The Heart Of Glamour

Alas, the Vancouver International Burlesque Festival has come to a sweet and glittery end for this year, and all the hard work of the board, performers, and volunteers has been celebrated appropriately (wink…ahem).  For those of you who attended, we thank you and hope that you had the most wonderful time!  For those of you who did not, we offer our sympathies; not only did you miss out on three incredible nights of burlesque entertainment and artistry, but our members were spreading the sass full force over those stages every night, and we have allllllll the photos to prove it.  Hint: don’t go too far, there’s plenty to come, and you won’t want to miss it. I assure you!

Tomorrow, May 14th at Guilt and Co: Classic Tease

We’re not ready to get off our cloud of sparkles and feathers just yet though (or ever), so tomorrow, we’d like to take you on a journey to the heart of glamour. We’re celebrating the art of burlesque with an evening of tantalizing glitz, smooth moves, and good old bump and grind. Not only do we have Nicky Ninedoors, Burgundy Brixx, Voracious V, Carole Brunette, and August Wiled on the lineup to titillate your senses, but we are featuring the fabulous Lady Josephine!  If you think it couldn’t possibly get better than that, you’re wrong; the statuesque Ava Lure will be stage managing, and the witty bombshell Mama Kay will host you through the dream.

Doors at 7pm, show at 9pm, suggested donation is $10. A cast of 13 for only $10?! Don’t let this one get away from you.

Oh yes, we know why you’re here, we didn’t forget, so here is a collection of gorgeous photos from our last show at Guilt and Co!  Fringe was flying, tassels were twirling, and the incredibly talented Cameron Brown was there to capture it.  While you’re at it, you should definitely check out his blog too!  He may have some incredible shots from the festival on there..

Enjoy!!

Good morning

A lesson on getting dressed

Smooth

Ready for work

It’s always the glasses

Hold onto your socks

Slowly

Like magic

Come closer

Nope, not yet

When seeing double is a good thing…

Singing so smoothly

… a very good thing

In the groove

Yes, that’s a leopard jumpsuit

When the trumpet hits High C…!

as part of 

The 8th Vancouver International Burlesque Festival

As part of the Vancouver International Burlesque Festival, Kitty Nights West and Pandora & The Locksmiths have teamed up under the masterful producing of Burgundy Brixx to bring you on a racy romp through the golden age of burlesque! Featuring Burgundy Brixx as Gypsy Rose Lee, plus August Wiled, Ava Lure, Miss Fitt, Nicky Ninedoors, Ruthe Ordare, and Voracious V as the Minsky Rosebuds!
Thursday May 2nd
The Rio Theatre – Broadway @ Commercial Drive
Show at 9:20pm*
Tickets are $35 – one ticket price gains you admission to ALL THREE different productions taking place on Thursday May 2nd: GYPSY ROSE LEE AT MINSKY’S BURLESQUE, MOTOWN BURLESQUE, and PAINT AND PASTIES!
Feel free to come early and stay late!
OR save money by purchasing a weekend ticket bundle.
Tix available at Northern Tickets:
http://tinyurl.com/cbnh484

 

In honour of the fast approaching burlesque festivities, please enjoy some of the photos that were taken during the festival last year!
xox

If smiles were dollars… Photo by Cameron Brown

Gams! Photo by Cameron Brown.

Butterflies (Photo by Cameron Brown)

and Rainbows. Photo by Cameron Brown

Burgundy Brixx at The Vogue Theatre

The Purrrrfessor. Photo by Cameron Brown

Sometimes being at the back of the stage is where it’s at. Miss Kiss singing her heart out. Photo by WeDo Photo

Sometimes you just need a little colour in your life. Photo by Cameron Brown.

Whoooo dat? Photo by William Stewart

Voracious V at The Vogue. Photo by WIlliam Stewart

Guhhhhh. Photo by William Stewart

So. Much. Big. Hair. Photo by WeDo Photo

Ava Lure rockin a onesie. Yes. Photo by WeDo Photo

The best photo ever.

Big ol hair. Photo by Voodoo Bill

She’s As Modest As Can Be….

up next…

We are very excited about the Vancouver International Burlesque Festival! The board has been hard at work all year, but things are getting pretty intense now! Intense in the good kinda way, you know? Like when you feel you’re getting kinda werked and are like yeaaaaah… harder.

Anyhoo! The festival runs from May 2nd to May 4th, plus there is a wicked after party on the 5th at The Cellar. For reals, I’m going to be laughing my ass off all night. Or swooning  ;)  -You should come too!

after the festival…

Tuesday May 14th at Guilt & Co

 This coming month we are featuring the spectacular Lady Josephine! Burgundy Brixx, August Wiled, Nicky Ninedoors, Voracious V, and Carole Brunette round out the line up (uhhyeah they do), Ava Lure is our leggy stage manager for the evening and the night is hosted by the bombshell Mama Kay! Of course you’ll be treated to the musical stylings of The Locksmiths all night, so don’t miss out!
Doors 7 pm, show 9 pm, suggested donation is $10. Pretty good for a 13 person cast, right?
So mark it in your calendars, cuz sh*ts about to get real sparkly.

***

Now, where were we? Oh yes, dessert. Who says dessert can’t be good for you?
Please indulge in the photos that were taken by the talented Cameron Brown at our most recent show at Guilt. Isn’t his website just full of gorgeous, gorgeous photos? And his blog is pretty nifty, too! I get the feeling that you’ll be seeing lots more photos of his in the near future…
Enjoy!

Welcome to the show!

The traditional way we start the show- with prizes, balloons, and nudity, of course!

Check out that rear end suspension.

Let’s go!

Oh hi, Officer!

She’ll get your green

Hairography

She’s a blondshell

First she giveth…

Oh!

Ah!

Yay!

Oo!

The Fox

She’s bringing sexy back

Carole Brunette is this adorable pretty much all the time

Spin!

DING!

DINGDINGDING!

This Here Blog

up next…

60s Groove!

Tuesday April 9th, Show starts at 9 pm, Guilt & Co at 1 Alexander Street in Gastown. Suggested donation $10. Our regular monthly show! It’s a super fun night with cocktails and gorgeous food, a great atmosphere, and every month we prepare a different style of show for you!

We’ve been successfully running since September 2010, and since then there has been quite an evolution in our cast. Pandora has literally doubled in size, becoming what Ruthe Ordare refers to as an army of talent. We’ve all been really happy with how the show runs and the format we’ve come up with.
That being said…

Another evolution is approaching in the future. We have big plans. I’ve been plotting and budgeting and dreaming and scheming, and it’s going to happen. February 14th, 2014… Yep. Mark that in your calendar. You will want to be there.
In the meantime, if you have a friend who hasn’t been to our monthly show and isn’t terribly concerned because the monthly keeps happening… they should come out sometime. Sooner rather than later. Because evolution is inevitable, and change is good. And we want our audience to see our creative process when it comes to our productions. We don’t want you to miss out on how we’re getting where we’re going. We want you to continue to be a part of our history!

Speaking of history, fast approaching is the

8th Annual Vancouver International Burlesque Fest!

Burgundy Brixx has put together a really great production that we’re a part of on the Thursday night, and our members are all over the showcases on Friday and Saturday! It’s pretty sweet. I highly recommend getting a weekend pass. Highly recommend!

and now… for set 2 of photos from our most recent show at Guilt!
Photography by Rene Blais. Colour edits by myself. I was feeling experimental this morning.
Enjoy!

Oui, oui, oui!

up next…
Paris a Minuit!

On March 29 at The Rio Theater, join some of Vancouver’s finest burlesque performers with special guests for an evening of burlesque, dance, comedy, and circus with a French flare! Produced by Miss Fitt, the evening features the diverse burlesque talents of Melody Mangler, April O’Peel, Nicky Ninedoors, Voracious V, Ruthe Ordare, Connie Cahoots, Voodoo Pixie, and August Wiled, joined by superstar variety acts, including Luciterra, The Hot Pants, Ally ‘Oop, The Funky Yukinator, and accordionist Kathryn Peterson. Get dressed up in your most chic outfits, because there’s a Parisian Photo Booth at the event, too! Tickets in advance $15, door $20. Get advance tickets at Scout Boutique or through the title link.

60s Groove at Guilt & Company

on the 2nd Tuesday of every month, we put on a live music and burlesque extravaganza! This month, we’re groovin to the tune of the 60s. Featuring performances by Miss Fitt, Ruthe Ordare, Burgundy Brixx, Nicky Ninedoors, with help from August Wiled, and scintillating music by The Locksmiths.
Suggested donation $10. Show 9 pm. 1 Alexander St in Gastown.

Special announcements…

We’re very excited to announce that our very own Ruthe Ordare, Nicky Ninedoors, and Burgundy Brixx have been accepted into the Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekend in Las Vegas! Ruthe Ordare is competing in the Best Duo category with Villainy Loveless (You’ve seen her perform with us before, she’s rad, obvs), Nicky Ninedoors is performing with Brother Keys in the Movers, Shakers, and Innovators Showcase, and Burgundy Brixx is competing for the Queen of Burlesque Title! WOW! We are incredibly honoured. We were all planning on going anyways because BHoF is such an amazing pile of glittery inspiration and love, and now we get to be right up in that pile! Special shout out to Sweet Soul Burlesque who will also be performing in the Movers, Shakers, and Innovators Showcase, Melody Mangler and Lola Frost who are in the Duos competition, and Lola Frost who is also in the Queen competition! Go Vancouver!

And now… onto photos from our Get Away! production at Guilt & Co.
Photography for the evening by Rene Blais
Enjoy!

A Taste of Spring

catch the collective in…

Get Away with Pandora and The Lockmiths!

March 12th at Guilt & Co, 1 Alexander St in Gastown. Doors 7 pm, Show 9 pm. Suggested donation $10.

 

Retrospective

An ElectroSwing Club Canada spectacular at The Rickshaw, Friday March 22nd. Full show by Pandora and The Locksmiths, Dj’s, dancefloor, fashion show and more!

 

upcoming sister productions from P&L family members…

Guilt goes MOD with The Hot Pants!

Tomorrow! March 5th at Guilt & Co, 1 Alexander St in Gastown. Doors 7 pm, show 9 pm. Suggested donation $10. Wear your best 60s duds and get ready to be blown away by a whole troupe of dancers, plus guest hula hooper Nicky Ninedoors! Produced by Miss Fitt!

Paris A Minuit!

Friday, March 29th at The Rio Theatre. Doors 7 pm, Show 8 pm. Can’t be bothered to write the whole lineup, plus reading is good for you. World class promoter, that’s me! Just click the link and look at that amazing lineup!

and, of course, Kitty Nights every Sunday at The Biltmore! 

***

Now, maybe you were stuck inside all day and maybe you need a bit of a pick me up. Or maybe you just need to look at pretty photos. We don’t judge.
Here’s a few morsels of gorgeous from Jess Desaulniers-Lea!

In Like a (purrrring) Lioness

Next Up with Pandora and The Locksmiths:

Get Away With Us! March 12th at Guilt & Co

Electroswing: Retrospective on March 22nd at The Rickshaw

 sister events

Kitty Nights at The Biltmore produced by Burgundy Brixx: every sunday!

The Hot Pants at Guilt & Co produced by Miss Fitt: Tues, March 5th

Paris a Minuit at The Rio, produced by Miss Fitt: Fri, March 29th

And check out every Tuesday at Guilt & Co for fabulous cabaret themed productions, featuring incredibly talented performers whom we love and work with as much as we can!

***

Well! now that we’ve scheduled your life for you… let’s get onto business!
As you can see, we’ve got some really amazing events coming up. Our next show at Guilt features a special guest who both plays an instrument and is an excellent burlesque dancer-  Miss Via Rose! I’m personally excited to see her dance whenever I get the opportunity, but I’m also extra excited because she and I are creating our first duet together! Featuring the bassoon, my voice, some classic strip-tease, and gorgeous custom costumes by my sister in law, Jessica Bayntun. 

We’re also very excited for our first ElectroSwing event as a whole group! The WHOLE SHEBANG! Wow! 

And as you can see, Miss Fitt has been gettin busy! What? She’s a hard worker! She’s got her Hot Pants show on March 5th (I’ll be swinging hoops) as well as Paris a Minuit on the 29th. You should look at that lineup. Kinda insane!

And now, what you came for…

Last month we had the wonderful Jess Desaulniers-Lea be our sponsor photographer. While we love our men behind the camera, there’s a special sort of vibe when you know that it’s a woman who’s waiting for your sultriest moment to be captured at the flick of her finger…. shall we take a look at what she got?

Enjoy!

Get Yer Mischief!

Hitting the stage at 9 pm on February 12th at Guilt & Co…

Femme & Fatale featuring The Lady Josephine!

See you there!

***

It’s been a bit of a whirlwind! Winter is a really busy season for burlesque, what with religious holidays and all, and on top of it I just got back from performing in the 1st Annual Minneapolis Burlesque Festival with Sean! WHEEEE! We performed “Nude” in their beautiful Ritz Theatre (Ummm… Vancouver? You need a theatre like that) and just came back so overwhelmingly inspired. It was our first out of town festival, and getting to meet so many international talent machines was just incredible. I could gush for days.
Dirty.
Sandwiching the MBF, getting applications in for both the Vancouver International Burlesque Festival and the Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekend in Vegas, doing photo shoots and video shoots, plus now buckling down and creating the first duet between Burgundy Brixx and myself (excited!) for April O’Peel’s Burlesque Duos on Valentine’s at The Rio (Miss Fitt is also in that show!)…. it’s a little busy. I’m also going to be fan dancing in my good friend Mackenzie Gray’s Crazy 8′s film “Under The Bridge of Fear”, and I’m really excited about that. Burgundy Brixx is a part of that, too, plus many people connected to our glorious burlesque community here in Vancouver.

Did I mention that it’s also my birthday coming up? Yeah, let’s talk more about MEMEME! It’s my birthday on Sunday, Feb 17th, and I’ll be celebrating in the way that pleases me most- by shaking my stuff for tips at Kitty Nights! I’m one of those people who haaaaates to plan a party and would rather be working than plan a party… by dancing at Kitty Nights, I get to do both! I can’t think of a better way to celebrate, to be honest, than sweating all over a wad of caaaaashhh. Right? I’m going to be wearing Pants. Yes, you heard me. PANTS. And you can bet they will be your FAVOURITE PANTS EVER. They’re the only pair of pants that I actually own and wear. So clearly they are magical.

Enough of this yapping. You came here for photos.
This week we’re featuring Lotus Eater Films, who came out to our show in January. 
Enjoy!
xox
Nicky Ninedoors

 

Look At This!

Are you ready for some heart stopping femininity?

Femme and Fatale with Pandora and The Locksmiths, featuring special guest Lady Josephine!

Feb 12th, Guilt & Co at 1 Alexander Street in Gastown. Doors 7 pm, Show 9 pm.
Suggested donation $10, which directly funds all the heartbreaking cats and kittens you see on stage!

At our upcoming monthly show (monthly show #29! Holy crap!) we are presenting  a saucy mix of femininity. We have gloriously soft and gorgeous contrasted with fiercely film noir, as well as deliciously complex combinations of those ideas. Much like a fine bottle of scotch. Okay, okay. Wine for all your wine ladies (and gents). I’ll keep the scotch to myself, thanks. Okay,  fine, I’ll share it with Jody.
I could tell you all the reasons why you should come see the show, or you could just come, because you know why already. I wrote a testimonial on how awesome our show is, but frankly my craft desk is a mess and I can’t find it. Oh well.

Ramble ramble ramble…. heeeey, how about some pictures?
This blog entry, we’re featuring the work of Voodoo Bill (swoon). We were lucky to have two photographers at our Dream a Little Dream show (with Amber Ray!) in January, so next blog entry, you get an entirely different flavour! We’ve got your bases covered, Vancouver.
Alright, it’s time to indulge. (favourite word ever. I should just start saying “It’s Nicky O’Clock”!)
Enjoy!

A Praying Man

Bubbly queen

Singing your heart out

The Blues

Film Noir

She’s Come To Destroy You

And You Don’t Really Mind…

Soul Man

Classical

Man Eater

Beautiful Amber Ray

Glowing with love

Showgirl Sprites

Risque Resolutions

1) Umm…. less pants.

Pretty sure that’s our new years resolutions all taken care of! And we know it’s one that everyone can easily stick to… Moving right along!

This entry is going to be short and sweet and full of eye candy. I should really be rehearsing right now for upcoming shows, because boy do I like to bite off a lot to chew on.
Phrasing…?

On Sunday the 30th, it’s Kitty Nights New Years Eve’s Eve!

I’ll be performing with an incredible lineup, and I’m bringing out the hubby on the upright, and the brother on the keys. I will not be wearing pants. Resolution, check!

On Monday the 31st, Pandora and The Locksmiths have put together an incredible New Year’s Eve production for the
eatART Foundation’s Genesis party.

I am personally really stoked on this as it’s one of the biggest shows we’ve done. An hour and a half straight of live music, burlesque, five part vocal acts… ahh! Intense! You’ll have to ask us directly for links to get tickets as it’s a very intimate affair- just the way we like it. Please email us at livejazzburlesque@gmail.com for more details! I will be wearing one pair of pants. But they are made of sequinned fringe. So… pretty sure that our resolution isn’t being broken there. Also, they are sheer. Win!

***
Eye candy time! Last month we had photographer Craig Cochrane at our Winter Magic production in Guilt & Company. PS- next show at Guilt is January 8th. We have a special guest. She’s an international star. It’s top secret. You liked her a lot when she was with us in November.. hint hint…
Enjoy!

Mama Kay and Ava Lure begin the balloon tradition!

Is it any wonder those balloons disappear so fast?

Yes. This happened. For real.

Beautiful Burgundy in lilac feathers.

Carole Brunette!

Twirling!

Miss Fitt says Merry Christmas

Special Guest Travis Bernhardt brought winter into Guilt.

Burgundy has tricks up her sleeve, while wearing no sleeves. Or anything else!

I’m gonna give you candy..!

Cast!