Burlesque has taken off in the US. Women from all over the country in
cities so small that they barely even have a stage to perform on host
burlesque events weekly. Why has this form of entertainment resurfaced?
Why are women who could easily be your sister or your girlfriend or even a
mom taking it all off for screaming audiences filled with other women? This
form has enabled women to voice their opinions without words, to show the
world how sexy they are and at the same time start to believe it themselves,
besides that, it's fun, that's why!
I started performing classic burlesque routines in New York City in 1997
after choreographing and performing my first fan dance with a touring
theater company a few years before. Those fans sat on a shelf while my
ideas for other acts simmered and Dirty Martini was born. Since then, the
world of new burlesque grew up around me and my family of performers started
to grow. I used to know everyone in the country who performed burlesque and
now it's grown so large that new performers and troupes are so numerous that
even in my own city I can't keep track of them all. Two summers ago when I
performed with Cabaret New Burlesque at the Summer festival in Paris, I was
a witness to the first new burlesque show there and in London the art form
has been thriving with performers for more than three years.
Young women strive to define themselves among fashion magazines and
television selling the female body as a product as finite as Clinique
moisturizer. Burlesque is the new punk rock. It offers a way for women to
redefine themselves without the limits that society places. My fans often
write to me about their own transformations. They don't want to hate their
bodies anymore they want to flaunt what they were born with like I do.
Burlesque is akin to drag and I believe that drag defies gender. Some
people are crazy about building airplanes and some people need to dress up
and wear feathers. Isn't it a beautiful thing!
Other things aside from burlesque that inspire me are as follows:
Road trips, small and large theater and the humbling experience of ballet class in the morning. People who have harsh opinions and know how to use them. My family both genetic and chosen.
Music
This is a broad with an even broader taste in music. Listen to EastVillageRadio.com dammit.
Movies
Just saw Mafioso! It's brilliant. Oh my god, what about Aqua Teen Hunger Force? Wow. Blades of Glory is an inspirational film. I also like movies movies I'm in such as Underbelly, The Velvet Hammer burlesque documentary, Sell Out!, You'd be Prettier if you Smiled, Night of the Living Gay, Broad Daylight and Shortbus.
Television
It's a vice that I'm proud of. I like NYC public access and watching Match Game on the Gameshow Network. Watch This or That! Sundays at midnight on Channel 57 and Check out my friends at Gay Action News. I'm addicted to Turner Classic Movies. Cookin' Cheap, Simpsons, South Park, Space Ghost Coast to Coast, Six Feet Under and Project Runway are my favorites. My new favorite: Ninja Warrior
Books
I like to have time to read. I'm currently reading The Greatest Story Ever Sold. I have a bit of an erotica habit and I like books that I'm in such as Burlesque from Gaslight to Spotlight, Burlesque the New Bump and Grind, New Burlesque, and Sex and the City, Lisa Karezi's Fantasies and Velvet Hammer, the book.
Heroes
Jennie Lee,Tura Satana,Mae West, Satan's Angel, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Pina Baush, International Chrysis, Dixie Evans, Dee Milo, Luke Littel and Laura Herbert! Leigh Bowery, Flawless Sabrina, Vicky Lynn, Sigfried and Roy (they are the presidents of MY country) and my New York performance family. The list grows larger every day, I'm thankful to say.
About me: Here's a shortlist of where you can find me, "The best body in burlesque", named the "Sexpot Sophisticate" by New York Magazine. All shows are in the great city of New York unless otherwise stated. For more details check out my blog.
Sept. 24 TEASE-O-RAMA Roadshow Champagne mixer W Hotel Seattle 8:30 - 10
Sept. 26 Tease-o-rama Roadshow Triple Door
Sept. 27 Tease-o-rama Roadshow Portland, OR @ The Bossanova
Sept. 29 Tease-o-rama Roadshow Ashland, OR @ The Armory
Oct. 2 Tease-o-rama Main Event San Francisco, CA: Meet and Mingle @ The Rickshaw Stop
Oct. 3 Tease-o-rama Main event San Francisco, CA: MAIN EVENT @ Bimbo's 365 Club
Oct. 4 Tease-o-rama This is my big show in SF San Francisco, CA: MAIN EVENT @ Bimbo's 365 Club
Oct. 5 Tease-o-rama El Cerrito: Thrillville Movie Night @ The El Cerrito Speakeasy
Oct. 9 The Last Weekly Starshine Burlesque....Boo hoooooo! Lucky Chengs
Oct. 17 Slipper Room 167 Orchard St. 10:30 $5
Oct.12 Mike Gilbride's fabulous birthday soiree The Park 10th Ave @ 17th 6 -11pm
November Brings Madonna Madness at The Zipper! Weimar Cabaret at Joes Pub! Kate Valentine's new Friday night Show at Duane Park! My Goddamned Birthday!!!!
Who I'd like to meet: People who really mean it. Creative and loving people and my gorgeous NY performance family. I'll be in Budapest, Holland, and Seattle USA for the months of August and September so come look me up. Check my blog for up to the minute details.
Hello gorgeous! It was great to see *BOB* in Birmingham, I think she's changed a few lives here! It made me think of you lots and I need to formulate a plan to get my butt back over to NYC to see you. Hope you are well, lot of love, Leyla. xx
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