****WARNING: This post contains ladies in pasties and other things that cover the bare minimum. If this type of material makes you squeamish and/or is not appropriate for your workplace, I would suggest moving onto another post and/or checking this post out in the confines of your own house. For everyone else, ENJOY!****
I guess I will preface this post a little by letting you know that burlesque is not dead. In fact, it is very much alive and going through quite the revival. And we’re not talking about the fake burlesque that Hollywood and Las Vegas is selling. I’m talking about good ol’ 1940s inspired teases, where tease is actually put back into the word striptease and these women do it with all the flair of a successful vaudevillian dancer. While you have the big names like Dita VonTeese, you have other known celebrities in the burlesque world, such as Jo Boobs – a woman that I got to experience in the flesh in Dallas.
One of my best friends, Jolie Ampère Goodnight, invited me to see her burlesque show with the Jigglewatts here in Austin, Texas on Thursday, December 2, and then drive up with her to the Lakewood Theatre in Dallas, Texas the next day to see her perform again for the Festivus Follies. I was stoked needless to say and threw together my camera and equipment to make the best of my good luck. I *really* want to be involved in photography in the burlesque scene. These women are fantastic.
The first show in Austin was hosted by Bachelor Pad’s Java. Jolie is one of the amazing ladies making up the well known Jigglewatts and the show did not disappoint. The girls were spot on and you cannot help but be captivated by the graceful and flirtatious manner that these women have. I finished the night off with a few good friends and a few good beers before heading home to pack. It was going to be a long day on Friday.
While I normally like to take pictures in the car during road trips, I regret to inform you that the drive from Austin to Dallas is rather ugly and boring. However, the trip did have some redeeming factors. Java was stuck in the car with two chatty girls (Jolie and I) all the way up to Dallas. Not only was he charming but a fantastic passenger. We even took a pit stop in Belton, Texas to give Java a taste of *real* Texas BBQ. We ended up at Schoepf’s BBQ, a place that has been recommended by Texas Monthly and oh boy, they did not disappoint. Their BBQ sauce is probably one of my favorites to date!
We arrived in Dallas just in time to throw on some clothes and head to the theatre thanks to the Dallas traffic. Not only did we think we were going to die of aggressive drivers but the amount of cars on the highways was insanity!
I feel as though I am so incredibly lucky to have this experience. For the first time in my life I got to have the pre-show jitters. There was a faint buzzing in the air of excitement as the people outside patiently and anxiously awaited the show.
The show was fantastic and also raised an amazing $350 to a local charity. Festivus Follies was a holiday themed show and you got to experience everything from Hanukkah and The Nutcracker pieces to Jo Boobs dancing to Spinal Tap’s “Christmas with the Devil”. I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves.
At the afterparty I had to keep asking myself, “Is this my life?” Not only am I doing what I love but the whole situation was rather surreal. I was drinking champagne with some of the big names in burlesque while hearing girls discuss pasties and breast implants with a full examination of the scars involved. Half naked girls where hanging from the ceiling practicing their aerial acrobatics and in a giggle fit one of the dancers decided to give a tutorial on how to booty dance – explaining which muscles to move and all.
Jolie and I went back to the hotel at 5am exhausted and happy. I honestly could not have asked for a better time.
I will leave you with a few conversations I had the pleasure to overhear:
Man: She left her pasties in Austin and is sad about it. They were one of her favorite pairs!
Girl 1: Uh oh! Angi has lost her dreidel!
Girl 2: How do you lose as 12 ft dreidel?!
Me: That is a really nice tie!
Man MC for another burlesque troop: I added the rhinestones myself!
And are some more pictures to feast your eyes on!
I have always wanted to go to a burlesque show, looks like so much fun!
LOVE burlesque- great post!!! your photos here are amazing- you’ve really captured (or should i say “exposed” 😉 ) the enticement and showwomanship of good burlesque through their expressions, poses, movement, and props here. faves are the two indigo blue pix, the jo boobs pic (wow, the fans!), and the jolie pic. looks like your dream is becoming a reality! love it!
Wow, great shots! I love the name of the group.
@Ayngelina: They are a hoot (and kinda addicting)!
@Lorna: When Jo Boobs brought out those fans I was totally mesmerized! I never would have thought about using fans in that manner.
@Evan: Thank you! I was glowing with how they came out. I love the pictures dearly. The group has been around for a while and all the girls have electricity associated to their names. Super cute!
Yes you are one lucky chick 😉
I’ve always had a thing for vintage looking women. Something about the way they move… I would imagine that it is pretty dang awesome live.
Awesome shots as always…
@Nick: Oh I know! You should go to a show! They have them all over the US. I know the kids in NOLA if you want to make the drive. 😛
Awesome post, and fantastic pictures! I think it would be so fun to go to a burlesque show. Are they a bit more prevalent down south, or am I just not looking in the right places up north?
Oh, and I also wanted to add that I LOVE that they all sort of have different body types. It’s awesome to see that they’re curvy, and yet still considered so sexy!
@Amanda: Whereabouts north? I can probably find something for you! The girls travel all over so I’m sure there is something somewhere. And yes, the different body types is absolutely refreshing. There are women that would be considered overweight but own their bodies and come across empowered and sexy. I love it!
Fun! I saw a burlesque show for the first time last year in Melbourne – was great!
@Rebecca: Awesome! They really are so much fun!
I was so looking forward to this post after seeing all your tweets! I really only know of Dita von Teese and haven’t seen many adverts for burlesque shows in Melbourne…now that we’re on the road I’ll look out for them more because I’d love to go to one. Also love the name “Jigglewatts” =)
I see you got to see NYC’s own Jo Boobs in action! Burlesque is very popular here in New York. Looks like it’s thriving in Texas too!
@Andrea: You should talk to Rebecca! Apparently she is the lady who knows where to find them in Melbourne!
@Leslie: Very much thriving down here! Jo was incredibly sweet when we met her and my friend was tickled pink that she got to perform in the same show. There are certain cities it is pretty popular in and starting to catch up in others. The shows sell out all the time here in Austin (and the majority of the audience is female here vs. male in Dallas).
I am a fan of the scene in Seattle and Miss Indigo Blue is one of my favs! Great post!
funny thing is i am a guy and the thing that i am commenting about on this post is the bbq!
i lived in the temple area for a while and loved schoeps bbq in belton with its open pit and picinic tables with large jars of jalopenos, ordering sirloin on paper with side of beans and cornbread, i always brag about that place to people here in fla as that is how bbq is done
ps, really loved the rest of the article too!!
@Joshy: I had seen Indigo Blue previously but I have to say she is an absolute sweetheart after finally meeting her. GREAT stage presence.
@Greg: Spoken like a Texan my fine sir! lol! Java was freaking out over the fact that there was an entire “room for meat”.
I’ll have to add that to my list, I’m thinking about doing a road trip this spring to kick off my trip.
Everyone is road tripping this spring/summer. How exciting. Let me know when and I’ll see what I can find out for you. 🙂
Photos seem to have captured the show beautifully!! Think it’s something I’d like to check out — would be great to see one with you!
@Heather: Thank you! I was glowing with how they came out!
I will have to check this out next time I am back in Texas.
Looks awesome!
Wow this is so cool and it’s in TEXAS! I would think you need to go to Hollywood or Las Vegas for these type of shows. But I was wrong. Great pictures.. heheh fun tease too.
@Sarah: Oh yeah – there is a lot going on in Texas! We have our own sense of glamour as a Southern woman that adds to the burlesque community here.