Burlesque Lessons for Army Wives

We received this email from a reader and cabaret performer Lo Kennedy:

"...I am a cabaret performer who has done most of my work at sea! My mom just sent me this NY Times link to a short video about a soldier's wife using her burlesque skills to bring a little joy and pizazz into the worlds of other women who have hubbies in combat. I thought you might enjoy..."

Well we did enjoy it, and we'd like to share it with our readers.
Check it out for yourself here: Lily Burana teaches burlesque to other military wives as a way to help them cope with the deployment of their husbands.

Photo by Nicole Bengiveno, NYT.

Dita: Stripteese Flipbooks Out Now!

Famed photographer Sheryl Nields brings burlesque superstar Dita Von Teese to life in a series of flip books that capture her most intimate performances.

A perfect collectible book for fans of Dita, classic burlesque devotees, or for anyone who loves a playful and beautifully packaged book, Dita: Stripteese is an exquisite visual tribute to this one-of-a-kind performer.

Featuring three of her most beloved dances: Martini Glass Show, Bird of Paradise Show and the Classic Striptease.

Checkout this hot little preview video:


Dita: Stripteese Available Now

"She radiates old Hollywood glamour....With her raven hair, exciting body, engaging face and up-for-anything demeanor, Dita is a Bettie Page for our time." (Playboy )

"Just when you thought all was lost, along comes burlesque superheroine Dita Von Teese, a curvaceous, alabaster-skinned.immaculately coiffed stripper with a fondness for retro fashions and the attention to detail to do it right. Dita is giving burlesque a sweetly seductive second life and.more than a touch of class." (Vanity Fair )

"What made her such a compelling front-row presence was her knack for dressing head to toe in the work of the designer showing.but never once compromising her unique Bettie Page look. It was a magical trick... Become a brand unto yourself. Know your signatures and stay true to them." (Vogue )

"The entrancing pocket Venus Dita Von Teese, the queen of the burlesque revival, she of the Vargas Girl looks and the Gibson-girl figure. Dita's old-fashioned act conjures images of Gypsy Rose Lee, another legendary strip-teaser known for dressing up beautifully as she was for undressing." (Vogue )

Dolphina's Cardio Burlesque Goddess Workout

Time to add some Valentine’s sizzle to your shimmy? Dolphina has the workout for you.

In Cardio Burlesque - the latest in the Goddess Workout series, Dolphina teaches cabaret-style moves that will sculpt and define your entire body.

A West Coast belly-dancer by training, Dolphina began performing burlesque at a yearlong residency at the Viper Room in Hollywood with the original Pussycat Dolls. She decided to turn her act into a workout.

“You’ll be amazed how the shimmy can get your heart rate up, burn calories and shake off those pounds,” said Dolphina during a phone interview from Marina Del Rey, Calif. “Sculpting, toning and lengthening in a feminine way. Much like Pilates, you keep your curves.”

The 45-minute workout burns 400 calories, starting slowly and building into a full cardiothumping exercise that requires a lot of attitude.

In “Beyond Basics Bellydance,” Dolphina offers a total body workout. One move called “snake arms” requires you to alternately roll each shoulder, elbow and wrist making a wave motion that mimics the movement of a serpent. Your biceps really start to burn. If done properly, you can target that little tricep area,” Dolphina explained. “After doing the workout three times a week for three weeks, there’s something magic that happens, and it’s more than just the technique,” she said. “It’s the feeling of letting go, feeling free and liberated.”

The third week should also bring the dawn of definition, as your waist begins to slim.

“It’s nice to have these moves in your back pocket,” Dolphina said. “It gives you confidence.”

Dita Von Teese Launches Official Ebay Store

Update 30 December: Looks like Dita has not relisted any more items yet, I'm sure she will again, it may just be a matter of time.

Dita Von Teese has announced her own official Ebay Store, via twitter:
We just started an official Ebay store for those who prefer Paypal, ...More to come soon.

I've created this custom widget to display all of the items available below, it will cycle through the items, or you can use the arrows to go through them at your own pace.



Some unique items available at the moment include a copy of , and an autographed copy of Dita's new "Strip Teese" flip book.

Good Luck!

How The Pinch Stole Xmas

After a sold-out final weekend of "Filthy Lucre: A Burlesque Christmas Carol" (starring Nasty Canasta, "Perhaps the loveliest and certainly the nudest Scrooge in history" -The New York Times), Pinchbottom offers one last chance to spend the goddamn holidays in naked style with another risque retelling of a classic tale, "How The Pinch Stole Xmas".

When Nasty Canasta takes charge of the Holiday Pageant, she decides to celebrate with nudity, using burlesque stars for sexy tributes to the season. But the grinch-like (but legally distinct) "Pinch" (Jonny Porkpie) wants to keep Xmas clean and pure as the virgin snow, and so dresses up as Burlesque Santa and sets out to kidnap each and every performer in Nasty's show. Will The Pinch have a change of heart in time to save Nasty's pageant? Or will Xmas remain forever G-rated? A stocking-stuffer that takes on the holidays as only Pinchbottom can; from behind, "How the Pinch Stole Xmas" is holiday treat full of goodies for all the bad boys and girls.

Returning for its 3rd year, "How The Pinch Stole Xmas" is the centerpiece of the bump-and-grind feast that is the 2009 Burlesque Blitz, appearing right smack dab in the middle of the 5-day extravaganza. The 2009 edition stars Nasty Canasta and Jonny Porkpie, with Julie Atlas Muz, Little Brooklyn, Legs Malone, Mat "Sealboy" Fraser, Sapphire Jones, and promises to be yet another night of holiday fun "Not for the family or faint of heart"

Dates: Monday, December 28 at 10:30pm
Venue: The Kraine Theater
Address: 85 East 4th Street, Manhattan
Ticket Info: http://www.pinchbottom.com/tickets/

Gifts and Garters Texas Xmas Burlesque

If you’re looking for the best of Texas (and NOLA) burlesque, as well as an opportunity to check off some of the names on your holiday shopping list, then a trip to Dallas is in order for this weekend. Bewitching Burlesque and Through the Looking Glass photography will present Gifts & Garters on Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Excuse Cafe in Dallas.

The show’s headliner, Perle Noire, was recently crowned the “Queen of Burlesque” at the New Orleans Burlesque Festival held this past September. Other performers for Saturday night include: The Jigglewatts (Ruby Joule & CoCo Lectric from Austin), Miss Malicious, Erin Go Braughless, Angi B. Lovely, Rose Darling, Vivienne Vermuth, Honey CoCo Bordeauxx, Glam'Amour, Pixie O'Kneel, Scarlett Switches, Vinny Velour, Bubbles Von BonBon and Jai'L Bait. The lovely Ginger Valentine and Miss Malicious will share emcee duties.

Doors open at 6 p.m., and attendees will have a chance to shop with local vendors selling handmade and vintage wares, including: Addicted Handmade Hooligans, Dakota Darling, Evening Eclipse, Fastenating Things, Jupiter Moon 3, MiaMaria Design, Miss Amy's Stitch and Kitsch, Pin Curl Magazine, Poisoned Creations, Tara to the T, Texas Tarts and Through the Looking Glass.

The evening will also feature a toy drive for Toys for Tots (attendees who bring a new, unwrapped toy will receive $5 off the $20 ticket price at the door. The first 25 ladies who donate a toy will receive a gift bag from the show’s vendors) and nationally known model and performer Angela Ryan signing autographs.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.giftsandgarters.eventbrite.com

Mode Merr Burlesque Holiday Spectacular

On Sunday December 6TH, The Mode Merr Holiday Spectacular featuring Dirty Dolls Lingerie will return to NYC for a fashion show and shopping boutique extravaganza, perfect for your holiday gift list!

Witness the premiere of designer ANGELA ZAMPELL’S newest seasonal collection at LE POISSON ROUGE, with a show that promises to be bigger and better then ever with the exciting inclusion of Dirty Dolls Lingerie! This new lingerie line offers sexy skivvies the likes of which you have never seen before, promising super sexy support for all shapes and sizes!

The Holiday Spectacular merges a runway fashion show, live music, a full shopping boutique and cavalcade of performances from NYC’s A-List burlesque bombshells. This will be one sizzling seasonal Sunday afternoon you won’t want to miss. Swanky LE POISSON ROUGE serves as the perfect venue for this event with a spectacular stage and extra large shopping area, perfect to hold all those pencil skirts, sexy suits, curve clinging dresses, bust enhancing brassieres, lacy panties, shape shifting underpinnings and oh so much more! Make your holiday wish list early and then get your tickets to this event!

This years fashion spectacular will expand to new heights with live music from THE FISHERMANS XYLOPHONIC ORHESTRA plus performances from the REIGNING QUEEN OF BURLESQUE ANGIE PONTANI, THE WORLD FAMOUS BOB, DIRTY MARTINI, HELEN PONTANI, MELODY SWEETS, DELIRIUM TREMENS, THE LADY AYE and THE WORLD FAMOUS PONTANI SISTERS. Brooklyn's own, DJ MIKEY PALMS will man the turntable to provide the perfect post show shopping soundtrack!