Fall Flirtations
Coming Up Next…
That’s right! We’re back at Guilt & Co NEXT TUESDAY, September 27th!
We’re returning to the venue that started it all, that sexy basement bar in Gastown, Guilt & Co! Join us for the launch of our new monthly production, jam packed with live music, burlesque, and scintillating fun. On stage you’ll see:
RUTHE ORDARE
NICKY NINEDOORS
MISS FITT
CAROLE BRUNETTE
ARIEL HELVETICA
MISS SYDNEY CLAIRE
and
THE LOCKSMITHS
hosted by
AVA LURE
Doors at 8, Show at 9
Two extra sets of big vocal tunes with the band to follow!
$15 advance/$20 at the door subject to availability. You can purchase tickets in advance here.
So grab a drink, order that cheese plate (you know you want it), sit back, and enjoy the show!!
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Here are some photos of this month’s cast, on and off the Guilt & Co stage. See you next week.
Merry Stripmas!
Coming Up Next…
Pandora & The Locksmiths at Guilt&Co!
That’s right, darlings, we’re back at guilt&co in Gastown for a holiday extravaganza. Saturday, December 26 will be a riot of a sexy time. Singing! Dancing! Balloons filled with prizes! Jazz! Funk! and striptease! You know you’ll need to drink away your awkward Christmas dinner, do it with us, why don’t you?
On stage that evening:
AVA LURE
NICKY NINEDOORS
MISS KISS
CAROLE BRUNETTE
RUTHE ORDARE
With the melodious accompaniment of that smokin’ 6 piece band,
THE LOCKSMITHS
And hosted by:
MISS KISS aka STRIPPER JESUS
Doors 8 pm
Show 9 pm
Suggested minimum donation $10 with all proceeds going to the performers. See you there!
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In the Giving Spirit
Sooo, if you ever run into any of us over the holidays, we hope you’ll be in the giving spirit! The ladies of Pandora have some pretty fun wish lists this year, why not make our dreams come true? Last year, Miss Kiss asked for dragon wings, but for 2015, she’s asking for the whole dragon (with treasure, an added bonus)! Ariel Helvetica wants an unlimited travel budget and if that can’t be done, feathers of her own. Superstripper Nicky Ninedoors would like fetish boots and lingerie – no messing around! August Wiled would like a Time Turner… wait, no, just more time to spend with friends. Last but not least, Ava Lure is still wishing to add to her kitty family – an exotic shorthair would be perfect!
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Looking Snappy!
A little while back, the whole group did an in-studio photo shoot with the fabulous people of Fubarfoto. Check out our awesome team!
Striptease Superstars!
We’ll be seeing you soon…
That’s right darlings, we’re planning a show! Everyone knows that November 1st is the true beginning of the Holiday Season, let’s not deny it. Well, we can’t wait for present time so we’re putting together a little show for Boxing Day featuring a lineup of Pandora superstars. Guess where – at Guilt & Co! I heard that Stripper Jesus might be there, so don’t miss it (cause we know you miss us). We’ll be announcing the full lineup later on, so make sure to check back here.
In the Meantime
You can catch the members of Pandora around Vancouver, Western Canada, and even in the U.S. of A!
Just returned from her tour of Europe, Ariel Helvetica is not slowing down any time soon! She’ll be heading down to Seattle this week to teach at Burlycon, a burlesque education convention. You can also catch her at Silk Tease in Seattle this Wednesday and at The Orchid Club at the Fox Cabaret November 24!
Ruthe Ordare just made her NSFW: Hip Hop Meets Striptease debut as a sexy sock monkey! Something only she is capable of. Ruthe has also recently stepped up as Associate Producer of The Orchid Club and will also be performing in this month’s edition. Producer pants look good on this one!
Nicky Ninedoors also slayed at NSFW this weekend. You want more of her stripper magic? She’ll be bringing her act around B.C. and Alberta so keep an eye on her Facebook page to see when she’ll be in your town!
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Summer Dreams
The last time we were all together on stage was way back in June – woah! Even though the Winter Solstice is approaching, we can still fantasize about the Summer Equinox, no? Thanks to these pictures from fubarfoto, WE SURE CAN!
4 Years of Scintillating Burlesque!
Coming Up Next…
PANDORA & THE LOCKSMITHS 4-YEAR EXTRAVAGANZA with OUR NEW MEMBER…
THIS SHOW IS GOING TO BE CRAZY, YOU GUYS!
Another year has come and gone and Pandora & The Locksmiths is about to turn FOUR! Join us in Gastown for another dazzling evening of the live music and scintillating burlesque we’ve become known for.
This month’s show will feature almost every member of Pandora & The Locksmiths in one capacity or another. Be it belting out a tune, hitting the stage with a burlesque number, hosting, acting as stage mistress, or doing absolutely everything (!) this group is ready to take your breath away!
They are:
VORACIOUS V
RUTHE ORDARE
NICKY NINEDOORS
MISS KISS
MISS FITT
CAROLE BRUNETTE
AVA LURE
AMBER ROSE
AUGUST WILED
Live music, as ever, by:
THE LOCKSMITHS
Doors at 8pm, show at 9pm, with a suggested donation of $10 and all money going toward the artists. We thank you for four years of keeping Gastown absolutely sizzling on a Tuesday!
ALSO ON STAGE THIS EVENING, FOR THE FIRST TIME WITH PANDORA & THE LOCKSMITHS:
ARIEL HELVETICA
Credit: Glass Boudoir Photography
Ariel Helvetica has been stamping her unique font all over the Vancouver Burlesque scene since her 2010 debut. A born and raised dancer, Ariel spent 5 years abroad, wowing audiences in France as a professional Can-Can/Showgirl, and then criss-crossing the globe and criss-crossing her long legs as a professional high-kicker on cruise ships, visiting 45 countries along the way.
Growing up and training to be a “serious” dancer, Ms. Helvetica’s natural talent and drive took her far into the realm of traditional dance and ballet. But her love of performing, musicals, show tunes and, above all else, dancing to the beat of her own drum, hinted she would eventually leave those constricting toe shoes behind for bigger – and higher – kicks. Sure enough, Ariel’s raw sense of creativity and passion soon pulled her towards the hot red lights of burlesque, where she finally gave in to temptation, biting the apple and beginning her training at Burgundy Brixx’s School of Tease. You can also find this kinky kicker working her magic at Blue Morris’s Rock and Roll Burlesque, Tarantino Burlesque and the Vancouver International Burlesque Festival. Ariel is a teacher at the Vancouver Burlesque Centre.
We cant wait to welcome her to the P&L family this evening!
WE ACTUALLY HAVE ANOTHER SURPRISE FOR YOU… ONE MORE NEW MEMBER!
She made her burlesque debut one year ago on our anniversary stage, and although she is not performing tonight, we’d like to welcome:
LAURA JUNE
Laura June is a dance performer and variety act with Pandora and the Locksmiths, as well as a founding member and co-director of Luciterra Dance Company. She has been studying dance for over 20 years, and has been performing across North America and around the world since 2008. A lover of nuance, the hyper-real, mystery, elegance, vintage dust, and praxis, Laura holds multiple certifications with the Royal Conservatory of Music as well as with her dance teachers Suhaila Salimpour, Jamila Salimpour, Colleena Shakti, and Rachel Brice. She is an ongoing and committed student at the Salimpour School of Dance in San Francisco, California, and at the Shakti School of Dance (classical Odissi) in Rajasthan, India. In addition to her technical artistic studies, Laura holds a degree in Humanities from Simon Fraser University, where she studied Art History. She is particularly fascinated with the intersection of art and social change, and the role of the artist in society. Currently, Laura studies, performs, and teaches dance full time, both locally and internationally. When home, Laura co-teaches 7 dance classes a week in East Vancouver. www.luciterradance.com
More Pretty Pictures
The performers are gearing up for this evening’s performance, are you ready? Take a look at last month’s show, as captured by Bob Ayers, and get totally psyched!
Resplendent Remembrances
Four Years of Pandora & The Locksmiths Memories!
It’s amazing to think that it’s been four whole years since the inception of Pandora & The Locksmiths! Over that time, members of the group have graced countless stages in Vancouver, represented at international festivals, welcomed esteemed guests, and grown hugely as artists. Our expanding group is undoubtedly a family of creators who support and challenge each other on a daily basis. To gear up for our anniversary show at guilt&co on September 9 we pooled our collective minds to come up with the top few memories from the past four years. Here we go!
The Infamous Rabbit Costume
So this has become a bit of a right of passage for newer members of Pandora & The Locksmiths: “YOU, NEWBIE, GET IN THE BUNNY SUIT!” As part of the finale of Miss Fitt’s Aquarius number, both Ava Lure and August Wiled have donned the white mask and danced around blindly to the sounds of The Fifth Dimension. Big ups to Voracious V for getting in the puppy suit twice.
Ninedoors Photo Police
“You know there are no photos allowed at our shows, right? You there, with your phone out- there are no photos. Oh and you, official photographer? You can sit down. You’re blocking the glamour. Get it? Good. Love you!”
The Proposal
Remember that time Alison proposed to Soo on stage!? We do! This is one of the MOST treasured moments as voted by the members of Pandora & The Locksmiths. A bunch of hopeless romantics, I tell ya!
August at Guilt&Co
Earlier this month, we welcomed Voodoo Pixie and Arnt Arntzen to the guilt&co stage! August’s heat was no match for these performers- their dazzling ways sent chills through the audience. Check out these lovely photos from Bob Ayers!
I’ll be on the beach…
Coming up next…
Pandora & The Locksmiths at Guilt&Co with Voodoo Pixie and Arnt Arntzen
We’re back at guilt&co for our final show of the summer! Shake the sand out of your hair and roll on down to Gastown for a sizzling night of scintillating burlesque entertainment on August 12.
This month’s show features special guests VOODOO PIXIE and ARNT ARNTZEN. As a member of the Cabaret du Passe collective, and co-producer of the annual AbraCadaver Cabaret, Voodoo will be bringing her signature blend of ethereal mischief to the stage. She will be accompanied by Vancouver’s Tin Pan Troubadour, Arnt Arntzen, armed with his trusty banjo.
This show will also feature burlesque by:
MISS FITT
AUGUST WILED
AVA LURE
Vocals by:
NICKY NINEDOORS
Musical magic by:
THE LOCKSMITHS
All hosted by:
MAMA KAY
Doors at 8PM, show at 9PM with a suggested donation of $10. All proceeds go directly to the performers.
Mid-Summer Check-in
Here in Vancouver, summer is in full swing and the members of Pandora & The Locksmiths are living it up! Not only is our monthly show at guilt&co is running like clockwork, we’re making fun secret plans for the year to come. Outside of collective activities, our members are stoking that creative fire in a variety of ways. Festival maven, Ruthe Ordare will be hitting the stage at the inaugural Oregon Burlesque Festival this weekend. After winning “Best Solo” in Texas, we know Miss Ordare is going to kick some serious butt in Portland. Miss Kiss will be appearing in the Pride Burlesque Revue at the Lux Lounge on July 31, followed by an all-out burlesquified musical performance in Concrete Vertigo’s Vixens In Wonderland next month. Continuing the theatrical trend, Ava Lure is busy writing and directing her very first play! Seaside Stories of Terrible Things will be running in this year’s Vancouver Fringe Festival. Miss Fitt and Liam MacDonald will be adding a little middle eastern flare to their summer. Both will be performing in Nuba’s Bedouin Cabaret on August 7th. Everyone else? Meet them at the beach!
July
Our July show was a hot one! We were very pleased to have special guest Raven Virginia come all the way from Calgary. We tried to kidnap her and make her stay on the West Coast, but the best we could do was capture her in photos. Thank you David Tresham for documenting the evening!
Night Heat
Coming up Next…
Pandora & The Locksmiths at Guilt&Co with RAVEN VIRGINIA
Coming all the way from Calgary, Alberta, this month’s special guest is none other than RAVEN VIRGINIA. Raven is a member of the Garter Girls and has graced stages across North America, including the Burlesque Hall of Fame and our very own Vancouver International Burlesque Festival. Join us in sizzling Gastown on July 8th for a show that shouldn’t be missed!
The ladies of Pandora will be serving you two numbers each this evening.
On stage you will see:
RUTHE ORDARE
AUGUST WILED
AVA LURE
With vocals from our stage mistress:
MISS KISS
Our fabulous host:
MAMA KAY
And live music in an array of styles from:
THE LOCKSMITHS
Doors are at 8:00pm with the show starting at 9:00pm. Suggested $10 donation at the door, with all proceeds going to the artists.
Bring your hand fans and wear something flowy- this is sure to be a hot one!
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June at Guilt&Co
Our June show kicked off the summer in style! Relive the glamour with sultry photos from Bob Ayers.
Springtime Shimmer
Coming Up Next…
PANDORA & THE LOCKSMITHS at GUILT&CO
Join us at our home base, guilt&co, in Gastown on Tuesday, June 10 for our monthly live music burlesque extravaganza! Let us know you’re coming by checking out the Facebook event here. Get shimmying and shaking on a hot spring evening with performances by:
RUTHE ORDARE
MISS FITT
DELILAH DARE
CAROLE BRUNETTE
with stage mistress
NICKY NINEDOORS
musical accompaniment by
THE LOCKSMITHS
and hostess for the evening
MAMA KAY
Doors at 8pm, show at 9pm. Suggested donation of $10 with all proceeds going to the artists.
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Collective Structure
You may or may not know this, but Pandora & The Locksmiths operates as an artist collective rather than a company or troupe. What this means is that there is no assigned “leader” and all jobs -from social media, to band leading, to writing this here blog- are delegated among members. We cast performance spots based on availability and rotate sweeping duties. Sometimes we have one member lead a group number if it is a theme they are particularly passionate about, but most of the time we create as a team. It may take a lot longer, but we all feel strongly about creating with equality among artists. Miss Fitt and Nicky Ninedoors echo the sentiments of the group with their thoughts on our collective structure:
Miss Fitt
The most interesting part for me is how we seem to grow so much as individual performers through our work together. I get inspired all the time by my team. Performing along side such diverse and talented people helps me to become a stronger performer. I get ideas, I see what is exciting and effective for others and I bring my own unique talents and ideas to the table as well. I feel we each contribute to setting the bar higher for ourselves and support each other with our goals and ideas. We all benefit from each others success and grow stronger as a group as a result.
Nicky Ninedoors
What I found incredibly powerful about the process of Awakenings, was that it put us all in a really intense state of vulnerability. We had to be completely open with our feelings, consider the validity of the feelings of others, while working together towards a common goal. I feel that common goal was realized in the creation of “Hunter”, which closed the show. Performing as part of that act was powerful for me because it was created by eight people who were willing to listen to each other, who practiced saying “Yes” to each others ideas, while being humble and gracious when ideas didn’t work or needed revisiting.
It was a really hard process, but as a group we have been evolving for a while, recognizing the talents of each individual within the group, and striving to move away from the idea that any one individual is solely in charge. Each member of the collective is incredibly valuable, and it’s empowering to be surrounded by women who respect, admire, and encourage each other through the challenges they face.
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Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekend
A huge “BREAK A LEG” to all the hugely talented women jetting off to Las Vegas to compete in the Tournament of Tease! The Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekender is a huge four-day fundraiser for the one and only Burlesque Hall of Fame Museum. Team Vancouver will be lighting up multiple categories this year. For Queen of Burlesque we have April O’Peel, Melody Mangler, Burgundy Brixx, and Lola Frost, for best group we have a duo by Lola Frost & Rita Star, and up for Best Debut, our very own VORACIOUS V! Kick some butt down there, Nebula Nipples!
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Vancouver International Burlesque Festival
It was such an honour to grace the Vogue stage with “Awakenings,” a huge collaboration between our collective, Four on The Floor String Quartet, and K-Tel. Want to know what the VIBF is like first-hand? Check out Ava Lure’s Festival Diary in Pin Curl Magazine! Enjoy these amazing photos of our VIBF production from Fubarfoto and Reckless Photography.
Art Attack!
Coming up next…
Pandora & The Locksmiths at Guilt & Co!
with special guests:
APRIL O’PEEL & NOUVEAUX TABLEAUX
Reeling from the whirlwind that was the Vancouver International Burlesque Festival, Pandora & The Locksmiths return to the Guilt & Co stage! Blending fine art with performance, we welcome special guests APRIL O’PEEL and NOUVEAUX TABLEAUX.
Featuring burlesque performances of the classically glamorous persuasion:
VORACIOUS V
RUTHE ORDARE
NICKY NINEDOORS
AUGUST WILED
APRIL O’PEEL
Sounds by:
THE LOCKSMITHS
Bringing fine art to life with Tableaux Vivants:
NOUVEAUX TABLEAUX- MOLLY MALONE and ALLEY CAT HATFIELD
Hosted by:
MAMA KAY
Door at 8:00pm, show at 9:00. $10 suggested donation, all proceeds going to the artists. Let us know you’re coming by checking out the Facebook event!
What is Tableaux Vivants, you ask?
“Not unlike today, social mores of the early 19th century objected to any public exposure of a naked human body. Based on moral, religious or decency grounds, the exposure of a naked body was regarded as inherently sexual. As a result of strict morality laws forbidding women from dancing in the nude, Tableaux Vivants became a form of erotic entertainment under the guise of of art and culture. A Tableau Vivant occurs when a group of performers create a scene without movement or speech to create a living picture. This was a popular form of entertainment before radio, film or television and at one time were a major feature at festivities for royal weddings, coronations, and royal entries to cities. Enterprising producers argued that if classical art works were permitted to show female nudity, they should be as well. Tableaux Vivants were agreed as acceptable as it became understood that it was movement that caused the female form to become sexual. This meant that recreations of classical works using nude women could and would be permitted. “
See it for yourself on Tuesday, May 13 at guilt&co!
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VIBF Favourite Moments
The recent Vancouver International Burlesque Festival was a resounding success! Each act was more dazzling than the last and the audience faces were the smilin’-est in town. Our production, Awakenings, is still vivid in our hearts and minds and it was such an honour to share it with the crowd. Now it’s time to check in! Members of Pandora, what were your favourite VIBF moments? and what are you working on now?
John Bews had a roaring good time chauffeuring our guest legend, Kitten Natividad! Her comedic spirit kept him in stitches and all her jokes were totally on point. This spring, John looks forward to re-organizing his encyclopaedic record collection.
Voracious V, Queen of Tea (Bagging) was honoured to give guest host, Judith Stein, a vocabulary lesson worthy of Urban Dictionary! Judith walked away from the Thursday afternoon tech rehearsal with a whole new understanding of a seemingly innocent innuendo. Next up for Voracious, getting ready to rock Las Vegas when she competed for “Best Début” at the Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekender in June.
Nicky Ninedoors revelled in backstage antics while at the Vogue. Her favourite moment was racing up the back staircase with Miss Fitt to make their cue! Can you say, “Sabbatical”? This summer, Nicky plans to focus on creating ornate hairpieces, dance lessons, and re-discovering her song-writing voice.
August Wiled also had a wonderful time backstage. She really enjoyed all the chatter and excitement in the Pandora dressing room. Who doesn’t love spending time with friends? In the next few months, August plans on getting crafty by delving into the art of lingerie construction.
Miss Fitt was very pleased to share a dressing room with The Wet Spots on Thursday night. The conversations they had were heart-warming, groin-tingling, and totally invaluable. This summer, Miss Fitt is going to focus on belly dance classes!
Getting to perform at the Vogue for the first time was the highlight for Miss Kiss. After seeing heroes like Alice Cooper up on that stage, she was overjoyed to finally get her turn! As Pandora’s resident musical theatre nerd, Miss Kiss will be jetting off to New York City this month for a vacation!
Ruthe Ordare enjoyed warming up to our collective theme song, “Yankin’” by Lady, truly a fine jem of modern music! This summer, she is excited to work on new numbers as well as mentor up-and-coming burlesque babes at the Vancouver Burlesque Centre.
The improbable was made possible for Ava Lure on Saturday night of the festival. She was floored to see Perle Noire VOGUEING on stage as part of her multi-song routine. This summer, Ava is all theatre everything! She will be creating an adapted piece of site-specific work as a participant of the Fringe Onsite program, as well as hitting the books as a fourth-year student in Capilano University’s new Bachelor of Performing Arts cohort program.
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Birds of a Feather
In April, we were so pleased to welcome spring chicken, Faye Havoc, to the guilt&co stage! Already a mega-talented seamstress (did you see our lace cage lingerie sets at the VIBF?), we are so excited to watch her growth into a performer. The other ladies of Pandora brought out their favourite animal-inspired numbers for your enjoyment. Peruse these gorgeous photos by Clint Trahan and journey back with us.
Equinox
Coming Up Next…
Birds of a Feather with Pandora & The Locksmiths
Are you ready for a creature feature? We’re ecstatic to be back at our home base- guilt&co! Our spirits are high and we’re tapping in to our animal instincts to bring you our favourite creature-themed routines. This month, we present to you a special guest- spring chicken FAYE HAVOC! You’ve seen her costumes on the bodies of Vancouver’s top burlesque performers and now it’s time for Faye to strut her stuff on stage. So creep, crawl, shimmy, shake your way to Gastown on April 8!
Birds of a Feather will also feature:
NICKY NINEDOORS
VORACIOUS V
MISS FITT
RUTHE ORDARE
Stage Mistress:
MISS KISS
And song stylings of:
THE LOCKSMITHS
Doors at 7
Show at 9
*Suggested donation of $10 at the door, all going towards the performers*
Welcoming April
This month is high energy for the ladies of Pandora, let’s check in!
Nicky Ninedoors -a staple of powerhouse producer April O’Peel‘s mainstage shows- will be facing the wheel of destiny in Burlesque Improv at the Rio Theatre on April 5. You don’t want to miss this one, a rubber chicken is involved! Later this month, she will be taking up a week-long residency at Vancouver’s infamous Penthouse Nightclub. The Penthouse has seen everything from jazz greats to Mafia dons and is now one of the city’s top exotic entertainment venues. See Nicky become part of the legend the week of April 14.
Ruthe Ordare is our globe-trotting darling this month! She will be touring with three different productions through BC and Amurica! From April 4-6, she will be heading up to Quensel with her partner in crime Villainy Loveless to teach and to perform at the Caribooby Cabaret. Then, from April 9-12 she will be heading down south to Austin to compete in the Texas Burlesque Festival! Woot woot! Finally, from April 18-20 she will be touring Kamloops and Prince George as part of the Dirty Dancing Burlesque cast. Catch her if you can, far-away friends!
Ava Lure is pleased to be joining an all-star cast of the second instalment of Night Circus. Every weekend in April, let her take you on a Space Cruise! This production, at Vancouver FanClub, features Blue Morris’ Rock & Roll Burlesque band, mind-bending circus artists, Cruise Director David C. Jones, and some of the city’s best and brightest burlesquers. Join the cast for their first two weekends for $5 off when entering promo code AvaLure when you purchase tickets online in advance! OH did I mention the show is set to 80s music? Cause it’s space!
It is with great honour and the awesomest sauce that we announce Voracious V‘s acceptance to the “Best Début” category of this year’s Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekender. The weekender -which runs June 1-5- celebrates the international burlesque scene’s most outstanding stars with four evenings of unstoppable showcases. We can’t wait to cheer on our favourite purple Space Goddess in Las Vegas this summer!
Also, a HUGE congratulations to the wonderful Vancouverites accepted to perform in the Queen category: Melody Mangler, April O’Peel, Burgundy Brixx, and Lola Frost!
Voyages & Adventures
Well, it looks like our wishful thinking worked! Voyages & Adventures- last month’s vacation-themed show- brought in a spectacular Spring! Let the sun shine in with these photos from Bob Ayers.
Come on Home, Girl!
Coming Up Next…
Voyages and Adventures
AND
Awakenings
with Pandora & The Locksmiths
Awakenings is a dream and nightmare-themed extravaganza that will feature a rotating cast of Pandora striptease artists and vocalists.
Join us at Vancouver FanClub on Granville Street for an evening of glitz and glamour! Opening March 7, the premier evening will also include a photo exhibition from Ninedoors Photography. Awakenings will run every Friday of the month of March.
Ready to escape the snow and rain? Voyages and Adventures with Pandora & The Locksmiths will create the feel of a far-off vacation! Head down to guilt&co on Tuesday, March 11 to heat things up.
Featuring:
VORACIOUS V
DELILAH DARE
BURGUNDY BRIXX
AVA LURE
Hosted by:
THE PURRFESSOR
With stage mistresses:
MISS FITT
AUGUST WILED
And song stylings of:
THE LOCKSMITHS
Doors at 7
Show at 9
*Suggested donation of $10 at the door, all going towards the performers*
Heart & Soul
Heart & Soul was a shimmy-shaking, sing-your-heart-out celebration of RAD. Special surprise guest Jo Weldon rocked the house with an impromptu bump and grind, tassel/assel-twirling lesson. The audience was thrilled! Take a break from your day and get lost in these gorgeous images from Reckless Photography.
Daydreams and Night-terrors
Step Into Our Dream World
Announcement time! You may have guessed at this but now it’s time to spill the beans. Every Friday for the month of March, Pandora & The Locksmiths will be presenting a collection of favourite pieces at Fanclub in downtown Vancouver. “Awakenings” will pull the audience through the light and dark of the dream state. Each act will bring onlookers into the performer’s dream world, be it a glittery pajama party, a space adventure, or a visit from the angel of death. More information on tickets and showtimes will be available on our Facebook page very soon.
Until you can join us at Fanclub, why not lean a little more about our real-life dreams? The ladies of Pandora have very active imaginations! Nicky Ninedoors often dreams of the deep blue ocean and the terrifying notion of perishing in a killer whale attack. In the future, she hopes to travel to majestic Iceland (probably to meet Bjork). Miss Kiss dreams of becoming Alice Cooper one day, if she doesn’t lend her voice to a Disney princess character first! Ava Lure has a recurring dream: doomsday prepping! If she survives the apocalypse, Ava hopes to share billing with Violet Eva one day (because that would mean she also gets to go to Japan). August Wiled also dreams of underwater menace; her home being swallowed whole by the whale from Pinocchio. What’s with these whales??
Do you like that gorgeous photo of Miss Fitt? The opening night of “Awakenings” will be coupled with an exhibition of selected photos from Ninedoors Photography. Make sure to mark down March 7th in your calendar, you won’t want to miss this glamorous event! Until then, check out Ninedoors Photography on Tumblr.
Heart & Soul
Are you ready for Heart & Soul with Pandora & The Locksmiths? I bet you want to know who our super sexy guest host is… well, we’re going to keep you guessing! That’s going to be shared on our Facebook event page so make sure to check in. See you on the evening of the 11th at guilt&co, show at 9:00pm!
Everything Old Is New Again
Until you can see us in person, pour over more photos from last month’s show by Bob Ayers.
Sensual Celebrations, You’re Invited!
Coming Up Next:
Heart & Soul with Pandora & The Locksmiths
We’d sure love to see you at guilt&co on Tuesday, February 11th! This month we’re busting out some of our all-time favourite soul jams to put a little heat in that heart of yours! Bring a date, bring your friends, bring your mom (the ladies of Pandora do it!) and visit us in glittering Gastown, won’t you?
And guess what? We’ve got a surprise for you…
February’s show will feature a very sexy surprise guest HOSTESS! Stay glued to our Facebook page to hear the big announcement! Who could it be?
And the Locksmiths’ sizzling band accompanying the lovely ladies of Pandora baring their souls and singing their hearts out…
MISS FITT
NICKY NINEDOORS
BURGUNDY BRIXX
RUTHE ORDARE
and
MISS KISS
with guest vocals by THE PURRRFESSOR
and stage mistress AVA LURE
Doors 7 pm
Show time 9 pm
*Suggested donation $10*
We’ll warm your heart and satisfy your soul – it’s a Valentine for the senses…
Everything Old Is New Again
January’s show was a dazzling spectacle of energy and joy! A new year came with new challenges and the team brought their A-game to wow the crowd! Want to see some photos? Well lucky you! Check out these gorgeous photos from Bob Ayers.
Welcome to 2014
Coming up next – Everything Old Is New Again with Pandora & The Locksmiths
Celebrate a new year with timeless style at guilt&co on January 14th.
Doors at 7pm, show at 9pm, with a suggested admission donation of $10.
This month we welcome the 2012 King of Boylesque, RUSSELL BRUNER!
With many tricks stored in his vintage hatbox (and elsewhere), he charms and beguiles audiences of women and men alike with his classic blend of comedy and tease.
This month’s show will also feature scintillating burlesque from:
MISS KISS
RUTHE ORDARE
AVA LURE
AUGUST WILED
and
NICKY NINEDOORS
With stage management by VORACIOUS V
Timeless tunes from THE LOCKSMITHS
And hosted by the glamorous MAMA KAY
New Year’s Resolutions
What are you excited about in 2014? The ladies of Pandora & The Locksmiths have some resolutions to share. Let your new leaf start here! Miss Fitt and Miss Kiss have both resolved to get musical. They have planned to learn harmonica and accordion, respectively. Miss Kiss has also re-committed to fleshing out her dark side. This year she hopes to finally find a human blood donor… you know, for special cocktails. Nicky Ninedoors has also ventured out into the realm of the supernatural, namely controlling the weather. In 2014, she has vowed to make it rain! Miss Fitt and Ava Lure have both made the decision to focus on their movement, both fluid and refined, with bellydance classes from Luciterra. Ava has also resolved to make more time for reading! Actual, paper, screen-less books. The most inspiring resolution of all may come from Carole Brunette, who has decided to give less of a f**k!
Winter Magic
Winter Magic rang in the holidays with glamorous burlesque and expert slight of hand from special guest, Travis Bernhardt. Revisit the magic with photos from Robin Toma.
Do You Hear What I Hear?
Get Acquainted with The Locksmiths!
For over three years, the burlesque artists of Pandora & The Locksmiths have drawn in crowds with their ornate costumes, flowing choreography, siren song, and undeniable stage presence but what has set this collective apart from the very start is the five-piece band that pulls every show together. The Locksmiths have featured talented guests but the mainstay musicians have seen the group through a great deal of artistic growth. Three band members, Alison Gorman, John Bews, and Sean Bayntun have shared a little bit about their history and why they enjoy playing music for burlesque.
Let’s get to know them better, shall we?
Alison Gorman – Trumpet
Alison plays with a number of Vancouver bands, including The Sweetpea Swing Band, The Salteens, and Pendomoja, as well as her own group, Queer As Funk. She feels so lucky to be in the Pandora and the Locksmiths’ family, and especially loves having the best seat in the house at every show! Guess what? You can celebrate New Year’s Eve with Alison and the whole Queer As Funk gang at the Capri Hall in Mount Pleasant!
John Bews – Bass
John loves working with the group. The opportunity to put on a different show each month with a troupe of dynamic performers is something he’s very grateful for. The dancers bring him so much joy through their diverse music selections, the creative arc of their routines, and with the energy they bring to rehearsals and to the stage. Sometimes the variety of music the band is given to recreate can be quite challenging, but thankfully Sean is a musical wizard and regularly saves John’s chart-making from being too simple or just blank. The other band members do all sorts of great things and all he has to do is play bass and enjoy. Lucky him!
Sean Bayntun – Keys
Sean studied and played classical piano from the age of 3 until he completed his Masters in Piano Performance. Along the way, he realized there were so many different musical genres and he wanted to play them all! Sean currently plays keyboards and synth in Facts and Synthcake, and plays keys and acts as Musical Director for theatre productions. He grew up playing for Nicky’s voice competitions and recitals, and about 4 years ago she and John asked if he was interested in playing in a jazz band for burlesque performers. Obviously he said yes! Jazz was something Sean hadn’t really explored yet and plus, who wouldn’t want to help provide the musical sass for amazing performers? With Pandora & The Locksmiths he works with dancers to help emphasize movements, transcribes 30 or so pages of music each month to turn new songs into arrangements the band can play, and plays with incredible jazz musicians where everyone listens and responds to each other. All in all, Sean just loves playing music, and playing music in collaborative settings is pretty much the best thing.
Hear them LIVE on the second Tuesday of every month at guilt&co!
Thank you Clint Trahan for the gorgeous photos!
Vancouver International Burlesque Festival 2014 Applications are Open!
Apply to hit the Vogue stage in May and check out the VIBF website for all the exciting new information!
The gears are turning in the heads of our members as we plan this year’s production submission. Unlike anything offered from Pandora at the VIBF before, we will examine the transformative nature of both classic and modern music, themes, and imagery. Godspeed our online application form!
Hmm… classic and modern. Classic? and modern? Kind of like pairing Debussy with Bjork… right?
We’ll just leave that there.
Winter Is On It’s Way!
Coming up next – Winter Magic with Pandora and The Locksmiths
Let the twinkling lights of Gastown welcome you to guilt&co on December 10th.
Doors at 7pm, show at 9pm, with a suggested admission donation of $10.
This month, TRAVIS BERNHARDT brings his unparalleled slight of hand to the Guilt & Company stage!
“Travis Bernhardt became a full time professional magician in 2008, fulfilling his lifelong ambition—retroactively decided upon—of never becoming qualified for anything else.
Sort of fresh off touring his award winning solo show Unpossible! across Canada—selling out in Edmonton and held over for an extended run in Vancouver- Travis looks forward to the holiday season, depleted bank accounts and seasonal affective disorder.”
So how ’bout it?
The show will also feature:
VORACIOUS V
CAROLE BRUNETTE
BURGUNDY BRIXX
and
AVA LURE
With stage management by RUTHE ORDARE
Festive melodies from THE LOCKSMITHS
And hosted by THE PURRFESSOR
Nouveau Paris
Nouveau Paris was an alluring mix of new acts and returning favourites. Relive the most enticing moments by taking a look at these photos from Clint Trahran.
Seasonal Sensations
Only days away from Nouveau Paris, are you excited?
We sure are!
Late November will be host to a number of other extra special events that feature some of our members… Curious?
Burlesque Bazaar
On November 24th you can look forward to the Vancouver International Burlesque Festival Association’s first event of the year, it’s the Burlesque Bazaar! This event is the brainchild of Mama Kay, and is sure to delight! Titivate so you can titillate with goodies from over 10 amazing vendors. Did you know that four of our members are on the first all-female board of directors for the VIBF? Burgundy Brixx reigns as President, Nicky Ninedoors act as Vice President, and Mama Kay and Ava Lure sit as Members-at-Large. Busy busy!
Burlesque Long Form
Powerhouse producer April O’Peel is back with this year’s edition of Burlesque Long Form. This innovative show challenges Vancouver’s top burlesque artists to create and perform an extended piece. This year, the lineup will feature our very own Voracious V and Burgundy Brixx! Make sure to get tickets in advance here as they are sure to go fast!
PinCurl Magazine
Burgundy Brixx will be featured in the upcoming “Best Of” edition of PinCurl Magazine! PinCurl is one of the burlesque community’s most trusted magazines and this year’s December issue will proudly include an interview and photo spread of Ms. Brixx in all her winter-time glory. Southern P&L fans, take note- Burgundy will be performing in Viva Dallas Burlesque for the issue launch on December 6th, and also in Corpus Christi for the After Dark Revue, December 7th.
Lots of amazing information in there, maybe we don’t need eye candy this time…
SO KIDDING.
Cameron Brown captured some of our ladies’ best assets last month at Sugar & Spice, take a peek!
Hello, gorgeous!
up next….
and…..
Well, that’s exciting! Our first ever show at FanClub! Wheee!! We do hope to see you there, it’s a BEAUTIFUL space with amazing sight lines and lights and sound, and we’re very thrilled to be performing on Granville Street again. Any time we can insert the burlesque counter culture into the pop culture is a good time by us! 😀
Speaking of which, some of our group members just got back from the Burlesque Hall of Fame! Brother Keys and I (Nicky) performed in the Movers, Shakers, and Innovators Showcase, Ruthe Ordare (with one of our fav performers Villainy Loveless) competed for Best Duo during the Tournament of Tease- and got a FULL standing ovation and brought many, many people to tears. And Burgundy Brixx was as dazzling as the sun in the Queen of Burlesque Category during the Tournament of Tease!
Special mention to Sweet Soul Burlesque led by sass queen Crystal Precious who also performed in the Movers, Shakers, and Innovators Showcase, as well as Lola Frost and Melody Mangler who seduced us in the Best Duo category, and Lola Frost in the Queen of Burlesque category winning 2nd Runner Up! Congratulations, girl! She was FIERCE!
We did NOT envy the decision making process the judges had to go through. Every single performer that was up on that stage was deserving of a prize. Quite literally the best of the best were showcased. I gave so many yelling, screaming, standing ovations I actually gave myself a headache. And I wasn’t the only one in that position! Damn! Amaaaazing.
So, on the tail end of the glittery performance wonder of BHoF, we come back super thrilled and inspired to up our game. We always want to up our game, but now it’s ON! We can’t wait to take this inspiration and the creativity that we’ve been offered, digest and absorb it, and put our all into our next creations! So, we really hope to see you at our next shows. We’re feeling fierce! *** Now for the eye candy…. 🙂
Here are a few photos that Jess Desaulniers-Lea took at the Vancouver International Burlesque Festival! Check out the festival’s FB page and Tumblr account for more! Enjoy!
When the trumpet hits High C…!
as part of
The 8th Vancouver International Burlesque Festival
In honour of the fast approaching burlesque festivities, please enjoy some of the photos that were taken during the festival last year!
xox