Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Sneak Peek our featured performer: JAZZ and a recap of last week's S&S



As the steamy nights of summer heat up, come join us on the dancefloor. Each week Shaken and Stirred brings together the most stunning nightlife performers offering up burlesque sets every hour from 10:30 until 2am. Gorgeous GoGo starts this week brought to you by FOXY VERMOUTH. Strutting their stuff on the stage are our featured dancer JAZZ and our very special guests IRIS EXPLOSION and EKATERINA. Each week hosted by our trifecta of tease: SCOOTER PIE, RUNAROUND SUE and DJ JESS! Never a cover, Always a good time with $3 huckleberry vodka shots served from 12-1. Wanna find out a bit more about our featured performer? Well, read on darlings:

JAZZ

How did you choose your burlesque name?

JAZZ . Jazz is not only my burlesque name but also my dancer, acting, modeling name and my brand name. My real name is Jasmin and I like to stay close to who I am. A performer on stage and off stage :) Jazz mean freedom to my and do be and transform into anything. Its like jazz music that has no limits and can go anywhere from silence to total chaos.

I chose the name . It goes very well with my persona and is short and spicy :)

Who was your first celebrity crush?

My first celebrity crush was Gene Kelly ;) much hotter and sexier than fred a. Hahah

What are you currently reading?

I wish I could read more and have to remind myself always but it is a lot of Paolo Coehelio (I misspelled this hahah) and the book is called : The witch of Portobello.

Please share one of your favorite performance anecdotes:

1) A performance anecdote of mine..
There are so many..and so many I can't even recall right now ..since I have been on stage since 27 years..OMG..I m freaking out now..hahah..
Ok..one of my faves is back in Austria , I was performing on the top of a mountain for a snowboard event ..on the actual snow ..wearing "trendy" ski suits..
First of..there is nothing trendy or cute about these giant stuffed ski suits they made us wear and we are dancing jazz/pop choreography. You can bend and twist ur hips and ass as you want..doesn't really show in that giant marshmallow. They "stage" was made out of plastic squares "attached" together..on the snow..well..as we dance..I feel my stance is getting wider and wider and I fell right into a spilt ..cause the floor under me slid away!and besides me other dancers were sliding all direction ..falling out of formation..off "stage" hahah..huge chaos.

2) Another one is how I got into Aerial work.
This was here in NYC ... as I still love craigslist ..if you know how to filter through, you still can find amazing jobs.
So..they were looking for somebody who does wirework and perform a slow ballet looking number in the air...in an astronaut suit..
Ok..me Jazz who truly believes that she is a shapeshifter..never done wirework or any kind of aerial answered and got the gig based on my resume and dance footage.
I get there and this "gig" is a huge dvd recording of a rock concert of a Russian singer at the Millenium venue in Brooklyn. All musicians were hired for this special gig. Lenny Kravitz 's drummer on the drums. (Hoooottt gal and so down to earth, musicians from la..and they hired the well known aerial company anti gravity to do the rigging. I see all of this ...swallow and say..you got this Jazz.
They ask ..blabla..so you've been rigged before..yeah yeah..which I never have been..
Everything was electric controlled and quite high! Laser show and visuals over the whole stage...the audience was hired..all extras and then we get to me..I've practiced and it did go well..I played my act amazingly and fell in love with aerial!! The only real annoying part was that they only found an astronaut helmet in a kids store that had a button and u push it. And it says.. ready for take off in 3 ..2...1...and this sound of a rocket taking off into space came on..
Since I was up side down..spinning..flying..flipping..this button kept going on and on and on and I took off to space at least 20times ..hahahah

3) my last performance anecdote is my first stunt shoot and it not so much an accident but a scene I won't be able to do that often in my life..
I play an assassin working for the Japanese jakuza..hired from lesbian bosses to pretend to be a call gal, get into my victims apartment and kill him..
And I am with the most amazing and real stunt team there is...so no shadiness..hahah
I am performing all stunts which included fight choreography with 2 knives, crazy wire work, tumbling, ..all TOPLESS hahah and the end I jump on him, run 2 knifes into his neck and finish him. HA

What is your life philosophy?

Performing is what makes me feel alive to its fullest extension. It let's me travel through spaces and sensations. My hunger is getting stilled and my soul is being healed. I am shapeshifting.

How can people find you?

Please find me, book me, holla at me, inspire me, watch me..maybe get off on me...hahaha @

www.iamshapeshifting.com


Scooter Pie's Recap:
Remember last night's Shaken & Stirred? You were there- or caught us (broadcast as we are every week) on nycliverock.com, right? There was such a big, lovely crowd, and we wanted to rock with you, all night- and so we did. Gogo sensation Cookie Cutter brought her best moves (as always). Bunny Love sparkled in (and out of) pink. Tiny D made her S&S debut, stealing our hearts (and a cupcake) in the process. Apathy Angel made us drool in the late set. Runaround Sue told us a fantastic limerick (that she wrote!), and featured performer of the evening Amber Ray displayed both her vocal and tassel-twirling talents. I was there, too. The weather was lovely up on the roof. What a night! XOXO

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Sneak Peek at S&S Featuring Amber Ray and Recap of Last weeks Shaken and Stirred


Oh my goodness - what a wild wonderful time was had by all! Join us this week for another debaucherous ride at Shaken and Stirred when we featured the awe-inspiring AMBER RAY.

BIO
Amber Ray's pageantry is easily described as iconic. This variety vixen is a sensation in the evolving essence of pop art and culture. Her chameleonic qualities measure boundless variations and are sure to astonish you with her graceful confrontations and fantastical flamboyance. She is well known for her many characterized acts and adventures based on collaborations for style makers such as Anti-gravity, Susanne Bartsch, Thierry Mugler, Jackie 60, Penny Arcade and a thrivingly talented New York City performance community. She is inspired by classic burlesque, the freak chic, theater, high-fashion, old Hollywood and the feminine mystique visible in every era. You will find her most often amusing the masses through various cabaret, burlesque and variety stage productions, art installations, sitting for painters, photographers and designers as well as dazzling at high end events. Ardently sharing her love of style and luster in a purely spiritual expression, Amber Ray works as an artist, costume designer, singer, burlesque entertainer and all around creative force of nature. Promoting her love of glamour you can find her vending her personalized accoutrements. She regularly appears in various publications, and has cameos on cable & network TV. Brace Yourselffor her power-packed manifestations of absolute fabulousness.

Featured Performer Profile – Shaken and Stirred

What does Burlesque mean to you?
Divine Senusual expression.

How did you choose your name?
I was born with it.

Who was your first celebrity crush?
Davey Jones from the Monkees... in the 80s they were playing lots of reruns of their show!
It was my first concert too! Their 20th reunion tour!!!


What are you reading these days and why?
I am currently reading a book on Bowing Meditation as I have taken up studying a Korean form of Yoga called Dahn and am practicing every aspect of it.
I am also reading a book called Temptress about different types of seductresses and powerful women through time. I have dedicated my life to the art of seduction for about 15 years now... and the depth of my studies have really made the ancient feminine energy in me surface. I get high just reading these things.
I'm also reading a book on courtesans for the same reasons. I aim to be a powerful and loving force in the evolution of humanity and doing it though seduction is not only fun but thrilling.

What is your favorite performance antecdote?
seduction

Please distill your life philosophy into either a couplet or haiku:

To play, Love and Tease.
with huge Heart I'll please.

7. How can the people find out more about you?
Please join my facebook fan page (NOT my personal page, I can not add you)
My website (sadly VERY out of date, anyone want to help me with that?): www.amberray.net
Or you can email me and I will put you on my email list femmechatte@yahoo.com


And now, direct from the Lady's lips... Last weeks weekly recap brought to you by Scooter Pie:
No hyperbole here, last night's Shaken & Stirred offered up one of the most fun nights I've had with the show since I became RunAround Sue's Wednesday night partner-in-crime a year ago. This is good news, in case the world ends on Saturday. Guest Bazuka Joe of Chicago and Stage Door Johnnies fame was in town to turn us all on as a supersexy unicorn (I'll never listen to "Bolero" the same way again), gogo sensation for the evening Minnie Tonka brought the hotness all night long, while her Schlep Sister, Darlinda Just Darlinda made our jaws drop in the late-night set with her must-be-seen amazing act to "Rainbow in the Dark". RunAround Sue delighted us with a S&S debut act of wild cheetah-osity, I serenaded everyone with some Michael Jackson, and our featured lady of the week, Philly's own Lil' Steph, left us all with lusty grins on our faces. OH! And during our new game, "Two Truths and a Lie", we learned a new dirty word ("frottage"), and that it is not necessarily safe sex (ie: ouch). That's right, Shaken & Stirred is not just entertaining; it's educational, too!
Between the 11:30 and 12:30 sets, we had lots of famous performer friends in the audience (thanks to Calamity Chang, Shanghai Pearl, Apathy Angel, Jezebel Express, GoGo Harder, Lil Miss Lixx, Franny Fluffer and pals for coming out to play!), which quickly turned into one helluva wicked dance party on- and offstage.
Soo.. join us at the Delancey next week! The rooftop preshow barbeque has started for the season, so come get yer burgers and dogs, $3 huckleberry vodka shots, and give in to one incredible Wednesday night experience.
XOXO! SP

Monday, May 16, 2011

A Sneak Peek at Shaken and Stirred Featuring LIL STEPH



Well, well, well What do we have here? Could it be your favorite Wed night danceparty, Shaken and Stirred, filled with the Nation's favorite burlqy stars? Well, yes indeed it just might be! Last week was a riot with a gorgeous cast of superstars including our featured dancer, Sizzle Dizzle, and our merry band of burlqy babes Airin De Skies, Davina Gransparkle and Foxy Vermouth. Boots La Mae was our stellar gogo Gal and Twig Von Wonderkid was hot on the decks.

This week, The Delancey is starting up the Summer Cook Out for 5$ a plate up on the roof top. And starting at 10pm we've got quite a show for you. Featuring LIL STEPH from Bravissimo Burlesque in Philadelphia, with special guests BAZUKA JOE from Chicago's Stage Door Johnies and NYC's own DARLINDA JUST DARLINDA with one of New York's favorite dames on the gogo box: MINNIE TONKA. As always hosted by your trifecta of tease: RUNAROUND SUE, SCOOTER PIE AND DJ JESS! Now serving $3 Huckleberry Vodka shots courtesy of 44 Degrees North. Dancefloor open till 2am! Never a Cover - Always a good time.



And now - On to the Peeking: LIL STEPH!


1. How would you define burlesque?

To me burlesque is an opportunity for me to bring some of my crazy ideas to life on stage. I Love wearing costumes. It reminds me of being a kid and always putting on shows with my friends. We would put acts together then get people to come over and watch them. Its like taking dance classes and having recitals all the time. I love it!


2. How did you pick your name?

My name was given to me. Ive been a gogo dancer for 10 years and one day my friend Psyde Delicious announced me as Lil'Steph. It just stuck. Some people ask why are you Lil'Steph. They don't always realize I'm 4'10" cause I'm in heels when I'm performing.


3. Who is your celebrity crush?

I have 2 celebrity crushes. Johnny Depp, I loved 21 Jump Street, and Corey Haim. I had three pictures from Teen Beat on my bedroom walls. I was so sad when Corey Haim passed away.


4. What are you reading now?

Right now I'm reading Black Daliha Avenger. My boyfriend got it for me. We both love stories of strange murder cases.


5. What is your favorite performer anecdote?

My favorite performance anecdote was during a Bravissimo show. I was doing a balloon number that I pop the balloons with sparklers. I couldn't find regular sparklers so I had to get the really big ones from China Town. I had my boyfriend on the side of the stage lighting them. When I grabbed the 2nd one the top that is lit fell off onto the wood stage. I tried stomping on it like all this was part of the act, but it wouldn't go out! Meanwhile my boyfriend just kept lighting them cause he didn't notice I had almost set the stage on fire. Finally he came over and pit it out. It was pretty funny.


6. Please distill your life philosophy into a couplet or a haiku:

I'm not good at writing poetry. I just say do what makes you happy. It doesn't matter what you are "supposed to do" or who others want you to be. You have one life, live it the way you want it!


7. Where can people find you?

Check out my monthly show in Philly, Bravissimo Burlesque. Go to my website: www.lilsteph.com to see where I will be next. And become my friend on facebook: Stephanie LilSteph











































Monday, May 9, 2011

May Days with Sugar Shack Burlesque


Greetings from the Sugar Shack! As we prepare for the hot days of summer, Sugar Shack Burlesque brings you a diverse array of shows to tickle your fancy. If you're in NYC, the Berkshires, the Hamptons, NJ, or NC keep your eyes peeled for our unpeeling!

Special Announcement: Shaken and Stirred extended till 2am with a fuller cast and more time to rock it on the dance floor! As always each Wednesday day we bring you, Shaken and Stirred, NYC's favourite burlesque dance party featuring the most gorgeous go-go, the sharpest burlesque and the hottest dance floor in town. Hosted by our own trifecta of good times, RunAround Sue, Scooter Pie and DJ Jess.

Shaken and Stirred
Every Wednesday Night
The Delancey
168 Delancey St. (between Clinton and Attorney, LES)
9:30 Go-go, Burlesque sets at 10:30, 11:30 and 12:30
No Cover!
Complimentary Huckleberry Vodka Shots after each set

Guest Schedule:


May 4th Featuring LEGS MALONE with Special Guests LUVELY RAE and TANSY!
May 11th Featuring SIZZLE DIZZLE with Special Guests DAVINA GRANDSPARKLE and JONNY PORKPIE
May 18th Featuring LIL STEPH with Special Guests BAZUKA JOE and DARLINDA JUST DARLINDA
May 25th Featuring AMBER RAY with Special Guests APATHY ANGEL and BUNNY LOVE


May 5th
The Southern Exposure Tour

NC Stage Company

15 Stage lane
Asheville, NC
www.ncstage.org
Doors 7pm, Show 8pm
$15 Cash at the Door

Sugar Shack Burlesque is tickled pink to be making their NC Debut at the legendary NC Stage Company starring International Burlesque performers RunAround Sue and Bunny Love and featuring many of North Carolina’s most talented burlesque dancers. The Southern Exposure tour will shimmy into Asheville for a festive show at the NC Stage Company on May 5th. Doors at 7pm, Show at 8pm. Tickets are 15$ cash at the door - arrive early ...to ensure a seat! For questions, drop us a line at sugarshackburlesque@gmail.com

International performers and burlesque darlings of NYC, Bunny Love and RunAround Sue are missing their southern roots. With a few costumes, a handful of pasties, a bit of glitter, two guitars and a uke these two burlqy babes are hitting the road and joining forces with the South’s' most sizzling shows to spread the burlesque love.

Sharing the stage with them are Tiger Roxx and Jenn Martin who regularly heat up Greensboro with their troupe, Purrlesque Burlesque and Asheville’s very own burlesque and aerial star Lucille Castille. Burlesque is the art of the striptease, with a focus on the tease. This show is a revival of an American art form that has become an international movement.


May 12th
Sensing the Sensual - a night of spoken word burlesque
In collaboration with the Inspired Word

One and One (downstairs Nexus Lounge)
76 East 1st Street (corner of 1st Avenue)
Manhattan, NY
6:30 - 10pm
10$

Sugar Shack Burlesque Presents "Shimmying the Spoken Word: Sensing the Sensual" in collaboration with the Inspired Word, featuring some of New York City's most original artists - Dame CuchiFrita, Calamity Chang, RunAround Sue, Advocate of Wordz, Jo Boobs, Jonny PorkPie, John DeVore, Jen Kwok and Karen Lee. You've seen burlesque set to music, watch NYC's finest burlesque stars take on the spoken word!

Plus, a 10-slot open mic (open to ALL types of artists, but pieces MUST be geared toward our theme - something sensual about the senses).


May 13th
PRIVATE BURLESQUE WORKSHOP/BIRTHDAY PARTY

Interested in learning the art of tease? Want to make your birthday party, bachelorette party or other festive night especially special? Email us at bookings@sugarshackburlesque and we'll help you craft an unforgettable evening!


May 20th (and every third Friday of every month)
YOU TEASE! UNLEASHING YOUR INNER VAMP
Happy Hour Burlesque Workshops
Complimentary Champagne
SHAG
108 Roebling St.
Williamsburg, NY
www.weloveshag.com
8 - 9:30pm, $50

This introductory class is taught by the International Producer of Sugar Shack Burlesque: Miss RunAround Sue and is a perfect way to revv up your engines for the weekend! Sip upon complimentary champagne while Miss Sue leads participants through the basic moods and attitudes of burlesque while encouraging students to use their own uniqueness to infuse the choreography taught in class. Choreography will include the bumps and grinds, stocking and glove peels and other classic burlesque moves. This workshop is perfect for students wishing to dip their toes in performance or simply wanted to spice up their private life. Students are asked to bring a pair of heels. Each class includes complimentary champagne and a personal performance for the class by a rotating cast of NY's brightest burlesque stars. Class is limited to 15 students.

May 28th

The Girls of Summer

Stephen Talkhouse
161 Main St
Amagansett NY
Doors at 7pm, Show at 8pm, $15

Sugar Shack Burlesque is tickled pink to be making their debut at the legendary Stephen’s Talkhouse on May 28th. Although no stranger to the Hamptons, Sugar Shack Burlesque produces a lively vaudeville revue every summer at Sole East in Montauk. For the first show at Stephen’s Talkhouse, Sugar Shack Burlesque is bringing together the charm of Russia’s most darling contortionist, Ekaterina, the allure of the Big Apples blondest bombshell, Ruby Valentine, the international “make it happen girl”, RunAround Sue and the Sweetheart of the Sideshow, The Lady Aye.

A show not to be missed, full of old school glamour, modern high jinks, sword swallowing, contortionists, fan dancers and more tricks and charms to steal your heart. Join us as we modernize the bumps and grinds while maintaining the cheeky demureness of the golden age of burlesque.

Called the "... renowned New York troupe, with a sizeable reputation on the city's pioneering neo-burlesque scene for mixing old-school charms with new confrontational twists" by TimeOut London; Sugar Shack Burlesque is now in its fourth year of providing unstoppable heart racing entertainment to the Hamptons. Don’t miss your chance to see this international troupe in action. For tickets, visit Stephen Talkhouse online at www.stephentalkhouse.com or call 631-267-3117.



Special Thanks to Break Thru Radio for including us in their recent piece, "NY's Evolving Burlesque Scene Unzipped" Check it out here: http://youtu.be/NpRdifICKOY


photo credit: Corwin Green, "RunAround Sue prays in New Orleans"

A Sneak peek at SHAKEN AND STIRRED FEATURING SIZZLE DIZZLE


Ladies and Gentlemen,
We are excited to say we have cooked up something special for you over at our weekly danceparty, Shaken and Stirred. Our party is now extended till 2am with a fuller cast, rooftop cookout, and superfine pre-show with live music. GoGo now starts at 10pm with burlesque sets at 10:30, 11:30, and 12:30am. The Secret Track shimmies in at 130 am and DJ JESS keeps the floor jumping till 2am. As always, complimentary huckleberry shots provided by 44 Degrees North Vodka.

And who might be our darling of tease this week? None other than the Mighty Minx: SIZZLE DIZZLE. You can find her this wed. shaking it in the Sugar Shack with DIVINA GRANDSPARKLE and JONNY PORKPIE. Making her debut this week is FOXY VERMOTH. And revving up your gogo engine is BOOTS LA MAE. As always, hosted by SCOOTER PIE and RUNAROUND SUE.

Interested in a learning a little bit about our featured performer before this wednesday? Take a peek my darlings,

SIZZLE DIZZLE

The Pint-Sized Powerhouse of Burlesque! Entertaining is in this energized lady's blood, having performed on both coasts of this great nation. Such venues include Public Assembly, Slipper Room, Niagara, Bar on A, Barrette, Union Hall, Identity, Rehab, Coney Island, Palace of Wonders, Hells' Kitchen Lounge, M Bar, Fat Baby, and Los Angeles's Sunset Striptacular, where she was crowned "Best Attack on the Audience!"
Bursting with extraordinary enthusiasm Sizzle Dizzle hopes you enjoy the show and reminds you the second most contagious action is a smile.



  1. What does Burlesque mean to you? When I describe burlesque to virgins, I call it striptease performance art. To me, burlesque is how I communicate a story, idea or emotion to the audience.
  1. How did you choose your name? I was once involved with a production company and my three business partners (knowing I was a trained Fosse dancer) gave me my name, Sizzle Dizzle
  1. Who was your first celebrity crush? Marvin the Martian- I loved the way he walked and that you could never see his full face.
  1. What are you reading these days and why? Creative Visualization by Shakti Gawain. This will be my third time reading it and I read it when I'm in need of a creative tune-up.
  1. What is your favorite performance antecdote? At Drive Thru Burlesque's December show, I played God to Tigger!'s Virgin Mary- he blew me and then I fucked him doggy style. It was awesome!
  1. Please distill your life philosophy into either a couplet or haiku: I don't have one particular life philosophy but this is one of my favorite quotes that gets me through tough and trying times: "Enthusiasm...my tonic, the elixir for worn muscles, frazzled and outworn patience." (Charlie Chaplin)

7. How can the people find out more about you? My website: www.SizzleDizzleBurlesque.com and my monthly burlesque show I co-produce, Drive Thru Burlesque: www.facebook.com/drivethruburlesque