On Friday, March 9th, the delightfully demented Kiki Maroon with be presented another installment of Kiki’s Sordid Sideshow Extravaganza! The self-described showing of “Twisted Vaudeville Delights” includes classic and neo-burlesque beauties, naughty stripping clowns, a belly dancing unicorn, singing jezebels, dancing chicken showgirls and the circus-loving Gypsy Swamp band. The show starts at 9:30 p.m. at Last Concert Cafe.

I had the pleasure of meeting the irrepressible Miss Kiki a few month ago when we both performed with Dem Damn Dames. I can’t really describe her act except to say that she can make balloon “animals” that would get you arrested at a kid’s party. She’s also gorgeous and funny as hell. In other words, if you’re up for some adult fun, this is the show for you!

At the opposite end of the spectrum, the beautiful gals of the Houston Burlesque Revue will be entertaining patrons at Prohibition on Saturday, March 10th. With matching blonde pin curls and angelic white feather fans, the girls fit right in with the 1930s speakeasy vibe of the bar which is located in the Galleria.

Because of the in-mall location, the 9 p.m. dinner show shows a little less skin than some other live burlesque. But I’ve heard that patrons of the midnight “late show” might get a little extra peek. BTW, this is a weekly show, so you have no excuse to not get out there and cheer these ladies on!

Finally, St. Patrick brings blessings in the form of the Ruby Revue show on Saturday, March 17th at the House of Blues. This Dallas-based troupe, headed by Ginger Valentine and Missy Lisa, always puts on an incredible show. The theme of this month’s production is “Stripping Through the Ages – 80s Edition,” so you know it’s gonna be totally rad.

It’s the holiday season, and at Lady Grace Academy that means it’s lap dance time! In what’s become a yearly tradition, we’ll be offering our Holiday Lap Dance class just in time to give your special Santa a Christmas treat of his own.

Although the idea of a lap dance generally conjures up images of gentlemen’s clubs and dimly lit back-room encounters, we do things a little differently. We like to make it fun, flirty and definitely sexy, while still keeping it classy. Oh, and of course we have to throw a little burlesque in the mix as well. This video of our Honey Bunny lap dance class (shot last year) will give you a good idea of how we do it.

This year, we’re offering the class on  Saturday, Dec. 17th. Visit our curriculum page and click the “workshops” button for more information or to sign up.

Believe it or not, there exists a 4-day convention devoted solely to the practitioners, producers and professors of burlesque. It’s called BurlyCon, and I was excited to attend it for the second time this past weekend.

First held in 2008, BurlyCon is the brainchild of Indigo Blue and Jo Weldon, two of the burlesque world’s most popular performers, teachers and preservationists. Unlike other burlesque festivals and expos that highlight performances, this weekend-long gathering contains no show and no audience. Rather, all activities at BurlyCon are focused on the behind-the-scenes components of burlesque: building skills, deepening knowledge and growing as a community.

Initially, I was undecided about attending since there is still so much work to be done to get the Lady Grace Academy launched. But after looking over the amazing roster of classes and teachers, I decided at the last minute that I HAD to attend. So I filled a suitcase with stockings, dance shoes, satin gloves and giant ostrich feather fans (which got my suitcase searched by the TSA) and boarded a 6 a.m. flight for Seattle on Thursday morning. By that afternoon I was learning about “Shimmying Up the Burlesque Ladder” from Darlinda Just Darlinda and punishing my knees in an intense floor work class from the adorable Peekaboo Pointe.

The class schedule was an embarrassment of riches – often two or more workshops I really wanted to take were happening at the same time. But, that’s what next year is for. There were a few minor disappointments along the way (unfortunately Michelle L’Amour was sick and unable to teach the fan dance classes), but even those were made up for by wonderful substitute teachers such as Jezebel Express and Sydni Deveraux.

And, just like last year, there were numerous vendors selling all the sparkly things every burly girl dreams of. I bought two hair flowers from Amber Ray (to add to my already growing collection of her perfectly crafted flowers) and gloves and pasties from the charming Penny Starr, Jr.

Looking through my notebook filled with ideas on everything from musicality to contract law to stocking removal, I know that going was the right decision. I feel like I have even more tools to use as a performer and more knowledge to impart as a teacher. Now all I have to do is unpack and get going. Time for another Red Bull!

Some sparkly things came back home with me!

Painting began at the studio today, and the color (a lovely coral-pink, appropriately called “Hopeful”) is even prettier than I expected.

Since I decided to keep the red ceiling that was already in place, finding the right shade of pink was a little trickier than I anticipated. But with a little luck, and the keen eye of my husband/graphic designer/web guru, it looks like we found a match.

While painting goes on in the studio, work goes on with revamping the website and getting a class schedule in place. And speaking of classes, stay tuned for a very exciting announcement in the next few days about an upcoming workshop that you wont want to miss.

I just returned from visiting the sign company (United Alliance on Westpark – I highly recommend them) that will be transforming the Lady Grace logo into an 8′ x 5′ sign that will hang outside the studio. The above pic is their approximation of how the finished product will look. If it’s possible to love an inanimate object, then I’m already head over heels for this sign.

While we were there, my husband and I got to tour the facility and check out the amazing amount of work that goes into creating these giant works of art. There were guys cutting and bending aluminum, creating shapes out of neon, and repairing and repainting signs that had been damaged by wear or weather. Up until now, I’d never consciously noticed business signs – but now I find myself studying each one as I drive past. In a lot of instances, it’s the first impression a person has of a business. Hopefully, the Lady Grace sign will make a good one. It should be ready by mid-October, which should line it up perfectly for the grand opening.

In other news, the studio is coming along nicely. I’ve got a painter all lined up – I just need to make up my mind about the color. My web designer (a.k.a. my husband) is hard at work on the new website, and I’m busily planning the class schedule for the rest of 2011.

And for all of you lovely ladies who have sent emails and asked to be updated about classes, I promise I’m adding each of you to the list of people who will be notified as soon as we have a schedule and sign-up forms available. Thank you so much for your interest. I can’t wait to meet you all!

The Lady Grace Academy specializes in teaching “classic” burlesque. It’s wonderful, it’s fun, it’s feminine, but … what the heck is it?? In the two years I’ve been teaching, this question has been posed more times than I can remember. And with the release of movies like “Burlesque” (which featured every kind of dancing except “classic” burlesque) the meaning only gets further muddied. So, while everyone’s take on this topic is slightly different, I’m going to give you an idea of what I consider to be classic burlesque and what you’ll learn at Lady Grace.

Burlesque evolved from variety shows that criss-crossed the country in the early part of the 1900s. Often there would be dancing girls, comedians, magicians, novelty acts and a headlining solo dancer. This solo dancer would perform a long, slow striptease routine set to music (often 10-15 minutes) in which she would remove a gown, gloves, stockings, etc … until she was wearing a g-string and pasties. If she was particularly talented, she might have tassels on her pasties which she could twirl with a bit of coordination and a lot of help from gravity. This solo dancer is the basis of today’s “classic” burlesque.

These days, most burlesque shows are strictly dancers (with an emcee serving as additional entertainment) and the individual numbers have been trimmed down to 3-5 minutes. Occasionally, a troupe will perform a group number, but it’s still the solo dancers that dominate the show.

In the Lady Grace Burlesque Basics 4-week class, you take the first steps toward becoming a solo dancer – a star in your own spotlight. You learn posture, stance, movement and poise. Most importantly, you gain the confidence of being comfortable in your own body and knowing that – no matter what your age, size or shape – you’re perfect exactly the way you are.

In class we spend time talking about famous performers from the past and present, and we draw on their star qualities to help shape our own individual burlesque personas. And while there is no actual stripping in class (the most we remove is a satin glove), you’ll learn the mechanics of moving sensually to music and becoming one with the beat of a song.

If you have any interest in becoming a burlesque performer, the classes are a terrific first step. If you aren’t sure that you’d ever want to perform, but still want to dip your toe in the water – you’re the perfect student. And if you’re certain that you’d NEVER perform, but just want to try something fun, feminine and totally unique – then you’re my dream student! All it takes is a little curiosity and the ability to get yourself to show up for the first class. I promise – we’ll take it from there

The first Burlesque Basics series in the newly re-vamped studio will be start in a little more than a month. Our calendar of classes will be released next week, so stay tuned.

Insurance coverage is being finalized today, so now it’s time to start hiring painters for the interior and getting a sign made for the exterior.

I got a chance to get over to the studio today and take a look around. It still has all the great energy from years of classes, but it’s empty of all furnishings. The fact that the electricity was off made it a quick, warm trip.

I’m excited by the possibilities. There’s plenty of floor space for dancing. But there’s also a fantastic space off the dance floor that I think can be turned into a conversation area. There’s also room for some merchandise (boas, satin gloves) and a sweet little office where all the administrative work can happen.

Luckily, no major construction work needs to be done. A fresh coat of pale pink paint, some rugs, a few sofas and chairs … and it’ll be ready for it’s new life.

It’s official: At midnight, 3221 Houston Ave becomes Lady Grace Academy – for the instruction of Burlesque and Feminine Arts.

I signed the lease this afternoon and will take possession tomorrow. I’ve just popped the cork on a bottle of Piper-Heidsieck champagne and look forward to an evening of celebration before the real work begins.

Cheers!

If all goes according to plan, I’ll take possession of the studio on September 1st. Crossing my fingers …