Star Wars Burlesque!

Awesome Stars Wars themed burlesque from the Devil's Playground on Jan 9. Featuring Jabba the Hut, Princess Leia, C3PO, Boba Fett, Darth Vader and a Storm Trooper!
Star Wars Burlesque we will be repeatimg the show March 13 2010 in Los Angeles.

Honey and Spice: Sensual and Fierce Burlesque

Looking to get started in burlesque? If you want to give it a shot in the privacy of your own home, Joe Weldon's Honey and Spice: Sensual and Fierce Burlesque instructional DVD might just be what you're looking for!

Jo Weldon aptly describes burlesque as a "sophisticated and theatrical art with a long history," and it's a history that will go well into the future, in many forms. Anyone planning on a Broadway musical career should learn what Jo has to teach in this DVD, because sooner or later, they'll need to know. One has only to see the late great Bob Fosse's choreography ("Cabaret," etc.) to know what many of his ideas were based on...burlesque!

Jo covers many subjects in this DVD, and teaches 2 routines. The first is "Honey," which is smooth and sensual with a feather boa, the 2nd is "Spice," which is faster and raunchier because it includes the classic "bump and grind" moves. Both are demonstrated and broken down step by step for easy absorption, and are simple to learn. It's the style that takes practice, in this "art of concealing and revealing."

Jo among her many credits is founder of the New York School of Burlesque. The music used is terrific and very authentic, and is drummer and bandleader Ronnie Magri's Shim Sham Revue- Music of New Orleans Burlesque Shows of the 30's, 40's & 50's

There is a Warm-Up section, and the "Extras" are excellent, and are on costuming. Stockings (runs are O.K., but the seams better be straight!), corsets, and those special little tassels. You'll learn how to glue `em and move `em. They are demonstrated on a bra, but of course are supposed to be applied to your skin. These days we are used to seeing actresses on the screen "in the buff" and it is so boring. Jo does much more just taking off a single glove.

This video is simply fantastic! Jo is the perfect teacher- wise, gentle, and patient. These combinations are a blast to do and really make you feel sexy and sassy. I highly recommend this video for anyone interested in the world of burlesque, stripping and sexual confidence.

Promo Video:


It's only $14.99 on Amazon at the moment, get your Honey and Spice: Sensual and Fierce Burlesque instructional DVD here!

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.”