt’s blog for the Dallas Observer, Sportatorium first reported that the local radio DJ is being courted to sign an agreement for national syndication by radio personality Rick Dees.
Why is this relevant Velvet Kitten news? Because Richard “Big Dick” Hunter introduced the Kittens to Cafe Rembrandt where we now perform regularly. Our first show at Cafe Rembrandt was for Wild Ass Circus’ Red Light Saturday Night.
You can listen to our radio interview (and his rendition of Memories from the Broadway musical Cats) here:
[audio:https://www.thevelvetkittens.com/audio/VelvetKittensBDH.mp3]
Skye, Lola, Ginger and Mimi with Big Dick Hunter in October 2007
Velvet Kitten Burlesque Dance Classes
Posted by Jana Edele | Filed under News
Have you heard? The Velvet Kittens are bringing their burlesque dance classes back and registration starts soon. No clue on what to expect at a burlesque dance class? Jana Edele, burlesque dance instructor and director/choreographer for The Velvet Kittens of Le Cabaret Burlesque sheds a little light on her background as a dance instructor and what students can expect from her burlesque classes.
I began my journey into burlesque dance instruction a few years ago. At first, I choreographed burlesque numbers independently. Those jazz numbers led to a recommendation to choreograph and direct a new show called the Red Light Burlesque Revue at Hyena's Comedy Club in downtown Fort Worth. When I got the job, I didn't know how much work I had cut out for me! I pulled all-nighters in the library surrounded by books doing research on burlesque and vaudeville.
The Red Light Burlesque Revue became increasingly popular. During this time I continued to teach ballet, jazz and other forms of dance at local dance studios. One day I was approached by one of the studio owners asking if I would be interested in offering a burlesque dance class for adults. I agreed and soon I was teaching a very enthusiastic group of women how to shimmie and shake.
In January of 2008, I brought my burlesque classes to The Girls Room in Dallas. I am very grateful to The Girls Room for hosting our classes. Eventually the time came to move on and now I am looking forward to bringing my burlesque classes back to a dance studio with more space and sprung floors.
My goal is to provide legitimate dance instruction and a fun way for all kinds of women to have fun and explore the neo burlesque movement. I incorporate my technical dance background in all my burlesque classes so that students learn more than just how to peel off a glove; they learn how to control their bodies and improve posture and confidence.
My burlesque class are very similar to a jazz classes. We begin with stretching and isolations, incorporating classic burlesque moves like bump and grind. We explore the different styles of burlesque dancing to a wide variety of music, so there is always something for everyone. If you have any questions or specific requests regarding my burlesque classes, please contact me; I’m happy to help.
— Jana Edele
Director/Choreographer, The Velvet Kittens of Le Cabaret Burlesque
Interview with Ronny Smeink, Owner of Cafe Rembrandt
Posted by Jana Edele | Filed under News
Ronny Smeink and his wife Beth, are the owners of the Dutch pub Cafe Rembrandt in Dallas. Recently, Ronny took a few minutes from his busy job as a restaurateur to answer a few questions about his successful Dutch pub and its relationship with The Velvet Kittens of Le Cabaret Burlesque.
What made you decide to open a Dutch Restaurant in Dallas?
I've wanted to open my own Dutch-style café since I was about 16 years old and worked for my aunt and uncle at their café in the Netherlands. After working in the Dallas area for a few years I figured, "why not Dallas?" The other pubs seem to do well in the area. So I convinced my wife Beth into going into business with me. She now takes care of all the bookings, promotions and our payroll administration.
Ok, so you are aware that not many North Texans know much about Dutch cuisine. How would you describe the food?
Dutch food is really a blend of different cultures. Holland is known for being open to other cultures and immigrants and has a rich history of colonization. Also, it has been a country of merchants for centuries. Our cuisine really consists of different influences from countries like France, Germany, Italy, Indonesia Рwhich used to be a Dutch colony, northern Africa and Suriname. At Caf̩ Rembrandt you will find items like the French onion soup, beef sateh (Indonesian) and other foreign items.
What did you have to include in your restaurant in order to create a Dutch Café that felt authentic to you?
As far as the menu goes, it had to feature bitterballen which are deep fried breaded balls stuffed with beef and béarnaise sauce. This is a traditional Dutch beer snack. Also the menu had to include a beef sateh, a tosti (grilled ham and cheese) and kibbeling (deep fried pieces of cod filet). As far as the décor is concerned, the atmosphere had to be welcoming and warm (or gezellig). We did that with leaving a lot of brick exposed and using a lot of dark wood. The décor also includes a few wooden shoes, named "klompen" in Dutch and a hand painted replica of Rembrandt's most famous work, the Nightwatch. The painting is the center piece of our café and measures 8' by 7', which is about half the size of the original, displayed at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
So what's your favorite thing on the menu?
My favorite item is the Beef Tenderloin with mushroom cream sauce, because it's one of the tenderest pieces of beef I have ever tried and the sauce just compliments the overall flavor.
You mentioned that you worked for your aunt and uncle in their Dutch Café in the Netherlands; did you bring any of their menu items to Café Rembrandt?
Most of the recipes come from my aunt and uncle's café; that's where I learned the basics of cooking. Some of the recipes are traditionally Dutch but we also have a few items that are modified to please the American palette by our chef Carlos.
Café has a different meaning in the Netherlands than it does over here, could you explain this?
With the word "café" in our name people assume we serve French food, coffee and sandwiches. Even though we do serve great coffee and sandwiches, our meaning of the word Café is more like that of a pub. What people might not expect is that we feature over 50 different beers and have a full liquor selection which includes authentic Dutch vodkas and genevers and Absinthe. We also have a second floor that we open up when we expect to be busy. This area is also used for private events.
In addition to being the official home of The Velvet Kittens of Le Cabaret Burlesque, you feature live music and events every weekend. Did you and Beth intend on being an entertainment venue in addition to a Dutch Café?
We did plan on having live entertainment in the form of live music at the Café, but we had no idea we were going to come across a burlesque show!
How long have you been working with The Velvet Kittens?
We have worked with the Velvet Kittens since October 2007, when we did a live remote broadcast with 105.3 FM. The people at the station actually introduced us to the Kittens.
The Velvet Kittens have performed at Cafe Rembrandt several times in the past year, but what made you decide to keep them coming back and eventually become the official home to the Dallas burlesque troupe?
We thought that the Velvet Kittens were a great fit for our pub because of their specific style of burlesque and the image they have. Holland has always been known for being a bit edgy and liberal. Having the Velvet Kittens perform here really makes you feel that you stepped back in time to witness the old European burlesque shows of the turn of the last century. Also the Velvet Kittens bring in a great crowd of both men and women every time they perform here, so we wanted to make sure to bring the Kittens back as much as possible.
What is your most memorable Velvet Kitten show or number at Cafe Rembrandt?
I think the most memorable burlesque show was their Christmas show, "Candy Land: A Night of Sweets" back in December 2007. The Velvet Kittens took the initiative to organize a toy drive for underprivileged children and had open auditions for the event. We saw many different acts, including comedians, belly dancers and musicians. The actual show was a lot of fun. It brought a lot of people out that night, and they collected dozens of toys. I was, however a bit nervous when one of the belly dancers lit up 10 torches and started playing with fire! But she was exciting to watch and thankfully the café did not burn down.
What can we look forward to at Café Rembrandt?
We will be booking the Velvet Kittens on a more regular basis. Also keep an eye out for the bands we have lined up. Dallas has some great talent. In the near future we will roll out a new menu which will be more extensive and will be a combination of lunch and dinner items, available all day.
The Velvet Kittens’ Favorite Things: Gilded Lili: Lili St. Cyr and the Striptease Mystique
Posted by Jana Edele | Filed under News
Spice up your summer reading list with Kelly Dinardo’s book, Gilded Lili: Lili St. Cyr and the Striptease Mystique. This biography explores the sometimes glamorous, sometimes lonley life of Lili St. Cyr, one of the most famous striptease artists in American history.
So You Wanna Start a Burlesque Troupe, Part II
Posted by Jana Edele | Filed under News
As promised, here is the second installment on how to start your own burlesque troupe. Remember, if you have any questions, you can always contact me through our website.
6. Business or pleasure? Are you starting a business? Or is this just a fun, creative outlet? For me, choreography and dance is not only my passion, it’s my career. Make sure you know what you want to get out of it of your troupe, and most importantly, only surround yourself with responsible people who understand your vision! If this is business, start with a business plan and contact the SBA in your area for guidance.
7. Creating Your Vision
Do you want to direct and choreograph the troupe or just be a performer? Time to decide. If you're a choreographer, you can skip this step. If not, its time to find someone to create those dances you want. You'll also want the choreographer to help with auditions as well. When hiring a choreographer the first thing you want to do is check their references. Find out about their dance training and performance and choreography experience. You can audition a choreographer by having them preform an short and original piece for you, just a few 8-counts long. In this day and age they should have some sort of recording of other works they've created. Check ’em out!
8. Let’s Audition!
If you're working with a dance choreographer, they can help you find places to post audition notices in the dance community.
Here are some audition pointers: Prepare a short combination. There’s no need to make a dancer try to audition with 32 eight counts of music. If someone has classical training or the look you want, you will know very quickly. You can also have dancers come in with a prepared combination. I sometimes do this. If I am interested I still have them learn one of my combinations.
9. First Rehearsal
By this time you've established rehearsal times with cast, discussed financial obligations (if there's any shared), and are ready to begin dancing. Hopefully you secured your rehearsal space earlier (like I mentioned). If at all possible, rehearse in a dance studio or gym. Dance studios should have a sprung or floating floor, which protects dancers from stress injuries and should have the right amount of give. Even if advertised, check the flooring. It shouldn't be too hard (or too soft). It should feel softer than your home flooring. Your choreographer will either have something prepared or set choreography on the dancers. Everyone learns and works in their own way; be supportive of one another.
10. Most importantly….
Be a first rate version of yourself, not a second rate version of somebody else.
— Jana Edele
Director/Choreographer, The Velvet Kittens of Le Cabaret Burlesque
The Candy Gram: Ginger Valentine
Posted by Jana Edele | Filed under News
If you are a burlesque fan and haven’t yet discovered Kelly Dinardo’s blog, The Candy Pitch, you are missing out! And today is a great day to start reading because our very own Ginger Valentine is featured!
Will other Velvet Kittens be featured on The Candy Gram? You will have to keep reading to find out!
Starting a Burlesque Troupe? The Director of The Velvet Kittens Shares her Secrets
Posted by Jana Edele | Filed under News
The fame, the fortune and glory…wait, what? The sleepless nights, the squabbling cast, the flakey dancers, the injured dancers, the forgetful singers, and don't forget the costume and marketing expenses……ah, to be the producer of a live stage show!
Still wanna start your own burlesque troupe? It may seem like a daunting task, but you can do it. Here are some tips to get you started:
1. What is your vision? What type of show are you looking to create? Who is your audience?
My vision was to create a live stage show consisting of artistry and entertainment, and what I call "vintage nightclub entertainment." I wanted an old-school, old fashioned variety show and more than anything, an outlet for my choreography. I wanted to appeal to everyone—male and female, blue collar and white collar. My vision became a mainstream vaudevillian-burlesque variety show with cabaret aspects. Knowing your audience also gives you the basis of what venues to approach for performances. So before you get started, put pen to paper and sketch out your own ideas with these questions in mind.
2. Gotta have a gimmick!
There's a huge burlesque revival going on around the world, and there is a market for everyone. As they say in the Broadway musical Gypsy, you gotta have a gimmick. What makes your troupe unique and separate from the rest? What do you have to offer that no one else does? This is where you'll develop your marketing strategy.
3. Got a starting point? Good. Now go do your research!
As I mentioned, there is a revival going around. There are burlesque troupes, on-going shows, and solo acts performing all throughout the world. In your desire to re-produce a lost genre, shouldn't you understand the history of the genre? Perhaps you've been attracted to the idea of the glamorous solo acts who bumped and grinded their way into history. Or maybe you're more intrigued with the great comedians in history who displayed their talents on the best and worst of vaudevillian stages. No matter which era you choose to re-create, know and understand what came before, and where it went after!
4. Sequins and fringe don't grow on trees!
How are you going to pay for all of this? Costumes, rehearsal space, mics and amps — they all cost money, and that's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to expenses. Are you going to take financial responsibility, or are you going to pass it on for the performers to share? When I started the Velvet Kittens I worked multiple jobs to be able to financially support the expenses of starting a show. My performers are only responsible for base costuming (fishnets, lashes, etc). I also own every sequin panty and fringe bra; this helps me keep track of costumes. And as a dance instructor, I have been fortunate enough to always have a rehearsal space from one of the studios. Renting out a dance studio room usually begins at $25 per hour.
5. On your mark, get set, make a budget!
Budgets are not important, they are necessary. In the beginning, your biggest expense might be costumes. For my shows, I'll check costumes at stores, online, and I will search until I find the best deal. One other thing to consider is which store will give you a bigger discount for bulk orders. These are some of the things that the producer, or the leader of the burlesque troupe should consider. Also, look into sponsorships. They're great if you can get €˜em! In sponsorships the relationship should be mutually beneficial; they'll give you a discount or free services/items in exchange for exposure and marketing from your troupe.
Note: you may find some people supporting the burlesque movement and excited to support you. But you may also find that you have to prove yourself worthy to fulfill the sponsorship relationship before anyone will help you.
We've only just begun to scratch the surface! I'll be back soon with the rest of my tips on how to start a successful burlesque troupe.
— Jana Edele
Director/Choreographer, The Velvet Kittens of Le Cabaret Burlesque
Mimi Rockafellar: Animal Healer, Burlesque Dancer Extraordinaire
Posted by Jana Edele | Filed under News
Mimi Rockafellar always amazes the Kittens with her inventive costume design and creative ways, but this story takes the cake. Here it is, straight from the Kitten’s mouth:
“This little guy is Woodstock. He’s one of the many kittens that lives on our property in the country. I found him one night with a broken leg; it was very late and taking him to the vet was not an option. So with the help of the Internet and a phone call to the vet I was able to make a cast for his leg and give him some pain relief (baby tylenol!). It wasn’t the best cast, just two popsicle sticks, adhesive tape and gauze. Twice a day I would give him baby tylenol to ease the pain. Eventually the cast came off. Then Woodstock went missing for a few days which isn’t too strange for living out in the country. When he came back he was putting more pressure on his leg and walking on it, and he kept getting better everyday. We were so concerned about him, but now I can happily say that he is fully recovered!”
Mr. Peanut or Mimi Rockafellar?
Posted by Jana Edele | Filed under News
Perhaps you recall Mimi Rockafellar’s interview where she discusses her Mr. Peanut impersonation? Well, now you can see for yourself. 
Sorry, Mr. Peanut. I think Mimi Rockafellar wins.
Velvet Kitten Auditions
Posted by Jana Edele | Filed under News
The Velvet Kittens are having auditions tonight! If you’re wondering what you can do to ensure your audition goes smoothly, these tips will help get you started.
1. Look your best. You don’t have to come dressed to the nines in fishnets and garterbelts, but you do need to be dressed in proper dance attire that you feel good in and shows the lines of your body. A leotard, tights and some warm-up shorts are appropriate (don’t forget your jazz shoes). Please come with your hair and make-up done.
2. Arrive early. Remember, in show business to be early is on time, and to be on time is to be late! Also, parking isn’t always easy at our audition space, so make sure you leave plenty of time to park your car and walk to the audition.
3. Make sure that you have enough time to warm your body (or your voice if you are a singer) up before auditions start. Dancers and singers will be taught a short jazz combination, and there will be no warm-up.
4. Relax. We know auditions can be really nerve-racking, especially when your auditioning in front of a few people. Just remember, that we’re on your side; we’ve all had to audition before, and we were all nervous too. We only want you to do your best, and the Kittens will be at your audition to help you and answer any question you might have.
5. Do your best and don’t give up. Even if you struggle with the combination, don’t get too discouraged. We are looking for dynamic performers as much as we are technical dancers, so don’t forget your best “come hither” look. We want to see how you will work the crowd!
Think you have what it takes?, take a look at the audition information.