Burlesque vs. the Real World
Ever had to defend yourself to your boss when someone outed you as a performer? Had relatives leave Thanksgiving dinner when your stage life came up? Been recognized while in your sweats when buying toilet paper? Been objectified (not in a good way) by your date? Discuss how your performer and non-performer lives overlap both beneficially and...not so much.
Lecture
About the Teacher - Lottie Ellington
Lottie Ellington is Virginia’s infamous “Twerking Teacher” who's "Twerk BROKE Hopewell"; Lottie has a unique style, comedic wit and a flair for the dramatic; she revels in keeping the audience on the edge of their seats! ” Lottie began dancing at the age of 4 and continued studying various types of dance throughout her life. She has studied the art of the tease while honing skills as a performer, she has studied jazz, hoop dance, hip hop dance, fan dance, Congolese dance, ballroom dance and belly dance. Her numbers are usually comedic in nature and primarily considered to be a Neo-Burlesque/Nerdlesque performer however she is a well-rounded performer and has been expanding her range of "Classic Burlesque" numbers. Lottie made her Burlesque debut in 2011 and has continued pushing the boundaries of Neo Burlesque. She has performed in the Michigan Burlesque Festival, The Great Burlesque Expo in Boston, Fierce Burlesque Festival, and recently won the title of Burly Pics Michigan’s 2015 Master of Assels.
About the Panelist - CoCo LeBod
CoCo was drawn to burlesque because of the community's appreciation of the female body- all shapes, sizes, colors, etc. No matter who you are, you are sexy with burlesque! CoCo is a member of the South Florida burlesque troup, Divas and Dolls. When not performing, you can find CoCo studying her first loves- ballet, modern and musical theatre, as well as Pilates
About the Panelist - Scarlett Letter
Scarlett Letter has been dazzling the world since 2004 and stunning them even longer. A long time fixture of the Los Angeles Burlesque scene, Scarlett has graced stages across North America and Europe and has won several awards along the way. Also a costumer and producer, Scarlett is known for a dark cold beauty reminiscent of Hollywood Noir and the classic Hitchock heroine.
"With 4 feet of red hair and miles of bad intentions"
About the Panelist - Scratch
The Founding Chair of The Great Burlesque Exposition and the co-founder of The Boston BeauTease, Scratch is a well-known and well-respected M.C., producer, and teacher.
About the Panelist - Shimmy LaRoux
A Chicago burlesque performer and model, Shimmy LaRoux is your bad girl with good home training. Bringing a combination of refined charm and exotic good looks, Shimmy is able to channel classic Hollywood, be playfully cheeky or serve fierce diva realness. Shimmy LaRoux is sassy, classy…but never ashy!