Roxy's Rendezvous - On a Night Like This 22nd August 2010

The venue for this show was The Talking Heads in Southampton, with it's friendly ambiance and rustic charm. Once filled with an audience of regulars and newcomers to burlesque, the atmosphere from a performers point of view was encouraging and filled with energy generated from their responsive feedback. Tickets were for both seated and standing, with a vip area included.
In preparing for this show as a performer, I was consideringthe idea of a burlesque show themed around the music of Kylie Minogue. Do themed shows restrict creative expression or do they stimulate an artistes creativity? My perspective was also slightly altered by my taking part in the show.
At least, Kylie provides a popular, well-known output of music which is familiar and above all entertaining - and the audience clearly responded to this. Paired with a variety of performance styles, a fun atmosphere was generated and people seemed thoroughly entertained. It was however, extremely difficult to single out a favourite act of the evening as the performers were of a consistently high quality.
The leading lady of the night was Roxy Twirls who made a spectacular showgirl entrance in her blue beaded fringed costume and ostrich feather plumes making a fitting visual tribute to the queen of pop.
On the whole this was a professionally produced, well organised show which I would thoroughly recommend. Being a fan of Kylie was not a pre-requisite!
I award 5 stars *****

Miss Helene Bach recommends....Jo Weldon's Burlesque Handbook

With my birthday being this saturday, my lovely husband has already begun showering me with gifts! He returned home with a copy of this fantastic little book, with which I am delighted. It covers all you need to know about burlesque, with a lot of behind-the-scenes information.

As an aspiring performer, I know I am going to find it very useful. Although I haven't read it from cover to cover yet, I have only "dipped in" -but I can see there is a lot of information including some very handy costuming tips, advice on choreographing and even how to use feather fans in an elegant way. The chapter on pasties and tassels includes several different techniques for how to twirl tassels, complete with photos of them in action. The only thing I could possibly suggest is that the book be released with a tutorial dvd, perhaps in a special edition.

It's written in a friendly, almost conversational tone which makes burlesque an accessible artform to anyone who would like to give it a try. It will appeal to beginners and experienced performers alike, or to anyone who has a passing interest in this fascinating artform.

Priced at £9.99, this book is an absolute must have, which I highly recommend!

During my birthday weekend, I will be attending a burlesque show by "Black Country Burlesque" which is going to be held at "The Public" arts centre in West Bromwich. They always put on a great show and this one is for a worthy cause, Macmillan's. The artistes will all be giving their time for free. Tickets are priced at £12.50 standard, or £20 V.I.P. I've heard there will also be an auction of items donated by well known burlesque stars to raise yet more funds.

Visit their website which is ably run by Mr Robin Lowe at: www.blackcountryburlesque.co.uk for future dates and events. Tickets for this saturday's show are available from the BCB website, or you can ring the PUBLIC box office on 0121 533 7161.

Welcome to my new location!

Hello, my name is Miss Helene Bach. I am a burlesque designer and aspiring performer. I started making pasties and tassels for other performers and was quite happy doing this until I started attending burlesque classes. I hope you enjoy following my experiences as I enter the world of burlesque onstage!
This is the last post I made earlier this year on my myspace blog. I now resolve to continue blogging and I look forward to hearing your comments and sharing experiences.
Visit my website to see my designs: http://www.helenebachburlesquestyle.co.uk/

The gloves are off!

Week three of the burlesque course is upon us and I’ve learned two new routines which taught me some “peeling” techniques. The glove routine, which was started the previous week, was completed. I love the cheesecake style of burlesque! I think it’s going to suit my character if I ever get the bottle to give it a proper go!

The gloves came off no problem this week, and I was delighted to start learning a “coat” routine, which to be honest made more sense once the music was playing. Very slow paced but so effective! Really, any woman could enjoy doing burlesque classes, I keep saying it, but it is such fun!

It’s been yet another pulverising week for me what with two core fitness classes besides burlesque- and a meeting about a respectable day job. I don’t mind confessing that this weekend I feel well and truly knackered!
What can Helene Bach recommend this week? Hmm… what about Radox salts? Sounds good to me!

I’ve tried and tested the “Shock absorber” range of sports bras and come across a really firm control one recently, it looks like a crop top with a bra attached inside it - a feat of engineering, but so effective when that aerobics routine really kicks off. You will not budge in this bra! They wash well and dry quite quickly even over a radiator which is always a bonus.
Speaking of bras, this week I will be learning how to remove a bra the burlesque way. No doubt this will be incorporated into a routine which I’m really looking forward to. Now this is PROPER burlesque, every week adds a little bit more to our armoury of technique. Thing is though, us beginners will look like a load of superheroes gone wrong with bras over the top of our clothes to spare the modesty of the shyer ladies. No wonder there are a lot of dog walkers outside Dance by design! see http://www.burlesque.triplemdanceacademy.co.uk/

Since posting this, I have completed course 1 and 2 in burlesque classes, also some improver's classes. I have been very busy making tassels and pasties for other performers and I am also getting ready to make my stage debut at "Roxy's Rendezvous" in Southampton in August.