Closing Night

Dear Constant Reader,


Please vote for The Boston Babydolls every day!

Tonight is the last performance of The Bod of Avon. As usual, that’s bittersweet. We’re excited for the show tonight and sorry it’s the last one.

This show had a lot of challenges and I think we’re all glad that we’re done with that. The venue cancelled some of our dates. The snow storm cancelled more. We had to set up the theatre and dressing room every night and break it down, which meant we had to have *very* simple staging (hence the video backdrops). Our last show was The Wrathskellar, with set dressing in 2 rooms plus the theatre and a revolving stage. Quite a change.

After this, we focus on our new act for The Expo, plus our performances at the rescheduled Mardi Gras Ball!

Just for fun (and to reward you for voting), here’s Betty getting naughty with a glove at the 2011 Victory Party. Photo from Time Out Boston.
betty_0511ttdbabydollsphoenix03

M2

Published in: on 23 February 2013 at 11:57 am  Comments (1)  
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Friday Tip!

Dear Constant Reader,


Please vote for The Boston Babydolls every day!

Dance to music you love.

You’re going to be listening to that song constantly. Listen to it while you brainstorm, choreograph, practice, perform, while you’re in the car, walking around, before you go to sleep. You should know that music in your bones. And if you don’t love it, all the above becomes a chore. If you do, it’s a delight and that comes through in your performance.

M2

Published in: on 22 February 2013 at 11:12 am  Leave a Comment  
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E Pluribus Unum

Dear Constant Reader,


Please vote for The Boston Babydolls every day!

I was thrilled and surprised to learn that the folks at Rate Your Burn had named me one of Boston’s 16 best dance instructors for 2012!

So, why is my subject a Latin quote from the Great Seal of the United States, instead of something like “Hurray!” or “Yay!”? It means, as you all know, “From Many, One”* and I think the honor needs to go to the entire staff at B.A.B.E. because the excellence there does not come from any one of us (including me) alone.

So I want to thank all the Burly-Q Party hostesses, Introduction to Burlesque teachers, and Beyond Basic Burlesque instructors for making B.A.B.E. such a great place: Devora Darling, Evie Sphinx, Betty Blaize, Brigitte Bisoux, Stella Diamond, and Scratch.

Thank you for your skill, your enthusiasm, and your dedication. Onward & upward!

M2

* It comes from a Roman poem about cheese spread. Really. And the cheese is pretty tasty too.

Published in: on 21 February 2013 at 9:31 am  Leave a Comment  
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Review: Retro Makeup

Dear Constant Reader,


Please vote for The Boston Babydolls every day!

And while you’re doing that, please also vote for Jennifer Pelland for Best Author. She is a science fiction writer (and belly dancer), author of the novel Machine & the short story collection Unwelcome Bodies, and her fiction has appeared in numerous anthologies. She’s lost the Nebula award twice (once to Harlan Ellison), so let’s stop that nonsense. Besides, what’s that Lehane guy done lately?

Retro Makeup: Techniques for Applying the Vintage Look by Lauren Rennells.

I’m very happy with Vintage Hairstyling: Retro Styles with Step-by-Step Techniques, so I was pleased to see Ms. Rennells had a new book. Once again she has produced a book full of fabulous photographs and step by step instructions. Retro Makeup contains information about all the basics of applying makeup, like contouring, grooming brows, and lining lips, and information on the tools of the trade. There’s even a section on the best lipstick colors for your skin tone.

Her scope is the 1920’s through the 1950’s. There’s a great deal of historical information on makeup styles and cosmetics. You’ll learn about tanning, war-time makeup rationing, and why the most popular shade of powder was called “Rachel”. Not only is there a guide to applying false lashes, she shows the appropriate style for each decade. The book is peppered with photos of vintage cosmetic packaging and tools. The beauty fad sidebars are fun — will rouged earlobes ever come back into fashion?

The decade by decade chapters highlight brow and lip shapes as well as hallmark colors. There are only a few “looks” in each chapter, which may be initially disappointing, but it’s really an excuse for experimentation. Makeup is so intensely personal, dependent on skin coloration and face shape. There’s more than enough instruction for the reader to make up her own face in a historically accurate way that flatters her.

M2

Published in: on 20 February 2013 at 10:07 am  Leave a Comment  
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Birthday Update

Dear Constant Reader,


Please vote for The Boston Babydolls every day!

And the birthday festivities consisted of:

A little time to lounge on the day bed and read a long-hoarded book. (The Wind Through the Keyhole.)

Lunch at Myers + Chang. (It’s my pick for “Best Chinese Restaurant“)

A nearly private screening of A Good Day to Die Hard. (Yes, that was my choice. I like action movies. And Bruce Willis.)

A drink at the Ritz Bar. (I know it’s called the Taj these days, but to Spenser fans, it will always be The Ritz.)

All in all, a lovely day.

M2

Published in: on 19 February 2013 at 8:07 pm  Leave a Comment  

Birthday!

Dear Constant Reader,


Please vote for The Boston Babydolls every day!

It’s my birthday today! The perfect gift would be for you to vote for The Boston Babydolls!

Scratch has some surprise planned for me, so I’ll be away from my writing desk for most of the day.

M2

Published in: on 19 February 2013 at 8:10 am  Leave a Comment  

Not the Original Plan

Dear Constant Reader,


Please vote for The Boston Babydolls every day!

No sooner had I written yesterday’s missive about our show, the client called to reschedule it due to the snow. Now I had an unexpectedly free Sunday. What to do?

Into the sewing room I went and this was the result. Pray forgive the terrible photos, my camera is just not very good and it’s so hard to shoot oneself in a mirror and look stunning doing it. To make up for it, you can see Albert, the Manor cat, snoozing on the day bed.

top hat img_2426The bra and skirt are from an old circus-themed fan dance. I thought the outfit needed a little top hat. Usually I make hats from buckram & millinery wire, but I wanted something quick & dirty. This is made with a paper cup, some cardboard, and hot glue. Tutorial may be forthcoming.

panel img_2438If you saw The Wrathskellar this year, you might recognize this as the “Blue Angel” costume. That version has skirts made from silk veils. I wanted a panel skirt with less volume and had this great embroidered fabric. Sewing hand-rolled hems takes a long time, but it’s worth it.

I didn’t plan to work on *two* blue costumes; it just worked out that way.

M2

Published in: on 18 February 2013 at 8:01 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Snippets on a Sunday

Dear Constant Reader,


Please vote for The Boston Babydolls every day!

Busy day today. We’re off to a corporate gig in Rhode Island shortly where we’ll be staging two performances of a classic revue, mostly featuring The July Project. Then back to Babydoll HQ for rehearsal.

Next Saturday is the last performance of The Bod of Avon. Last chance to see a show that’s been called “gorgeous”, “beautiful”, “brilliant”, “sexy and hilarious”.

Today is Stella’s birthday! Wish her a happy one! (stella@bostonbabydolls.com) Diamonds, long-stemmed roses, and Italian lingerie would also be happily accepted. Or you could just vote for us. That would make her happy too.

And here’s your reward for voting:

dd-victory-2012_49299264478_o
Devora Darling performing at the 2012 Victory Party to The Unluckiest Band with Alissa Coates singing. Photo by John L. Bilotti.

M2

Published in: on 17 February 2013 at 8:40 am  Leave a Comment  
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Victory Could Be Yours

Dear Constant Reader,


Please vote for The Boston Babydolls every day!

You may be asking yourself, O Constant Reader, “What’s in it for me? Sure, it’s true that the Boston Babydolls are far & away the best burlesque troupe in Boston, but why should I have to click my mouse a couple of times every day for them? What do I get out of it?”

Not only do you get the warm & fuzzy satisfaction of doing the right thing, you get the gratitude of several scantily-clad women. AND you get invited to an awesome victory party.

That’s right, if we win, we’ll throw another fabulous party, free to our supporters. In years past we’ve had free food, great music, prizes, performances by special guests, and of course, The Boston Babydolls, accompanied by a live band.

You can read about our 2011 Victory Party as experienced by Dig columnist Bar Havoc.

And, just to get you coming back here and voting, I’ll be occasionally posting pictures from our parties. Here, for example, is Evie Sphinx, when she was just a baby Babydoll, dancing to “Purple Wail” as performed by The Bone Masters. (Photo from Time Out Boston)

evie_0511ttdbabydollsphoenix05

M2

Published in: on 16 February 2013 at 9:10 am  Leave a Comment  
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Friday Tip!

Dear Constant Reader,


Please vote for The Boston Babydolls every day! There’s a little treat below as a thank you…

Chairs are for your butt, not your bag.

When you’re some place with limited seating, like most dressing rooms and back stages, find some other place to put your stuff. Don’t deprive someone else of a place to perch.

The 2nd Montreal International Burlesque Festival 2010 @ Club Soda = YES

chair = NO

Easy to remember!
M2

Published in: on 15 February 2013 at 10:11 am  Leave a Comment  
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