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Paint & Pasties Special Guests...

On behalf of The VanDolls Burlesque, I'm excited to announce that the bombshell of a blonde, Cha Cha Chanel and buxom brunette Velvet Von Doff will be The VanDolls special guests at Paint & Pasties - An Evening of Art & Burlesque!

Velvet Von Doff

Cha Cha Chanel

About Paint & Pasties - An Evening of Art & Burlesque

Paint & Pasties is a unique event combining the art of painting and burlesque performance on Thursday, October 20th at Raw Canvas in Yaletown. This event offers 2 live burlesque models in full burlesque costume for you to paint and is open to novices and amateurs alike. If painting isn't your style, you can always just come for the live burlesque show! Tickets start at only $5.

CLICK HERE for more information and to purchase tickets to Paint & Pasties

Burlesque Marathon: Beatles Burlesque

I love The Beatles, I love burlesque so it was only natural to get my panties..ahem..knickers in a twist over Beatles Burlesque that took place last night at The Anza Club in Vancouver. Beatles Burlesque is the baby of Blue Morris, a local music and burlesque show producer who is also pretty talented on the guitar.

It was a sold out show and I attended on my lonesome. Thankfully I didn't have to be an awkward wallflower as a table of burlesque friends invited me to sit with them. I have no complaints with the venue. The bartenders were nice, the booze was cold and the stage was high enough for all to see. All these things made for a delightful show.

The burlesquers of Beatles Burlesque recreating the classic Abbey Road album cover.

The show itself was fantastic. I've always fantasized about performing burlesque with a live band but hadn't seen it on stage until this event. The Beatles Burlesque Band who were accompanied by the talented vocals of Miss Kiss, Andrea Superstein, Rebel Valentine, Jeff Bryant and Mackenzie Gray kept the crowd dancing all evening long and provided the perfect musical backdrop to the dancers fun and sexy routines despite some minor mic glitches.

The list of burlesque talent for the night was comprised of some of Vancouver's most notable and talented performers including Melody Mangler, Miss Fitt and Voracious V.  There was a black feather fan dance to of course 'Blackbird' and a high energy strip tease to 'Helter Skelter' to name a few numbers. All performances were outstanding but I wouldn't expect anything less. Chai Tea also rocked the mic as MC for the night keeping the audiences energy high.
And... I may have dropped some dollars on some crystal pasties made by Miss. Maggie Pie. Worth it.

Blue Morris and his crew are keeping with the themed, live music burlesque show as they prepare for Dirty Dancing Burlesque on November 10th.
For more information on upcoming events by Blue Morris, check him out at www.bluemorris.com.

Burlesque Marathon: The Razzle Tassle Tease Show!

Violet, Melody & April

After splitting a bottle of wine with VanDolls Sherry Hymen and Scarlet Delirium we marched our buzzed selves to The Razzle Tassle Tease Show, the only burlesque performance to be included in the Fringe Festival activities this year. The show starred Melody Mangler, April O'Peel and Violet Femme with cuties Coco Cinders and Voodoo Pixie as delightful stage sweepers.

This show was awesome! Despite seeing many of the numbers previously, the orange, blond and purple trio performed some of my favorite acts including their seductive 'curtain dance' and April O'Peel's classic mime stuck in a box number (hint: it's not a square box). There were also some fun new acts I hadn't seen before like Violet Femme's peeping tom window washer singing number which was a highlight. Sherry, Scarlet and I couldn't help but scream, shout and clap.

Some of my favorite moments of the evening were provided by the stage sweepers who performed mini numbers while cleaning and preparing the stage that helped to wrap up the last number and introduce the next one. The whole performance ran so fluidly because of this and there was no host needed! Loved it.

To me, the show was 5 stars but then again I may be a bit bias. These three lovely ladies introduced and taught me burlesque when I took Screaming Chicken's Becoming Burlesque course so I look up to them and really they can do no wrong.

The show is only 45 minutes or so and is a great little dose of burlesque in Vancouver. I think this would be a fantastic show for burlesque virgins and fanatics to attend.

Please check out The Razzle Tassle Tease Show's website for info on their current gig at The Fringe and upcoming events!

Burlesque Marathon: Bloody Betty's 'Serial Killers Show'

A serialisly good poster! GET IT?!

If someone told me a year ago that I would paint myself in blood and pay to watch a half naked tribute to Aileen Wuornos I would probably respond with - 'are you on crack?!' but, that is exactly what I did last night at The Cobalt where Bloody Betty and the Deadly Sins performed gorlesque (it's exactly what it sounds like) based on infamous serial killers like Ted Bundy and local Robert Pickton.

I have seen Bloody Betty perform before and judging on the topic I knew I was going to be in for something shocking and very different then the normal fan and glove routine. I was also weary about being offended but as a patron in line told me 'If the show doesn't offend you, Bloody Betty hasn't done a good job'. Touche.

The Cobalt was a little hot and sweaty but it was a really cool venue, I thought it was going to be a down and dirty type of place but it was actually quite hip and put together. My only venue complaint is that I wanted so badly to see the performers floor work (especially since most murders are performed while the victim is lying down)but alas, being 5'4 in a room of standing people, it was difficult for me to see the entire performance. But let's talk about the actual show.

Stone Rivers aka Burgundy Brixx and The Purrrfessor did a fantastic job keeping the audience entertained in between numbers (see another post on their hosting talents HERE) and there were fun themed games thrown into the mix as well. Sherry Hymen and I, loving free shit, volunteered for a contest where she got to 'kill' me. Our competitors who consisted of another team of girls and 2 teams of guys who all decided to make out with each other and without being able to compete with guy on guy and girl on girl kiss action, we sadly lost, but it was a lot of fun.

Sherry Hymen and I, all bloodied out.

The performances themselves were quite spectacular with special effects ranging from a mock hanging to a cum exploding prosthetic penis (thanks for that Aida Manic!). The thing I loved about the show the most was the fearlessness of each performer. I admired how all the performers were females (aside from man props) who for the most part took on a male role. A very strong male role. I'd like to believe I could do this myself, but I'm really not sure - so mad props, you guys rocked it.

So, did I enjoy the show? Yes. Was I offended? Yes. Did the show do what it intended to do? I believe so.

If you are looking for a huge twist on burlesque please check out Bloody Betty and the Deadly Sins and attend a show. If you're anything like me you'll leave a bit confused, a bit shocked, and wanting more.

Up Next: Dance All Day at The Drive Dance Centre

Burlesque Marathon: Kitty Nights

Miss. Brixx and The Purrrfessor

On Sunday, I went to my very first Kitty Nights. I know, shameful right? I blame the Sunday family dinners for my lack of appearance at Kitty Nights, not a lack of interest! I actually already had Kitty Nights scribbled into my burlesque marathon calendar when the aw-inducing Burgundy Brixx contacted me and asked me to perform in a pajama party themed version of Burgundy and The Purrrfessors weekly hit show. I quickly said 'fuck family dinner' and accepted.

The venue, being The Biltmore, was perfect for a burlesque show. It's dark, intimate with a perfectly sized stage. The crowd was wonderful as well as most of them seemed to know how to act at a burlesque show (drunk and loud).

I was a bit more nervous for Kitty Nights then I usually am for a performance being that I've heard so much about it and I almost felt it was a 'right of passing' to be asked to make my debut at Kitty Nights. Overall, I felt confidence in my performances, one that was fast and bumpy to Waiting for My Ruca by Sublime and another that was slow and seductive to Toxic by Yael Naim. I did however get one piece of criticism from a man in the crowd who told me at the end of my first performance I should have shaken it harder. Shakin' it harder is never bad advice.

All performances were great, especially Burgundy and a Latin inspired performance by Candy Curves. But the thing that impressed me the most was the hosting. I must admit, I've attended some burlesque shows where unintended awkwardness was part of the hosting but The Purrrfessor and Burgundy had the right amount of confidence, humour and stage presence as hosts and my friends that attended agreed with many of them stating it's the best hosting they've seen as well. Truly, the host/ess with the most/ess.

If you haven't been out to see Kitty Nights, I encourage you to! Check them out HERE.
More on Burgundy Brixx!
Up Next: Bloody Betty's Serial Killer Show!

Burlesque Marathon: Back to School Burlesque

Last night, I went to my first burlesque show of September - Back to School Burlesque at The Sin Bin. This appropriately themed event for the long weekend was put on by Vyntage Pie Productions (aka Valerie Vyntage and Maggie Pie) and was a great start to my burlesque marathon.

First of all, I love themed anything - parties, shows, food! Plus, the likes of Precious Metal and April O'Peel were on the performance list so I was walking into this event with a smile on my face. Miss. Vyntage set the tone for the night letting us all know the show was focused on comedy. And comedy it was.

I laughed the entire show (when appropriate of course) with the highlights for me being Isla Vuemore and Ruthe Ordare (although all the girls were great). Isla put a unique spin on a teacher number where she decided to grade her body parts as opposed to student papers. And I must say her boobs get an A+, I may ask if she tutors....

Ruthe Ordare opened the show with a fun number to the tune of Singing in The Rain where glitter filled balloons were popped on a sharp pair of pasties. Love it.
I also brought a friend who was a burlesque virgin and by the time we left she'd won a cute feather headband by Maggie Pie and was talking about how she'd wear it in her first show!

There was talk about making this a monthly event, which would be amazing especially if it was always themed!!
Up next: Kitty Nights House Party where I will be performing! See you there!