Category: <span>Guest Blogs</span>

Category: Guest Blogs

Confessions of a Baby(ish) Burlesquer: Chapter 1 – History

Just Ducky Seattle, WA -cue dramatic music- Dialogue- “The name’s Ducky, Just Ducky”  -sip suggestively on a martini –  END SCENE Ok, but let’s be real here, everyone calls me Ducky. And if you have met me suggestive is probably not one of the top things you would call me. Quirky? Yes. Silly? Huge yes. Bubbly? Ya. And honestly, that’s fine by me (we will revisit this in a later …

Welcome Dee Milo!

BurlyCon is proud to announce Dee Milo as our second Guest of Honor and Living Legend for BurlyCon X. Dee Milo, “The Venus of Dance”, got her start in burlesque in 1949 in New Orleans and became a headliner performing nationally and internationally. She is known for her signature act “Sentimental Journey” where she undresses and then redresses in the routine. During her career Dee Milo toured with the USO; …

International Burlesque Artists on Women’s Day

“Women in the Changing World of Work: Planet 50-50 by 2030” is the theme for the 2017 International Women’s Day (IWD) which falls on March 8th. While the first National Woman’s Day was observed in the United States on February 28 in honor of the “1908 garment workers’ strike in New York, where women protested against working conditions” the first International Women’s Day was observed in 1911. The UN marks …

Five Truths for Artists Working in Times of Despair

Based on remarks given at the closing ceremonies of BurlyCon 2016 By Lillith Grey ONE There have always been entertainers in times of war. There have always been artists in times of crisis. Even in the depths of despair, art survives. We saw theatre, poetry, music, and comedy in concentration and internment camps. We saw films, television, music and performance art throughout the Vietnam war. We saw drag, burlesque, theatre …

#SeaBQ Community Participates in Its 10th Seattle Pride Parade

by Vixen Valentine For the 10th year in a row the Seattle Burlesque Community will be participating in the Seattle Pride Parade on Sunday, June 26th. Planning is already underway as decorations and a float are currently being constructed. A few of the Seattle Pride Parade Committee members were able to give us some insight on what is in the works for this year’s’ parade! What was the process for …

Guest Post: Stretches to Get Ready for BurlyCon 2015

Written by BurlyCon board member Kristina Nekyia The Five Most Important Stretches for the Traveling Performer If you are hopping on a plane or planning a long drive to get to BurlyCon next week it is terribly important to take care of your body so that you can make the most of all those amazing dance and movement classes! Hydrate, eat good food, get some sleep, and do some stretching. …

Guest Post: Penny Starr Jr. – This One Time at BurlyCon

Written by Penny Starr Jr.  I’ve had the pleasure of being an instructor several times at BurlyCon, as well as an attendee. You get on the plane to BurlyCon and you look at the class guide, mostly to block off your own classes—what do you need to prepare, where do need to go, how much time do you have between teaching gigs—and then you see it. That class that you …

Guest Post: Otaymah Bonds on Race and Burlesque

Written by Otaymah Bonds Otaymah Bonds is a second-generation burlesque performer of color hailing from Detroit. She shared her story with us here, and will be teaching a class titled, “History of Performers of Color in Burlesque” at BurlyCon 2015. My journey into the magical land of all things glittery and burlesque has been tumultuous to say the least. I have been dancing and performing for over 20 years. Before …

2015 Mermaid Parade – Guest Article by Heather Whatever

My wig didn’t fit in the cab. That’s the beginning of how my time at the 2015 Mermaid Parade began as I rushed towards Surf Avenue and West 21st street in Coney Island for what would be my fifth parade, and my first experience on the judges’ stand, thanks to some encouragement from friends who insisted it was the best way to experience it. I think they might have been …

Guest Post: Jet Noir on Human Rights, Burlesque, and Sex Work

Written by Jet Noir Editor’s note: This article was originally posted on Jet Noir’s excellent blog, Jet Set Weekly. The post was written after Jet was inspired by a panel discussion on sex work and burlesque at BurlyCon 2014. The term sex worker once confused my literal mind. I understood it to mean someone that was paid for sexual encounters (be they virtual via phone/internet or actual). When I heard …