Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekender is a yearly event held in Las Vegas. Its main purpose is to raise funds to support the Burlesque Hall of Fame Museum; however, it is much more than that. It’s a chance for the burlesque community to showcase talent, network, and to meet and recognize the striptease legends who paved the way in the art form.
The performances at the 2015 Weekender kicked off at the Orleans Casino Showroom with the Movers, Shakers, and Innovators showcase. Hosts Jonny Porkpie and Blanche Debris started the showcase with an enthusiastic number that included many of the burlesque world’s superstars: Dirty Martini, Indigo Blue, Michelle L’amour, Jo Weldon, and more made an appearance onstage.
After the opening number, Iva Handfull came out in a giant, flowing, purple and black Victorian dress designed by Jamie Von Stratton. Her song was a crazy, energetic mega-mix that allowed her to showcase her fierce performance style. After Iva, things mellowed out a bit during a graceful number by Paco Fish, and following him, Nikita Bitch Project did a comical go-go dancing Godzilla act. New York’s AeroTrapeze’s followed with sensual moves on the trapeze that had the crowd at the edge of their seats.
Marilyn Monroe-esque burlesque star Missy Lisa was up next with an act that started out as a classic number to the tune “Hey Big Spender,” and ended with her bumping and grinding to Kanye West’s “Gold Digger.” The performers who followed, Lando Blaze and Narcissa, were pretty comical, and can best be described as a silly scarf tornado. Their facial expressions were hilarious, full of wonder and concentration. Sukki Singapora, from Singapore, followed with a beautiful fan dance, and after her Fishnet Follies came out and did a group number that involved some great choreography and lap dancing.
Things got awesome, nerdy, and weird when Seattle’s Wet After Midnight — a group comprised of Randi Rascal, Tootsie Spangles, Flirty Sanchez, Heidi Von Haught, and Bella Bijoux — came onstage. They did a Gremlins act that was super fun. Flirty Sanchez came out in the most adorable mogwai onesie and was turned into a gremlin after an unfortunate encounter with a Big Gulp.
After that comical act, Bazuka Joe came out and did a beautiful dance that showed off his physique and dance moves. He was followed by Tansy and her Ferocious Lion, one of my favorite acts of the entire festival. Tansy’s costume and choreography were on point, and her lion was an amazingly athletic performer, leaping and flipping all over the stage. After that, April O’Peel made a baby with a mop, Sugar Cane Jane showed off her amazing flexibility, and then Hard Corey did a tribute to Andy Kaufman’s “Mighty Mouse” bit.
Cherry On Top’s act was out of this world, literally. She transformed from a Southern belle-looking lady with a parasol to an astronaut claiming the moon on behalf of the Burlesque Hall of Fame. Jonny Porkpie and Blanche Debris were delighted, and they declared that one of the official hashtags for the weekend would be #NASAfucking. Many attendees took them seriously and used it all weekend long.
Mr. Gorgeous was the final performer. He was doing his step-down performance — last year he was crowned Mr. Exotic World (King of Boylesque).
The only act that I didn’t get to photograph was Ruthe Ordare’s performance. The Vancouver, Canada performer requested that her act not be photographed. Her act called attention to violence against Indigenous women and was very beautiful, real, and thought-provoking.
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Heather Schofner is the features editor of VerbicideMagazine.com and the owner of Olympia, Washington-based Heather Schofner Photography.