Frankie Tease Blog

Someone once said 'there are two types of performers: presentation and cathartic'. Those performers who see burlesque as a fashion show will fit more in the category of presentation. No matter how the audience reacts, the presentation performer will continue with their act without the ability to interact. And then there are cathartic performers. They will follow a routine but always leave a possibility open for elevating the intensity of their routine by taking advantage of pique audience interaction moments. Over the years I've been involved in so many different club, social events, presentations, conventions, shows, and festivities, ranging in tone from formal, to big band swing, to bawdy burlesque show, to wedding. When I think about all the performers I've seen, which sometimes come back in bits as memories tend to do, some rise above all the others. The talent rises above, but also so do the cathartic performers. Those who interacted with their audiences and made a

Photo by tripsavy.com As some of you might have heard there are record numbers participating in a protest movement called Occupy Wall Street. I've written a small synopsis and it is a bit lengthy but pretty interesting, and you should go ahead and read it so you can explain it to your neighbor, because this is going to be very large news.

Everyone can agree on one single point of inspiration for the resurgence of Burlesque in America: high profile 'go-to' girl:  Dita Von Teese  has done charities and galas alike all over the world, bringing the high glamour of vintage mid-century strip-tease burlesque into the spotlight of today. Beginning as a sexy fetish film model, and gaining notoriety when she married and then divorced famed rocker  Marilyn Manson ,  Dita  is now recognizable by her one-word name, after years of groundbreaking as the leading 'Strip Tease' artist of this time. After fund-raising pin-up campaigns for  P.E.T.A.,  and launching her own fragrance, Dita has a new project and tour she is revealing that is the first of its kind.Though  Dita Von Teese  is slated to appear September 10th at  Museum of Contemporary Art  in San Diego, it appears a two set show will not be the full variety show that has graced parts of the U.S in July and August 2011, to sold-out crowds.The ultra-glamorous m

Seattle has long been a point of interest when it comes to the art form of American burlesque. After all, the Vaudeville to burlesque transition practically took place in Washington with the birth of Gypsy Rose Lee (1911-2011 R.I.P.), who spoke to and teased her fans while she disrobed on stage. The contemporary revival took hold pretty strong in Seattle due to the persistence and excellence of  Miss Indigo Blue . As a performer, she includes all types of skills including: world class tasseling, comedy, theatrics, exotic dance and firey choreography. She has performed all over the world, and her bio can be seen on her website for those looking to be truly impressed [ http://www.academyofburlesque.com/faculty.html ].  Miss Indigo Blue  is also the Executive Director, Co-Curator, and Team Relations Chair of the world annual Seattle festival  " Burly Con " . This festival is the only one of its kind and brings expertise, training and discussion of all things related to burle

'Tournee'  or ' On Tour'  which was released world wide in 2010 is soon being released on DVD [release date unknown]. This film is heralded by serious burlesque fans all over the world, this time mainly for the massive underground current working burlesque stage stars that are in it. The Director is  Mathieu Amalric , and the stars are  Miranda Colclasure  (Mimi Le Meaux),  Suzanne Ramsey  (Kitten on the Keys),  Dirty Martini  (as Linda Marraccini), Julie Atlas Muz (as Julie Ann Muz), Angela de Lorenzo (as Evie Lovelle)  to name a few.   [ http://imdb.com] .  While 2010 was the year of the major mainstream studio release film " Burlesque ",  Tournee'  (also a 2010 release) was a  Cannes Film Festival  and underground sensation that will be cherished by those in the strip-tease industry and rabid burlesque genre fans world wide.  The stars who've made it around the U.S. who I have seen personally from this roster include:  Dirty Martini  at

While there is no  one  expert about Burlesque,  Jo Weldon aka 'Jo Boobs'  has been a massive contributor as the head mistress of the  New York School of Burlesque  which reigns as the world's most acknowledged, prolific, and prestigious school of this genre since 2003. Jo states on the school's website that  "Classes include movement, history, costuming, makeup, choreography, fitness, theatrical skill building, circus training, and confidence building"  [ http://www.schoolofburlesque.com/ ]. Jo has been an intrinsic member of the Miss Exotic World pageant (annually in Las Vegas), as well as running the New York school. This forerunner has an amazing online handbook and a full in-print burlesque handbook available. You can purchase your print copy online via  Harper Collins  directly, or visit her site for the online edition on the  School of Burlesque website . The book's release date was over a year ago, June of 2010, but this is a book that is s

After three years of producing burlesque shows in various venues and bar rooms here in Portland Oregon, I still have never seen a cohesive unbiased list of venues that encourage and house burlesque. Here is to you, the 'burlesque show goer'. Save time and save my  handy dandy where to see shows list , and pick which is best based upon your party needs. Bachellorette party, date, birthday party, whatever, here is a list to help you sort out the expanding Portland options for burlesque shows. Photos will be added to this article of each venue later, so check back.I have included venues that have hosted shows over a year, or new clubs that have just opened with burlesque on their menu. I have placed the venues producing the most shows with the  largest capacity at the top of the list, and those with the longest history  are also up top. Sorry if any pertinent venues were omitted from this list. That's easy to fix just email me a note via  http://missfrankietease.com  an

While there is no  one  expert about Burlesque,  Jo Weldon aka 'Jo Boobs'  has been a massive contributor as the head mistress of the  New York School of Burlesque  which reigns as the world's most acknowledged, prolific, and prestigious school of this genre since 2003. Jo states on the school's website that  "Classes include movement, history, costuming, makeup, choreography, fitness, theatrical skill building, circus training, and confidence building"  [ http://www.schoolofburlesque.com/ ]. Jo has been an intrinsic member of the Miss Exotic World pageant (annually in Las Vegas), as well as running the New York school. This forerunner has an amazing online handbook and a full in-print burlesque handbook available. You can purchase your print copy online via  Harper Collins  directly, or visit her site for the online edition on the  School of Burlesque website . The book's release date was over a year ago, June of 2010, but this is a book that

There is a new confidence in the world of the burlesque revival. The annual Burlesque Hall of Fame which  took place June 2-5th in Las Vegas, and the Miss Exotic World which took place the same weekend in Las Vegas show no signs of slowing down. There are at least four movies that involve burlesque as a topic in post-production or theaters right now, and we can all agree this genre isn't going anywhere. But more than this, the first major-hitting burlesque 'agency' has just expanded from production and booking to instruction.  The worlds' first Burlesque Entertainment agency,  The Bijou Group  was formed in 2010 and is growing strong. The agency carries the most highly recognized artists in burlesque entertainment today with the likes of: Catherine D'Lish ( Miss Exotic World '94 and '92 coach to Dita Von Teese ), Dirty Martini (Tournee', Tease-O-Rama, Vogue Curvy) and Roxy D'Lite ( Miss Exotic World 2010 ) to name a few. This power-pac

I was wondering what every day beauty tip I could write about for the upcoming July fourth holiday weekend, and then I remembered the old argument I have about oils versus talcs. Little did I know with a small amount of research that it would turn up kind of an important fashion decision. Let me explain. When i lived in Pasadena and worked at a horse ranch in the La Canada hills, it was my first time encountering mountain scorching heat. Being around the horse riders I began using talc powder to keep the moister inside of riding boots to a minimum during major heat waves. We are pretty fortunate to be blessed with moderate weather here in the Pacific Northwest, but a few months out of the year it can get pretty hot. If 2011's July fourth is a scorcher, here is a few beauty tips I recommend for anti-chafing. Sometimes people think only the heavy-set has to deal with chafing, but that's not necessarily true. The combination of perspiration and rubbing skin can happen in

Shanghai Pearl by POC Photo One of the most impressive performers I have ever seen once came on stage in a gorilla suit, and high heels (as seen on America's Got Talent ). By the time she took that suit off she was in a bikini eating a banana. Who could I be talking about? None other than jet- setting, world class international burlesque instructor, performer, and costume-maker extraordinaire: The Shanghai Pearl . Below is the interview I conducted by chat, long-distance, with this amazing individual, June 27, 2011. FT: Where are you originally from? SP: I was born in Taipei, Taiwan. FT: What year did you come to U.S., was it first Seattle? SP: I came to this country with my mom when I was three, and grew up in Arizona. I've lived in Seattle for almost nine years now. FT: What year did you begin performing burlesque , and what or who was your inspiration? SP: I graduated from Miss Indigo Blue's academy of Burlesque in 2006. Before that I was a p