Texas Burlesque Festival 2010: The Showdown
By: Coco Lectric Photos: Courtesy of Lynn Raridon
In its third year, the Texas Burlesque Festival brings you a show like none other with legends featured in the Burlesque Hall of Fame and over sixty performers from all over the US and Canada. This event kicks off on Thursday, April 22 in an evening dedicated to novelty. “Nouveau Nuit,” offers debut performances by seasoned performers and showcases new burlesque talent. The “Queen of the Blazing Bustier,” Pyra Sutra makes a feature performance. Don’t miss a Swarovsky studded evening of legends and headliners on Friday night with burlesque legend and master burlesque instructor, Satan’s Angel; long time burlesque producer, performer, magician and author, Dusty Summers; author and burlesque instructor Vivienne Vavoom; Miss Exotic World 2005 runner up, Torchy Taboo; former Miss Nude Universe, Tiffany Carter, and Miss Exotic World award winner, Indigo Blue. Saturday night undoubtedly brings you the hottest striptease competition Texas has ever seen. Contestants from all over the world don their pasties and passion for a chance at winning Best Solo, Best Tease, Best Ensemble, Best Costume, or Most Original. The reigning Queen of Burlesque, Canada, and award winning aerialist, Roxi D’Lite brings the event to a D’Liteful culmination with her feature performance. Jim Rose will host Friday and Saturday night.
Long time Austin producer and performer, Lynn Raridon producer of the Texas Burlesque Festival, is proud to be a part of such a uniquely Austin event. Former soundstage, The Independent, will host the event all three nights. While this venue has not traditionally been home to such sophisticated, cheeky talent, it has undergone drastic changes to accommodate burlesque and aerial performances. “It has a really good vibe for immediate feedback and rousing raucous response,” says Raridon. Performing in a downtown club is the answer to keeping the Texas Burlesque Festival “progressive and comfortable for audiences.” Raridon states that the festival “will always be in Austin” and that the venue will be unique from other festivals with an Austin-casual artistic freshness; she doesn’t want burlesque to become “this homogenized theatrical art.”
Nouveau Nuit is new for the festival; Raridon is excited about encouraging new artists and the evolution of burlesque and feels that “if we don’t provide a venue to nurture new pieces and new performers, burlesque could go stagnant.”
In addition to the lovely legends of Friday night hometown sweethearts from the Lollibombs and the Jigglewatts will perform. Dallas girls, Athena Fatale, Courtney Crave and Vivienne Vermouth will also grace the stage. Texas welcomes Lydia D. Carllo and Honey B. Hind from Canada and Orchid Mei of Denver, just to name a few.
Saturday night’s ultimate Texas showdown brings famed performers from all over the world out of the woodwork: Renea Le Roux and Gia Nova, Atlanta; Red Hot Annie and Viva La Muerte, Chicago; Katherine Lashe, Avondale Estates, Georgia; Talloolah Love, Decatur, Georgia; Flame Cynders, San Francisco; Hottie McNaughty, Lake Stevens, Washington; and Tomahawk Tassels, Minneapolis. Local performers include: La Divina, Ginger Valentine, Black Mariah, Honey Cocoa Bordeaux, and the Lollibombs, Dallas; and Ruby Joule, Coco Lectric, The Mystic, Carousel Cabaret, Treats in Tights, Austin. Kitty Kitty Bang Bang reunites for a special performance Saturday evening, as well.
Texas Burlesque Festival 2010, April 22-25. The Independent, Austin, TX. General admission $15, $25 seat. www.TexasBurlesqueFest.com