Burlesque the movie

The one minute intro to this movie had about every cliché imaginable in it. Orphan girl leaves trailer park in the middle of nowhere, with nothing but a great voice and dreams of making it big. Arriving in LA it struck me odd that Ali ( played by Aguilera decked out in Cher´s old wig) walks around with a paper called Back Stage crossing out auditions she did not get, surely in this day and age, it´s all digitalized and Ali should have a Blackberry or smartphone, no?

Stumbling across a burlequeclub she gets mesmerized by the dancers on stage, tries to get a job at the club and have to fight for her right to perform, are you still awake?

There are a few problems with this movie, one is that it does not show what I would call burlesque. I have learned that the American west coast style of burlesque is more reliant on well choreographed (dance) routines. The emphasise is on sexy rather than funny. Even so, the problem with the show-scenes are that they are a big rip of from Fosse´s Cabaret mixed up with Pussy Cat Dolls and there is no burlesque in sight.

Aguilera is a great vocalist  but not much of an actor or dancer, she is saved by the surrounding cast but even so she stands out as very one-dimensional.  Having her sing in a swarovski embellished costume does not make it burlesque.  Cher who we know can act, is in this movie reduced to play  a troubled stagemama on the brink of bankruptcy running around with sequined garters and busteirs in every other scene. Same goes for talented actor Stanly Tucci. If good actors are bad in this movie maybe there is hope for Aguilera, who knows?

Funny how in a few scenes I though Cher was doing a song but if was Aguilera, it was not the voice I confused but the face, the make-up department clearly decided that it was not enough with Cher´s left over wigs but that Aguilera had to wear the same make up as the grand old dame as well.

It´s a classic underdog dance movie and it gives you a few laughs but if you think you´re gonna get burlesque forget it, the big finale looks more like a zumba fitness class than real bump and grind.

If you want a predictable feel-good movie, by all means go and see it, if you want burlesque look for tickets at nearby club instead.

Miss Von Teese

Many people ask me about my relation to Dita Von Teese. I don´t have one in so far that we have never met or worked together. From friends who have, I hear that she is professional, polite and private.  I think she is a beautiful woman making the most of her looks through makeup and styling. As for her shows it is difficult to tell from a film what kind of ambience she creates in a crowded room, but I believe she has a lot of starquality that she brings to the stage.

Dita´s success is due to hard work and luck I should think like with most successful people. She the only superstar of the burlesque scene that is known worldwide and outside the community. She is The poster girl that gives people an idea of what burlesque can be, and this I think is great.

Her vintage looks and performance style is not unique but she does what she does very well and has made a huge name for herself. And by doing that she has paved a path for many others to follow. I understand she hasn´t done anything within the burlesque community for years and I guess she does not have to with her stardom and lucrative contracts, though it would be interesting to met her to form an opinion based on personal experience and perhaps we could exchange tricks of the trade!

Gött mos

After a few weeks off from burlesque I have had the fortune to be working with Swedish Siren and her crew of talented burlesquers down in Gothenburg. The amiable cause of raising money for cancer-research made me want to tassel and strut my stuff for a beautiful crowd. The show was a smashing blend of burlesque, circus and musicians.

I did my Marie-Antoinette act which was apparently seen by actress Kirsten Dunst who was among the spectators, had there been more time we could have compared notes on our different take on the French daufine.  Anyhow it was pure pleasure to perform the act which apparently went down well, cream and all!

Swedish Siren and her club Tip The Velvet is a goldmine for good burlesqueshows and parties, if you haven´t been yet hurry up and go, get wild, sexy and completely smitten.   The Velvet vixens are building up to become Sweden’s hottest burlesquegroupe and my proteges. You can catch them performing burlesque in the streets at Göteborgskalaset in August.

Hopefully I will be back before long for more shows and perhaps workshops. I´ll keep you posted. Meanwhile enjoy these foxy ladies!

Burleskapader

Since I am producing the first Swedish burlesque festival I will write about it in this blog. I am very happy to announce the official dates will be the 4-5 of June. The 5th is the main night and will be held at Berns a most suitable venue for this kind of sport. Unfortunately the Swedish burlesque profiles the Knicker Kittens will be out of town these dates.

16 of April there will be a Teasernight at Teater Replica, Hantverkargatan 78 in Stockholm.

If you are in town come and check out the veterans of Swedish Burlesque Virginia Valentine artistic director of Hootchy Kootchy club, The Knicker Kittens Sweden’s first Burlesque troupe, Yours  Truly the queen of Swedish burlesque and Coco Belle and DJ Mustang from Clowns Without Borders and Moulin Noire.

It will be a kickass event!

For more information check out http://www.burleskapader.se or the event Burleskapader on Facebook.

exquisitely yours

Lily

Hootchy Kootchys Fab Lab

This coming weekend the popular Hootchy Kootchy Club will open it´s doors to a crazy Fab Lab with mad scientists and wicked experiments. HK has been my playground for as long as I have been doing burlesque, a great club with a faithful audience. However there is one problem with HK and that is the focus on international acts. I am all for having special guest that have a unique act or show to offer, what I don´t like is that a lot of what the HK is putting on stage can be found in Sweden. I want to work for an active burlesque/cabaret scene in Sweden and think it´s a shame that there aren´t more national talent on the major club in Sweden.

Anyways it´s still a very good club with fantastic acts so hope to see those of you how live in Stockholm there on saturday.