We are officially less than three weeks away from our one-night spectacle!

So,

We are officially announcing our TICKET CONTEST for Follies Très Bare!

The rules are easy-as-pie:

If you purchase online tickets between today and August 1st, you will be automatically entered into a draw to be upgraded to VIP tickets! For FREE!

Don’t delay! Snag your tickets today! Before they sell away!

Q: What are VIP tickets and why do I want them?

A: As a VIP ticket-holder, you are given the privilege of the best seats in the house! If you’re the winner and would like to be seated with a guest making a separate purchase please let us know via e-mail – glamourpussburlesque@gmail.com

Spread the news, and good luck!

After many months of anticipation, I was privileged to perform among and view some of the top local and international talent in the realm of burlesque, cabaret, and vaudeville entertainment.

On the Friday night gala at The Gladstone, the room filled instantly. Who else, other than Keela Watts could have captivated a buzzing room of energy with a single opening note? (Her sensuous movement in a blue sparkling fitted-gown did help, it but could not negate her vocal chops!)

Glamour Puss Burlesque’s Rubie Laframboise took to the stage early in the show with her maddening and mystical Mad Hatter act. The crowd, and yours truly went hoarse with cheering!

Glamour Puss Burlesque performed our Bolero act for the first time since its winter debut. The act has had opportunity to refine, and we truly felt like ‘birds of paradise’ in our feathered and bejeweled costumes by Betty Monroe. The level of feedback we received hit us sideways!

Boylesque T.O.’s Wrong Note Rusty called it “Epic.”

GCB’s Fionna Flauntit reviewed it as “…absolutely breath taking. It was rhythmic, beautifully choreographed, perfectly in sync and so unique. I can’t say enough, speechless.”

How could we possibly articulate a more meaningful way to say thank you? Well, we’re trying.

The Saturday night Burlesque Ball was at the Mod Club. Although I spent the first act backstage, the roars of laughter, excitement, and titillation heard from two floors below could mean nothing but quality entertainment!

This was also the night that I premiered a new duo tango act with Carlos Caliente. It was dramatic, saucy, with a touch of maniacal. After our performance, the uncertain moment we felt as we returned to the change-room was short-lived as Dew Lily simply approached us and said “… HOT.”

The rest of the Saturday night show that I was able to watch was phenomenal. No words other than phenomenal.

If I could speak about every act, I would. Unfortunately, that would make for a very lengthy blog post, and what would I possibly write about the acts that left me speechless?

Summarized highlights for me include: the decadent Billie Black who sang and performed on silks while in elegant rope bondage, the fierce Tanya Cheex as ‘Lady Bug-off’ (with Boylesque aphids Wrong-Note Rusty and Mahogany Storm), Amber Ray, as a spectacular evolving butterfly, Coco Framboise stylin’ with a lush boa, and last year’s Burlesque Queen Roxi D’lite as an island goddess on aerial hoop.

This leads me to two boylesque (more like WOW-lesque) performers who blew my mind with completely different styles of performance.

1. Evil Hate Monkey performed his “Prima Primate” act, which was full of bananas, absurdity, and him. Dancing. En pointe. In a tutu.

That man -er monkey had the best use of a tutu than in any ballet I have ever seen.

Watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wF7r87noY7E&feature=share

2. Jett Adore absolutely won the crowd with his peacock act. This was one of those acts where you struggle to find the words to describe it. Inspired, with a touch of cirque.

I’m not sure who said it, but “there wasn’t a dry seat in the house.”

See it for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfvE60jxUTU

Anywho, this is simply my snapshot of the weekend. To all of the committee members, stage & tech crew, volunteers and superstars, I say: Thank you, thank you thank you! Take a well-deserved bow.

Welcome et bienvenue to Follies Très Bare! Leave your troubles at the door as we mesmerize you with our newest production. Inspired by turn of the century Parisienne cabaret with a modern twist, we bring you the sources of enchantment from all over the world. Join us for a night of dance, love affairs, comedy, and cheeky wit in our interactive show.

Featuring live music, burlesque, comedy, artists and surprises galore!
Dress to impress.

Tickets are $15 Advanced and $20 at the door. VIP tickets are $30 for guaranteed cabaret seating.
Buy tickets here: http://www.eventbrite.com/​event/646813637

Doors open at 8pm, show begins at 9pm.

Location: Revival Nightclub, 783 College St. Toronto, ON

Starring:
Frenchie Fatale
Paralee Pearl
Kinky La Femme
Rubie Laframboise

Emcee: Dick Dastardly
Chanteuse: Lady Adelle
DJ Watt Nott

Guest Performers:
Aviva – Bellydancer
Bain & Bernard – Comedians
Carlos Caliente – Dancer
Kitty Kerosene – Fire and Circus Entertainer
Baldini & Alex Kazam – Magicians

Thank you to our generous sponsors:
Betty Monroe – www.bettymonroedesigns.com
Dragon Lady Comics – http://www.facebook.com/pa​ges/Dragon-Lady-Comics/233​80812908
Good For Her – www.goodforher.com
The Silver Snail – www.silversnail.com
Yonge Street Tattoos – www.yongesttattoos.com

Vendors and Artists:
Pretty Bird Accessories
Pasties by Corinne Cupcake
Glamour Puss Burlesque, featuring goodies donated by “Cake Art by Jade” – http://www.facebook.com/pr​ofile.php?id=1000017728844​07
Blonde Moxie Make-up – http://www.blondemoxiemake​up.com/
Eric Kim – http://www.inkskratch.com/

Glamour Puss Burlesque is Toronto’s most dazzling burlesque troupe, and the 2010 award winner of “Best Troupe” at the Great Burlesque Exposition.

Don’t miss out on this one-night treat!

Love,

Glamour Puss Burlesque

Photos taken by Steve Alkok, Flyer designed by Jeff Arnott.

I just wanted to inform you that Glamour Puss is taking a little bit of a break in between productions but the wait will be worth it!  In the meantime time you can still catch us at various events and shows.  To stay in the loop about upcoming performances check the “Performances” page on our website www.glamourpussburlesque.com or join our facebook page www.facebook.com/glamourpussburlesque.

1. Be dazzled! Come see for yourself why Glamour Puss Burlesque was voted “Best Troupe” at the Great Burlesque Exposition 2010.

2. Phenomenal guest acts! Bellydancer Aviva, fire performer Kitty Kerosene, and the comedy of Bain and Bernard.

3. Shopping! Peruse our Glamour Puss Burlesque marketplace with new GPB t-shirts, pins, lingerie, and other tasty and dangerous treats. Win yourself a little something by entering our 50/50 draw.

4. Sugar, sugar! Extra eye (and real) candy with gorgeous candy girls and go-go dancers.

5. Live jazz! Lady Adelle serenades you with scintillating tunes.

6. Wow! Bonus surprises and interactive contests that will knock you off of your chair laughing.

7. Sketch! Artists Eric Kim and Deryk Ouseley will be wowing you with visual excellence during the show, and sketching ‘wanted poster’ caricatures of all of you fellow rapscallions and criminals for only $5 a pop.

8. Mystery! The all-knowing Rogue will sizzle as she tells your fortune and looks into your future in her nomadic cove.

9. Dance! DJ Watt Nott will be spinning the best toe-tapping jazzy electro-swingin’ sets to dance the night away.

10. Party! You gain entrance into our secret speakeasy (so you get to dress up, and have a reason to wear that dress, hat, or accessory that you think would be “too sexy” for the office..). Don’t worry folks, we have plenty of moonshine and rum runners in this joint.

We want to thank you for your love and support over the past 3 years. We are going to be posting more on our Facebook fan page rather than our old group, so to keep up-to-date, check out our NEW Glamour Puss Burlesque fan page!

THEN!

Enter our 3-step CONTEST to win FREE TICKETS:

1. Invite your friends list to the fan page.

2. Post on the wall letting us know that you have invited your friends.

3. Cross your fingers! We will be entering all valid names into a draw and announcing a winner on August 23rd.

A: That’s an interesting comment. In actuality, I see this sentiment with a reversed point of view. As a performer, you are inviting the audience into your world, into your act, as you tell your story. You have complete control of what, how, when, and how much (or little) you reveal both physically and artistically to the audience. This is not a position of submission. If you look around at an audience during a truly well-done burlesque act, the facial expressions alone can answer this for you. They include: being entranced, feeding off of the energy the performer is putting out, to a state of sheer enjoyment (or mind blowery). Among the first performers to come to mind who can really draw an audience into their world is Dirty Martini. Last week, I was fortunate to watch her Godfather act live at the Toronto Burlesque Festival. A packed venue of people were literally hanging onto her every bit of story telling, movement, facial expression, and choreography simply wondering what will come next! This is the power of burlesque.

Who does burlesque cater to? The simple answer is: to anyone who enjoys burlesque! An appreciative and responsive audience is valued regardless of gender, orientation, race, class, or nationality. Especially given the array of performers who are varied in the above categories and rainbow of styles they can perform, there truly is a little something for everyone to enjoy and appreciate.

Burlesque as an outlet gives an opportunity to express yourself (or your character), and can provide a voice in a way that is unmediated by anyone except oneself. The audience adds energy, and their enthusiastic response is always appreciated by the performers, but they are secondary. It is our expression through our art that is paramount as they travel with us through the journey that is burlesque.

Do you have a burning question about burlesque? A question about Glamour Puss? From the complex to the silly, we’d love to hear it! *YOU WILL BE ANONYMOUS* Please e-mail glamourpussburlesque@gmail.com with “Dancer Answers” in the subject line.

A: We attempt to do so! We have started to venture outside of our geographic comfort zone with festivals and gigs, although due to busy schedules and financial limitations, we can’t be on the road as frequently as we would like. Because of these factors, it is more difficult to transport the full troupe!

We are very open to receiving out of town inquiries, and have been contacted for a couple of exciting future travel offers.

Keep your eyes peeled for us at the Toronto Burlesque Festival 2010 and the Great Burlesque Exposition 2011 (more festival news to be posted later)!

Do you have a burning question about burlesque? A question about Glamour Puss? From the complex to the silly, we’d love to hear it! *YOU WILL BE ANONYMOUS* Please e-mail glamourpussburlesque@gmail.com with “Dancer Answers” in the subject line.

A: Strippers make money!

Again, with the jokes…

In all seriousness, this is a question I (and many other burlesque performers) receive on a regular basis. That being said, it also elicits a wide variety of responses and criticisms.
I have never worked as a stripper before, so any comparison I make is based purely on observation. That being said, I don’t think strippers should be stigmatized in comparison to burlesque performers, despite the fact that the intent of their performance is different.

I put burlesque on par with other theatrical, dance-oriented, artistic, and musical performances. This is because in most cases, they are just that! A good burlesque act will have a story, a solid concept, choreography, and costuming. Many acts can also deviate from the glamourous showgirl burlesque archetype, by riffing-off of and providing comedy or satire through thought-provoking narratives (that doesn’t mean we aren’t all fans of rhinestones and feathers…).

Although the art of striptease is used, it is often not the only focus of the act. Additionally, there is generally no full-frontal nudity in burlesque. With the exception of costume malfunctions, burlesque performers will only bare as far as pasties and underwear (or merkins). In fact, I have also been involved in corporate opportunities where I had to remain fully covered. Luckily in these cases, layers and interesting choreography are your friends.

The movements and angles used by burlesque performers are meant to maintain the whimsy and mystique involved in burlesque spectacle, rather than being easily accessible to the audience. In many cases, the audience must work (by being engaged vocally) to continue aspects of the performance. The performer has full creative control of what, how, when, and how much (or little) they remove. Burlesque is about the conceal as much as it is about the reveal.

Do you have a burning question about burlesque? A question about Glamour Puss? From the complex to the silly, we’d love to hear it! *YOU WILL BE ANONYMOUS* Please e-mail glamourpussburlesque@gmail.com with “Dancer Answers” in the subject line.

A: Right after our previous show! I’m joking.

Somewhat.

We always have post-show debrief sessions where we discuss, throw ideas around, and begin to lay framework for our next unique production. Realistically, we attempt to book our venue and begin concrete planning approximately 5-7 months in advance. As much time as that may sound like, it never seems to be quite enough by the time show-day rolls around!

Immense amounts of factors and people are involved in the process of planning a cohesive show! We organize and conquer tasks based on our constructed time-lines and priorities. The venue, photoshoots, marketing, sponsors, rehearsals, costuming, guests, and volunteers are just a few of the many categories that require sufficient planning and attention.

Between shows, we perform at various public and corporate gigs and festivals while also maintaining our individual busy and mischievous lives. We do have a few exceptions of planning shows closer together, which are usually well-intentioned. For example, we are having a rapidly approaching encore performance of Burlesque’s Most Wanted on August 27^th.

Do you have a burning question about burlesque? A question about Glamour Puss? From the complex to the silly, we’d love to hear it! *YOU WILL BE ANONYMOUS* Please e-mail glamourpussburlesque@gmail.com with “Dancer Answers” in the subject line.