GO JOHNNY GO!

We got to see Johnny Porkpie do his "Competitive Burlesque" at the Burlesque Hall of Fame last summer and it was hilarious. If you are going to use The Stripper, do it like this!

A NIGHT AT STORYVILLE

Last week we had a gig at Helsinki's most legendary jazz club Storyville's anniversary event. It was also the last gig we did together with wonderful producer Ilsa Hell before her moving to Toronto - we'll miss her!

There are no pictures from the actual show but from the red carpet and backstage - grab your bourbon and let the music play!

Outdoor shots by Ilsa Hellman, backstage photos by Kitty Litter.

ANAPHYLAXIS

Let us continue on the inspiration road!

Today´s pick is my personal favourite, Anna Fur Laxis with her absolutely sassy, naughty-but-nice, fun and inventive magician routine we witnessed at The Burlesque Hall of Fame in Las Vegas last June. She was the First Runner-Up for Miss Exotic World and as you can see, the title was well-deserved!




And dear gods, IS she hot or what. I´d marry her in an instant.

HADI HADI HADI HO

Inga Ingenue at Viva Las Vegas weekender's burlesque competition, which she won.

We - and now I am not only referring to my royal Cherry self but to us as a group - think that if you're going to do classic burlesque you have to do it with a twist and just not plain sassyness. I love this number as it's kind of classic and kind of not. And she moves so well to the music!

We got to see this live in June in Vegas as Inga was performing at the same night as we did.

BURLESKINSTITUUTTI

Lately there´s been all sorts of cabaret strip aerobic classes sprouting up here and there, claiming to teach "burlesque". That, naturally, somewhat irks us, the performers and artists, who are at least attempting to make half a living out of this fabulous, glamorous art form of ours. ;) So we´re striking back! If you will. Or to be more accurate, we wish to give a more precise, a more burlesque education, because we´re the ones who actually go and do the job when all comes around, you know. ;)

Hence, may I present you: BurleskInstituutti!

BurleskInstituutti, in its (or our!) turn, is an umbrella organization for Finnish burlesque teaching and presents you high-quality and inspirational workshops and courses all around Finland. To you, who want to learn it, from us, who do it. Workshops, weekly classes, private courses, it´s all happening; it´s been happening for a long while now of course but we´re getting more organized about it now, and making it easier for YOU to know you have a guarantee for good education and not some two-penny aerobics with a top hat on.

The Headmistresses of our Institute are Bettie Blackheart (Helsinki Burlesque) and Kiki Hawaiji (Turku Burlesque); the teachers are Mimi de Frou Frou, Lafayette Lestrange & Marie la Mint (Finnish Blonde Burlesque Troupe), Olivia Rouge & Cherrie A. Dorable (Holy Curves), Cherry Bonbon, Lola Vanilla, Bent van der Bleu, Loulou D'vil and last but not least, yours truly: Cherry "Turrrbocherry" Dee and Tinker Bell of The Itty-Bitty Tease Cabaret.

During Helsinki Burlesque Festival and other grand scale events you can also participate in workshops by burlesque artists from abroad. These have so far incluced for example Satan's Angel (US), World Famous *BOB* (NY), Miss Indigo Blue (Miss Exotic World & Reigning Queen of Burlesque 2011, headmistress, Burlesque Academy, Seattle, US), Cherry Typhoon (JPN), Princess Farhana of Hollywood, Trixie Little and The Evil Hate Monkey (NY), Little Brooklyn (NY), Diamond Daggers (US), The Amazing Knicker Kittens (SE), Major Suttle-Tease (UK), Leyla Rose & Missy Malone (UK).


So when you hear the name, or see this logo:




... you´ll know to expect nothing but the best. ♥


And hey ho all you Helsinki-people! There´s a FREE burlesque class next week´s Thursday 8th Sept. 16-16.45 at Helsingin Kansainvälinen Tanssikoulu by your resident pixie Tinker Bell! There´s some limit as to how many will fit the classroom, so make a reservation at the dance school reception tel: 044 563 6345 or toimisto@kansainvalinentanssikoulu.fi
If the lesson gets good feedback then it will become a weekly class, so don´t miss your chance to weekly shimmy-and-shake!

You can find BurleskInstituutti on Facebook and get more info through their blog!