Australian Burlesque Festival 2013- Bunnies, ponies, native hens oh my!

Oh my! What a tour!
The first showgirl to arrive in Launie was New Zealand performer Bonita Dangerdoll, who really is a doll!
I picked her up from the airport on Tuesday morning, promptly getting lost and driving us in a loop before pulling into the grounds of the Launceston Country club- white palings, ponies grazing on one side, golf greens on the other, ducks, swans and Launceston's abundant roadrunner- like native hens.
We indulged at Nannas, a sweet cafe located in the CBD and then walked to the Gorge where peacocks and wallabies roam freely through native Australian bush.

New Zealand's Bonita Dangerdoll at Nannas

Strawberry Siren arrived the following morning with bountiful amounts of luggage and Bella de Jac and Evie Red touched down during the Tech run.
Evie it turns out has a fear of birds... Something I discovered as she wedged herself into a corner of my car whilst I enlightened her to the native hens running about the Country Club grounds.
Dusk was falling and we were amused to note an excited, hot roller adorned Banbury Cross taking photos of the wallabys that were out in force on the Casino grounds.

Backstage was cramped- 5 showgirls to a room isn't ideal but we made the most of the situation. Adelaide's Luna Eclipse adopted a corner at stage right to watch Game of Thrones while Bonita and I stretched nearby as the audince started arrive.

Bella de Jac, Lucy, Luna Eclipse, Evie Red hamming it up backstage

The show started on time which for a performer is both a blessing and a curse.
I'm so used to shows starting late that I was still getting my hair up when the first act, Hobart's Miss Kitty's Meow, hit the stage.
Oopsy Daisy and Tiger Lilly hurried back to shed themselves of their remaining costumes and don cloaks to be my creepy (only for 4 minutes!) skirt waving minions of the sea.
I'm always so thankful to the girls who help me with my act as waving the skirt gives you a work out!

The stage was a little slippery which prevented me from doing some of the more acrobatic choreography and the audience was rowdier then usual while I was performing which led the emcee, Andrew, to challenge them (Wisteria, I have my eye on you darling!) to a duel.

The best bit about performing in the first set was retiring to the balcony to watch the next two sets.
Stand outs on the night for me were Banbury Cross, Perle Noire and from the audience, three dapper gents and their ladies, seated at a table on the left, who were loving the show, clapping along with huge smiles on their faces! I said hello after the show finished and they told me they had enjoyed every minute...

Photo by Ricky Pfieffer

Some quick happy snaps with Bonita, and Perle Noire, who forgave me for being Sassy when I first saw her at tech and I drove myself home, I had work at 4:45am so I was desperate for sleep.

Post show posing with Tiger Lilly and Bonita Danger Doll

uh... with Bonita and Luna Eclipse

with Perle Noire... I cannot wait to see this lady again in a few months time!!!

I managed a quick brekkie with the Kitty's and Le Fay before they, like the rest of the tour, hit the road for the drive to Hobart.

Huge thanks as always to Rosy Rabbit and Dolores Daiquri for putting on ABF for another year and for bringing it to Launceston, my new home town!

Miss Burlesque Australia 2013

When people ask why I perform I emphasise the enjoyment and freedom I feel on stage, the creativity I get to express through movement and costuming, but what I really love is our little community here in Australia. Bound together we dance and celebrate, gripe and moan and on May 25, a small number of our community shared the agony and ecstasy competing in Miss Burlesque Australia, made all the more special as it was Producer, Cassandra Jane's last one.

Most of us arrived on Friday, some by plane, others by car. Five of us were sandwiched into a small but comfortable room at the Nunnery- I'm sure the Nuns didn't figure their convent would one day house the likes of us -  Agatha Christie tucked into a corner and Briana Bluebell on a bottom bunk while Luna Eclipse, Strawberry Siren and I took the final three singles.

Agatha Frisky and I monopolising the bedroom before our shoot

We trooped down to the Fitzroy gardens for a quick photoshoot in front of a fountain just as school was let out, terrorising smartly dressed, roll skirted kids with our fallen from grace, Disney princess attire. From the fountain to the lawns where we brought out our own inner child, throwing leaves and joining a wedding party for a few happy snaps. Briana Bluebell seemed unimpressed with suggestions that we play stacks on and whip away her crown ...

Frankie Faux, Danica Lee, Lucy, Strawberry Siren, Kelly Ann Doll, Briana Bluebell, Luna Eclipse, Becky Lou, Agatha Frisky, Rita Fontaine and Jane Doe

Friday night we trooped to Bohemia cabaret for a delicious but reluctant meal- I was so tired!- the soup was tasty, beetroot and fetta, but it was quickly followed by an early bed for those of us who wilt when the sun goes down.

The next morning Strawberry, Luna and I snuck out of the room to get some much needed coffee and glorious food at Southpaw on Gertrude st. This was closely followed by more coffee from Bella de Jac who picked me up to meet a man with a van.

Although this jaunt took a lot longer than I expected and driving around Melbourne made me stress out (Melbourne has trams and tiny laneways) It was a grand distraction from the looming competition and I am now fairly competent about my driving abilities (although Becky and Emma Lou who came with me might disagree!)

Backstage with my room mate Bella de Jac

We piled out at the Atheneum, a stately theatre on Collins st that features a small stage and a huge auditorium of plush velvet chairs.

The dressing rooms were located at stage right and access to the wings was tight. Bella and I holed up on the second floor at the far end, a bit of an effort to make it down onto the stage but well lit with big mirrors.

Tiger Lilly giving me big eyes to go with my big hair!

I had picked out number 1, when we drew spots, first the worst, right? Well, first to emerge to do the gown walk but happily, not the first performer. The five male finalists competed after the girls walked the stage, revving up the crowd  and getting the audience into the right frame of mind for the classic burlesque acts that were to follow.

Performers, producer Cassandra Jane and emcee Rita Fontaine on the red carpet before the show

I know I lost a few moments of choreography somewhere but I get so much enjoyment from performing my classic act. The second song, Shivas Regal provides a great beat and really gives me a lift after the more sombre tones of Blue Prelude.

Skirt and knickers by Flo Foxworthy

I raced back up the stairs to start getting ready for my second act, Sirenes.
Two of the girl's from Tasmania's long running burlesque troupe, Miss Kitty's Meow were performing with me, Tiger Lilly was also helping me out with hair and make up which is something I tackle with great reluctance.

Oopsy Daisy and Tiger Lilly

Oopsy Daisy and Tiger, with little rehearsal due to geographical distances did an amazing job and really imparted a menacing look to the act.

 Sirenes



With Oopsy Daisy and Tiger Lilly from Miss Kitty's Meow



 I scrubbed off my make up and chucked a crown on my head to do the curtain call, which if used on the Miss Burlesque DVD should provide a laugh- A confusion of showgirls as we tripped on each others dresses as we left the stage- and pick up Miss Showgirl Couture from Briana Bluebell who encircled me with a blue and red sash .

A confusion of showgirls?

with my new sash, Miss Showgirl Couture

Harry SC took out Mr Boylesque 2013, Strawberry Siren took out Miss Burlesque Australia 2013, Frankie Faux first runner up, Kelly Ann Doll second Runner up and Luna Eclipse Best Entertainer.

Kelly Ann Doll, Strawberry Siren, Frankie Faux

Full list of Miss Burlesque 2013 Awards

Agatha Frisky WA- Miss Fantastic
Becky Lou VIC- Bunnylicious
Bella de Jac QLD- Miss Bump and Grind and Most Elegant
Danica Lee SYD wildcard- Miss Congeniality
Frankie Faux- SYD wildcard- First Runner Up
Jane Doe VIC wildcard- Neo Revival
Kelly Ann Doll SYD- Second Runner Up
Lucy Sky Diamond TAS- Showgirl Couture
Luna Eclipse SA- Best Entertainer
Strawberry Siren GC- Miss Burlesque Australia and Most Classic

Out of a showgirl's trunk

New York burlesque Queen, Angie Pontani posted a photo of a trunk of treasures that she'd found at one of NYC's flea markets.
As you can see, her trunk is a bounty of dazzling items, sequins, beads and feathers.

Angie's market find
Copyright Angie Pontani

Angie was one of the first performers I saw in NYC in 2008 at This Was Burlesque at the Corio.
I loved the show so much that I returned the following weekend with a good friend from Tasmania and a group we'd met at his hostel, they too loved it so it's sad to know that the show is no longer running. But the performers, The Pontani Sisters, Melody Sweets, Peekaboo Pointe and MC Murray Hill are, so if you're looking for burlesque in the US, start googling those names!

The costumes in this entry came from a showgirl's trunk.
Most of them are unwearable, gelatine sequins which melt due to contact with water or heat, costumes so small I can barely get a foot in... So these I use for study or for guilty hoarding.

This nude illusion playsuit has a short tulle skirt, sequined rope and plastic pearl beads

The sequined rope is bald in some patches, it ends in a bow on the left hand side

Some of the plastic beads are attached with glue, others sewn on, there is no deliberate pattern!

The fabric is very thin and flimsy

The sequined rope ends in tulle swatches

My favourite piece from the collection if only because I can wear it!

Whether I find something online or on a rack, my heard starts beating just a little faster. I've gone out of my way to return to flea markets when a stall owner suggests they might have something at the back of a garage that they can pull out for the next day, I've gotten up at 3am to snipe bid on Ebay- not always sucessfully.

I was drawn to this tunic because of the design and the colour of the sequins

The front is secured with small push studs.

The back is my favourite part. The pattern is a bit uneven which is typical of the cheaper hand made burlesque costumes of the 40s and 50s

Great straps and colours. The bra is very basic, I'll update with photos of the inside seams

Cute pants with fixed ruffle skirt.

asymmetrical design...

Some of the leaves are sewn on, others are hand beaded straight on to the pants which are heavy, lined and fasten with a zip at the back.

Painstaking work, each of these were hand sewn

Occasionally I sell, repurpose or regift items, I do so reluctantly however if I can't use it, I hope that others will. A dear friend of mine was delighted when I gave her a little showgirl bra. I love it so much but it would never fit me. Happily the next time I saw her she gave me a vintage 1960's hawaiin bikini, so I think we're square!

Great little show girl bra, hand sewn, tiny fit.

I really like the design, the big ruffled shoulders with a tropical print, hand sewn sequins on the ruffles and bra.

Pink net and magenta velvet set. Jaci had multiples of this set for sale so I presume it was made for a chorus line.

Love the matching fringing, there is no faded patches on the velvet

The stitches are large and the velvet is roughly hewn 

These were from a showgirl trunk. Sold on Etsy by Jaci Brooks from California who has a collection of home made and vintage treasures up for sale including this saloon dress

Pageant Queen at Miss Burlesque Tasmania 2013

About a year ago I asked a college friend if he had ever thought he would see me on stage, performing burlesque. The response was a firm "no." I was not known for wearing dresses or skirts, I didn't start wearing more than mascara until I was 22 and even then I had to get someone else to help me apply the extra pancake.

So, winning Miss Burlesque 2013 wasn't really on the cards. I think my face says it all...

I entered the competition after chatting to Grace Cherry who competed in 2012 and judged me the first time I competed in 2010. Her motivations appealed to me, the idea of polishing three acts, gaining video footage and challenging myself on the night.

Sarah Muir from Tasmania's Pole and Burlesque Academy in Moonah sponsored me, this sponsorship included free studio time, massages and even some fabric to costume the skirt wavers in my Sirenes act.
Sarah has always supported Tasmanian burlesque, she revived burlesque in Tasmania in 2007 with a group that included Miss Kitty's Meow's Grace Cherry and Tiger Lilly, The Diamond's of Burlesque Bebe Sparkle as well as myself.

The night itself started for the performers and crew at 1:30pm when we were allowed to clutter the changerooms with all manner of fantastic costumes and props. I shared a smaller dressing room with Grace Cherry, Oopsy Daisy and Velvet Sway. Above the door written in texta was 'the room of cock,' we liked it. The room was loud with laughter and chatter as well as my oft uttered "I'm so tired... I'm so hungry..." Velvet came to my rescue with some dried apricots!

Costumes ready to go



Grace Cherry, Velvet Sway and Oopsy Daisy backstage before the gown parade



Tech run went over time which led to some of us having a less than perfect run through but it was great to jump onto the Theatre Royal stage again, it really is a gorgeous space to perform in, there's something wonderful about standing in wings of heavy black velvet before you perform.

The theatre Royal from the stage!

Tiger Lilly was my hair and make up go to gal, we did a quick test prior to the competition and determined on a style that could evolve during the night. We did really well until my unique which required a lot of glue and glitter around my eyes,  after which it was hard to recover a flawless finish for the presentations at the end of the night!

Tiger Lilly

The actual competition started at 7pm, Missy de Meanour performed a classic act before making her way to the judging table. Then, the gown parade, picture ten nervous girls waiting side of stage for about 15 minutes. I attacked my walk, my gown was a little bit creased so whenever I stopped I would pick up the hem to show my foot or twist the skirt to make it less obvious.
The night was on, three hours of running from stage to room to the back up dancers room and back to the stage.
Classic was next, I already had my pasties on, so it was easy enough to change, yell a quick "chookas!!" to the other girls and then stride out onto the stage, a little nervous at first as I start with a slow walk, but then as the energy picked up I felt myself sinking into character, becoming bolder, remembering that really, it's just another show.
I finished with a fabulously deep back bend tassel twirl at the edge of the stage and flashed a brilliant grin to the audience.

Classic act

Neo was next, I enlisted my friend Jo to dress as a drag king and waltz me around the stage as we did a take off of Strictly ballroom. Tiger Lily swept my fringe up into a glitter strewn confection and painted my lips a frosty pink. For this act we were going back to the 80's!

With Jo aka Raoul de Silva before my neo act

We all had to run backstage and change for unique. Even though only five would get through you had to remain optimistic and be ready to go onstage. Bebe came backstage and drew the names in order of performance.

The five remaining finalists were: Velvet Sway, Lucy Sky Diamond, Miss BonnieVille Lulu L'Pearl and Grace Cherry.
A flurry of activity and then suddenly I was racing on to the darkened stage with my shrouded boys, Zeb and Dean. My tech run had been cut short so I was a little hesitant in my movement and looked down more than I normally would but my new head piece and Thai fingernails were something extra that I could play with and I relished the time I had on stage.

Photo by CezB photography

Photo by CezB Phtography

Finally I had to peel the glue off my face and do a 5 second dodgy make up retouch before returning to the stage for the presentation.

From L- R Grace Cherry, Oopsy Daisy, Lucy Sky Diamond, Velvet Sway and Miss Jaye backstage before presentation

I remember looking at the faces of the judges, I know I made eye contact with John X, Scarlett Jezebel and Missy de Meanour and to their credit they gave me no hint of what was to come!
I had hopes that I would make the top three but as someone who used to compete in gymnastics I was used to assuming that I had not carried off a routine to perfection and would therefore be lucky to place.
Miss Bonnie Ville standing behind me won the Miss Burlesque Tasmania Ambassador Award, Grace Cherry was then announced as the second runner up followed by Miss Bonnie Ville as first runner up.

Grace Cherry is announced as the Second Runner Up

 Bebe then announced my name and the next couple of minutes are lost to the screams of the audience and my fellow performers, I know someone was hugging me from behind and then I had to walk out to be crowned. Missy helped me when my crown would not stay on, saying she'd had the same problem last year!

Going into protection mode as Oopsy Daisy attacks me with hugs!

Missy adjusting my crown

I was crowned, sashed and handed a brown paper bag which contained a prize from one of the sponsors. My only regret was being unable to thank the audience, the judges and the other performers instead I stood there and smiled uncertainly, gestured towards the other girls and smiled some more!
Finally the curtain dropped and again I was engulfed by arms and cheers!!

With Jo backstage, Jo aka Raoul de Silva is my partner in my neo act!

After a quick pack up and drink with some of the crew I headed to Ivory Bar in Hobart for a celebratory drink, my crown was borrowed and then scarily, my foot was kissed.
With Great power comes great responsibility and apparently foot kissing. I see many manicures in my future.

I'll be updating the blog in the months leading up to the Miss Burlesque Grand Finals held in Melbourne on May 24 with photos, more of my vintage costumes and backstage gossip!
xx