Monday, December 14, 2015

Happy Holidays!

It´s time to wrap it up and get into the Holiday mood! Thank you everyone I have had the pleasure to work with this past year <3 As always, I´m super grateful to my ladies Sandy & Pepper for everything, the Studio Shangri-La Ladybosses Tinker Bell & Turrrbocherry for giving me a chance at teaching there and to hubby for support and shared adventures <3 As there won´t be any more gigs this year (I´m leaving to Thailand in a week and spending Xmas with my toes in the sand- HURRAH!!!) there will, however, be a workshop at Perhosvoltti and the info to that is in the previous post here on the blog -check it out!

Have yourself a great, relaxing and glittering Holiday season and see you in a few weeks! Remember to follow my facebook for info and updates!!!


Saturday, December 12, 2015

Last gig of the year!


Tonight is my last gig of this year -it´s been a pretty hectic week with a lot of work and this is the third nights of performing in a row but I´M SO EXCITED! i get to share the stage with some of my favourite people <3 See you at Tehdas everyone!!!

Remember to rign up for the Korkkarikimmellys-workshop soon so it´ll happen! 

Oletko aina halunnut kävellä korkokengillä, mutta uskallus loppuu? Miten jalat jaksaa koko illan upeissa (mutta epäkäytännöllisissä) kengissä? Huutavatko jalat hoosiannaa pikkujoulusesongin jäljiltä? Tässä upea mahdollisuus valmistautua vastaanottamaan uusi vuosi säihkyvästi ja itsevarmuutta uhkuen!
Työpajassa käydään läpi korkkari-asiaa kenkien valinnasta perus kävely-ja liikkumistekniikkaan ja opetellaan pari perus-poseerausliikettä esim. valokuviin. Tuntien aikana tehdään fyysisiä harjoitteita ja helppoa koreografiaa, joten varaa matkaan tanssimiseen sopivat kengät ja mukava liikuntavaatetus (esim. legginsit) sekä vesipullo! Tunnilla myös lihaskunto-osuus!

Myös lahjakorttina pukinkonttiin! Lahjakorttiasioissa laita meiliä perhosvoltti@gmail.com.

Paikkoja rajoitetusti! Ilmoittautuminen aukeaa 5.12.2015. 

Opettaja Gigi Praline on suomiburleskin vakikasvoja vuodesta 2010 ja kuuluu Burleskinstituutin opettajakuntaan. Hänellä on esiintymiskokemusta sekä kotimaisilta että ulkomaisilta lavoilta ja hän on 1/3 Thee Dizzy Daisies-triosta. Gigi opettaa mm. burleskitanssia The Shangri-La Studiolla Helsingissä.

Monday, November 30, 2015

Fata Morgana

This Saturday there will be a huge party in lahti with three stages full of art, music (Atomirotta! among others) fashion and what not! Me and Pepper will be shaking our tail feathers there so come join the fun!
More info here !


Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Upcoming gigs

This Saturday me, Bettie Blackheart, Lola Vanilla, Bent van der Bleu and Miss Acrolicous will perform at the Speakeasy-event at Tähti in Kuopio! More info here! ALSO dahlings, -I am teaching a workshop on Saturday in Kuopio on high heels, posing and we´re working on an easy coreo (dress easy and get ready to sweat a bit ;) and there´s still space left! If you´re interested drop Miss Acrolicious an e-mail (missacrolicious@gmail.com) The workshop costs 30e.

Please note that this will only be the beginning of a busy Holiday-time, you can catch me on several occasions all over the place haha! See you <3


Monday, November 9, 2015

Moonday!


Our last dress (less) rehersals for our new group choreo are DONE! 
See you on Thursday on Wäiski for Pirates Pleasures (MATT KNIFE people!!!) and if you have tix on Saturday! 

Monday: survived 



Friday, November 6, 2015


It's a pretty crazy time ATM and I don't have the time to update this blog as much as I'd like but all is well! Working on two new choreos that will both premiere at the sold out Finnish Burlesque Gala in a week and as usual things seem to get some in the last minute :) I'm such a "great" planner haha! 
To get updated please go "like" my entertainer page www.facebook.com/GigiPralineBurlesque
Have a great weekend, folks <3 
(Photo by Asko Jonathan Photography)

Monday, October 26, 2015

Vieläkin Kimmeltää!

Huomio Lahti!

Teknisten ongelmien vuoksi EnergyFly:n sivuilla paja näyttää täyttä MUTTA SINNE MAHTUU VIELÄ :) Selkeyden vuoksi ilmoittaudu sähköpostitse jooga@energyfly.fi tai soita puh. 0504657555 

Työpaja on siis alkeisjatko kevään Minäkin kimmellän!-burlekin alkeistyöpajalle mutta sinne voi tulla vaikkei olisi tätä edeltävää käynytkään. Kurssilla syvennytään mm. burleskin tanssillisiin liikkeisiin, jatketaan kehollisia treenejä pilke silmäkulmassa ja tehdään helppoa koreografiaa.

Paja tarvitsee toteutuakseen 6 osallistujaa.

Aurinkoa viikkoon <3   -Gigi

Sunday, October 11, 2015

Pre-Halloween!

The Season for Scary is open! Last Thursday at Wäiski was super-inspirational, thank you to all the performers and Bettie, of course! Today I´m teaching a workshop at Pin Up Garage (noon -2pm, come along if you´re interested, there´s still places left!) and then I´m flying to Berlin with my mum tonight -BUT you should mark your calendars for this Pre-Halloween bash at Ravintola Tehdas organized by Orimattilan Leonat! It´s a good party and the money will be donated to local charities!


Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Stockholm Burlesque Festival!




THIS WEEKEND! Myself, Miss Acrolicious, H´andsome Stark and hubby are flying West on Friday to join the glittering craziness! One of my favorite European cities Stockholm will host two events at two wonderful locations: Friday at Södra Teatern and Saturday at Nalen.
Friday I´ll be in the audience rooting for my fellow Finns (my burlyQ mummy Bettie Blackheart is one of the headliners!) and Saturday I´ll be a busy bee attending Lola Frost´s workshop and taking part in the Octoboober tassel twirling competition to raise awareness for Pink Ribbons and breast cancer AND performing later that night! Can´t wait to meet up with old friends and make new ones!!!
I´m pretty lousy at twirling so put your money on Miss Acrolicious -rumour has it she´s been training HARD ;)
Other great news today was that me, Sandy and Pepper will join forces at the Queen Calavera late February -16!!! SO.MUCH.LOVE!

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Moonday!


Monday, Moonday. As in tomorrow again. A lot if us have mixed feelings about Mondays so I decided to show it my backside and make both tomorrow AND the rest if the week FAB!
Here's a shot by Asko Jonathan Photography from last Summer featuring my Starboa by burlesque legend Fannie Annie and some of my outfit from the "Zigoto"-act (made by Tyra Therman and Tiisin' Design).
...that act needs to be worked on but it has to wait since ATM there's three (3!) acts on the way...
Have a great week ya'll! 

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Burleskitanssin koetunti Lahdessa

Nyt sitä saa -nimittäin kokeilla burleskitanssia!
Pidän Lahden Mueve!-tanssistudiolla tiistaina 22.09 klo 19-20 koetunnin burleskitanssista joka on Bettie Blackheartin ja Tinker Bellin kehittämä burleskin liikekieleen perustuva tanssillinen liikuntatunti. Tunti ei siis sisällä riisumista ja vaatteiksi tavalliset liikuntavaattet, tanssia voi sisäkengillä tai vaikka paljain jaloin! Mukaan vesipullo ja pilkettä silmäkulmaan!

Tunnille ilmoittaudutaan Mueve!n kautta!




Monday, August 31, 2015

Syksyn tunnit ovat täällä!

Saammeko esittää : Studio Shangri-La:n opettajakunta! Julistamme syyskauden alkaneeksi ja toivotamme teidät tervetulleeksi tanssimaan ja treenaamaan kanssamme!
Tänään oli syksyn ensimmäinen burleskitanssitunti klo 18-19; burleskitanssin alkeet (Burleskitanssi 1) jonka ohjaavat Thee Dizzy Daisies! Salimme on tilava eli mukaan mahtuu vielä! heart emoticon
Kurssille voit osallistua koko kaudeksi ja maksaa kerrallaan (16vko) tai kahdessa osassa (8+8vko), joko verkkokaupastamme tai suoraan studiolta. Voit myös osallistua burleskitanssitunneille 5- tai 10 kerran korteilla tai kertamaksulla, jos et pysty sitoutumaan koko kaudeksi.
Verkkokauppaan pääset tästä: https://holvi.com/shop/studioshangrila/
Nähdään treeneissä! 

Turrrbo-Cherry, TInker Bell, Pepper Sparkles, Sandy Jungle & Gigi Praline (Pic: Ulrika Bachér)


Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Grand opening!

Tonight is the grand opening if the first burlesque- school in Finland ; Studio Shangri-La in Lauttasaari, Helsinki!
You will be treated with shows, music, art and food as well as the opportunity to sign up for classes! Your truly will, with Sandy & Pepper, teach the burleskitanssi beginners class on Monday nights - hope to see you there! 
Adress is Vattunienkatu 15B, 2nd floor, today 6-9pm (approx)


Thursday, August 20, 2015

Helsinki Shake It!

I told you it´s Autumn-y and there´s will be a lot going on! People of Hellsinki you´re being spoiled with TWO regular burlesque clubs!!! Both Pirates Pleasures at Wäiski as well as the Helsinki Shake It!-club at Lavablubi (Kansallisteatteri)!!! So mark your calendars!
In September I´ll take the stage with (among others):

Bent van der Bleu...
Ansa Ikoni
The Topsy Turvy Girls
Pirkkoliisa
Shimmering Sheilas

 hosted by Anita Leinistö 

More info here !!!

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Turku Burlesque Weekend ´15

Hello lovelies!

Autumn is kicking in and that means a lot of happenings! One of the MUST GO TO SEE this Fall is the Turku Burlesque Weekend 12.09.2015! We have a table reserved (yup, for once in time!) and can´t wait to see this fantastic line up up close and personal... There´s going to be an ecclectic mix of drag, grotesk mime, burlesque...

Do hurry for those tickets!!! More info here!!!


Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Studio Shangri-La!

I'm super thrilled to present the teachers of Studio Shangri-La (located in Lauttasaari, Hellsinki): the first burlesque school in Finland founded by and with a full staff of burlesque performers eith many years if both performing and teaching experience under our belts :)
Tinker Bell, Turrrbo-Cherry (= The Ravishing Shangri-La Rubies / The Itty Bitty Tease Cabaret) and Pepper Sparkles, Sandy Jungle and myself from Thee Dizzy Daisies will make you sweat in classes from September onwards!
Remember to sign up!




Sunday, August 2, 2015

Photoshoot

We had a great day shooting some new promo pics with the amazing Asko and Nadja last Tuesday!
This Summer has been pretty crappy and rainy so we were lucky to get one of the few sunny days... Looking forward to see the results <3 Thanks guys!!!






Saturday, July 18, 2015

Werk!

After a fabulous work/hoiday in Germany (super thanks once more to Sven & the crew at the Queen <3 ) it´s bak home and back at werk! A quick reminder: I know it´s still Summer etc but if you have a party planned that you´d like me / Thee Dizzy Daisies to perform the sooner you ask, the better the chances to get us are! The so-called "pikkujoulukausi" is here sooner than you can say Santa Claus!
In August there will be two (2!) Minäkin Kimmellän!- burlesque 101-workshops on Sunday the 9th  organized by Perhosvoltti in Tikkurila (Vantaa) so be sure to sign up via them!
September will bring us our new studio - Raspeberry Fields moved to the other side of the building in Lauttasaari, Hellsinki and is now Studio Shangri-La (School of Showgirls) where Thee Dizzy Daisies will be teaching burleskitanssi  level 1 classes on Mondays! Tinker Bell and Turrrbo-Cherry are teaching levels 2-3. There will also be other dance, yoga and pilates classes so be sure to sign up! More info here !

So it looks like a lot of planning ahead -I love it! I´m also working on my Dirty Dancing-tribute number as well as pimping up my old "black numer" aka Kiss of a shy girl- they will both premiere later this Fall AS WELL AS a new group number from Thee Daisies! Holy glitter, Batman!

Stay tunes and be sure to go and "like" my artist facebook page for updates and info!

(c) Emiliano Melandri



Saturday, July 11, 2015

The Queen Calavera!


It's been crazy fun!!!
Tonight is the last night we perform at the legendary burlesque club in Hamburg so I suggest you skip Schlagermove and come see us if you're in town!!!




Monday, June 29, 2015

More workshops!

Minäkin Kimmellän!- burleskin alkeet työpajoja pidetään kaksi elokuussa sirkuskoulu Perhosvoltti -tiloissa Tikkurilassa Vantaalla! Ilmoittautumisinfot linkin kautta!
I will be teaching more burlesque basics- workshops this time in Vantaa! More info through the link!

Burleskin alkeet workshop su 9.8 klo 13-15 ja 15.30-17.30 Tikkurilan uimahallin peilisalissa
Kahden tunnin työpaja jossa tutustutaan burleskin historiaan ja tehdään kehollisia harjoitteita yhdessä. Työpajassa harjoitellaan mm. katsekontaktin ottamista, sensuellia liikkumista pilke silmäkulmassa (bump&grind, shimmy), löydetään oman kehon ihanimmat kohdat ja tehdään hauskoja treenejä puuhkien ja hanskojen kanssa. Ei sisällä riisumista! Pajassa saattaa tulla lämmin mutta varsinaisia hikitreenejä emme pidä.
Pukeutuminen: rento, mukava asu jossa mielellään näkee kehon muodot ja jossa on helppo liikkua. Korkokengät auttavat ryhdin ja liikkumisen kanssa mutta eivät ole pakollisia!
Muuta: voit halutessasi ottaa mukaan muistiinpanovälineet mutta tärkeintä on avoin mieli ja pilke silmäkulmassa!
Kurssi tarkoitettu yli15v ja aikuisille, opettaja Gigi Praline Hinta: 29e
Opettajasta:
Gigi Praline on suomiburleskin vakikasvoja vuodesta 2010. Hän on esiintynyt sekä Suomessa että ulkomailla soolona sekä Thee Dizzy Daisies ryhmän kanssa. Gigi on yksi Burleskinstituutin opettajista ja hänellä on vankka kasvatus-ja opettaja-alan kokemus. Opetuskielenä suomi mutta myös sujuva ruotsi ja englanti tarvittaessa.

(c) Kaylin Idora


Wednesday, June 17, 2015

The Shangri-La Showgirls Summer School


Tonight Thee Dizzy Housewives will take the stage again at Wäiski, showtime 7pm! Tickets are on sale via Paypal until the afternoon! 
See you all there!

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

All hail the Queen!


One big thing on my burlesque "Bucket-list" has been to perform at the legendary Queen Calavera in Hamburg, Germany. In a few weeks this will happen since Sven will have all of us Dizzy Daisies at the Queen 9.-11 of July! I can hardly wait! Me and hubby will take the opportunity for a bit if holidays as well and during the trip we will also spend time in one of my favourite cities: Berlin. 
I am also very happy to be able to tell you all that I'm going to perform at the International Stockholm Burlesque Festival in October! 
Summer is going fast- Midsummer is this weekend and I will spend it in Northern Carelia with my dad. I'll pack my running shoes and yoga mat... Have to get back on track after being so lazy :) Tried my tripod today and thankfully it's still there! 






Friday, June 5, 2015

Shake your tailfeathers!

Next Thursday the wonderful Pirates Pleasures-club at Wäiski! Bettie is in Las Vegas for BHOF but Kiki Hawaiji will be our captain! So please join us!
The following Wednesday Tinker Bell & Turrrbo-Cherry along with their Shangri-La Showgirls and Shagrilettes dance troupes PLUS Thee Dizzy Daisies will shake our tailfeathers at...surprise, surprise: Wäiski again! Isn´t it lovely that life has been so easy for you ;) Link here!

Tickets for both events are on sale now!

So no rest for the wicked! Tomorrow I´ll be glittering all day in Hellsinki with first a workshop and then at a private party!
Have a nice, sunny day and a great weekend!


Saturday, May 30, 2015

Love thyself

Summer!!!
I´m on vacation from my daily teachers job, which is great but by no means does that mean I have no work! :)
I was reading this great thing yesterday on body image and I want to share it with all of you because really, folks: we have this one vessel we are living in and we really ought to learn to love it better. As I say. it´s taken me a long time to be alright about my body. It´s not a Mercdes but I´m doing fine with a Lada. The Skin Deep-article can be found here!

"Fuck perfection. Fuck whatever society’s image of “beauty” is and embrace what you have got. Be grateful for your health, not your bikini bridge. Find people who love you for all your wiggly, out-of-proportion bits. Wear your heart on your sleeve and your differences with pride."

Photo: Kaylin Idora

Saturday, May 16, 2015

Sinsational Spring Awakening




What a glorious, sunny morning! I´m totally bummed about the Nordic Light-festival getting cancelled but a performance-free weekend does give me a chance to catch up on paperwork, both burlesque and non-, and get those never-ending chores at the farmhouse done. I´m just feeling kinda lazy and would just like to get outside and enjoy the sun!
Pirates Pleasures last Thursday was excellent, thank you everyone involved! Tonight The Shimmering Sheilas are organizing their Lavaklubi-burlesque club so if you´re in Hellsinki be sure to see it!
I will be on stage next weekend at the Sinsational Spring Awakening at Wäiski. It´s a small space so be sure to buy those tickets in advance! The unbelievable Queen of the Quake: Kitten De Ville will be there all the way from Los Angeles <3

(c) Emiliano Melandri

Friday, May 8, 2015

Nordic Lights Burlesque

Hejsan!

I´ve been planning the classes I will sub for Tinker Bell at the end of this month and -boy! oh boy! they will be sweaty so look out you bootycampers (among others)! I´ve had so much FUN putting the playlists´ together! :D

But before we get that far there is the ALL SCANDINAVIAN burlesque festival upon us! Håll i hattarna! The Nordic Lights Burlesque Festival is 15-16th of May (the same time as the Vienna Boylesque Festival: all my love to Sir Willy Waterlily and the rest of the fantastic performers out there <3  -LOVE YOU!)
I´ll be taking the flight with Pepper Sparkles and Miss Acrolicious (who brought her acro mat to our house already today on her way to the Sticky Nipples Revue in Tallinn!) -and we promise to bring the house down in Östersund with the help of some seriously awesome crew next week!!!! If you´re over there do NOT miss this! More info here!
Have a splendid weekend!

EDIT 16.05.2015: The festival was cancelled by the producers due to bad tickets sales. We got the information last Monday and were, of course, both shocked and saddened that this did not happen. I hope Nordic Light Festival will be able to put together a show sometime in the future!


Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Keep calm and love leopardprint!

This Saturday is THE day for all you folks who LOVE leopardprint! Also since International Leopard Day is just around the corner this is a very proper evening to celebrate dots!
 As you may have noticed, it is probably my favourite colour (yes, it IS a colour! ;) and I´ll be shaking with my Daisies on stage at Café Mascot with a bunch of purr-lesque people in well...Yeah you guessed it: leopardprint!
More info on the event organized by The Shangri-La Rubies can be found here !


Meow!

Thee Dizzy Daisies By Jirina Alanko



Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Pirates Pleasures

YARRRR!
This Thursday I'll be premiering my yet-nameless number inspired by the sea and water... This one has me really out of my comfort zone so be sure to come and take a peak ;) 


Friday, April 3, 2015

Tehdas 2!!!

Tomorrow Restaurant Tehdas is celebrating their 2-year-anniversary and there will be both food, burlesque and a band! More info here !!!
Me, Pepper and Sir Willy can´t wait to see you there! And hey -we have the *bestest* pick up-artistry: Tinker Bell and Mela Lugosi <3 Seriously, Orimattila you´re getting spoiled ;)

Pic by Amy N. Joy <3

Saturday, March 28, 2015

Posing

Me and hubby has been one of three couples who we're interviewed for a piece on body image for a magazine. Today we did the photoshoot in Hellsinki- thank you to the whole team there! You were wonderful! Naked photoshoots could probably be tough but with true pro's like today it was super fun :) (also recommend Pin Up Helsinki for this!)

And tonight sold out Drag me to HEL! Have a great weekend! 



Sunday, March 22, 2015

Acro!

I've been trying to work on my balance and strength lately, big thanks to the kick I got in Mr.Gorgeous' workshop... Me and hubby went to Kuopio the other weekend to work with H'andsome Stark and Miss Acrolicious -had a great time! Couple acro is so much FUN!!! Thank you guys for having us <3
My headstand still is wobbly but getting there, bit by bit... 



Wednesday, March 11, 2015

WorkshopS in Lahti!!!

I've been asked about organizing a basic workshop in Lahti and now it's ON! The info is in Finnish here: https://www.facebook.com/events/411861408985568/  The first workshop sold out in a day so...

DUE TO POPULAR DEMAND I´VE ADDED A 2nd WORKSHOP SATURDAY 25.04.2015 at 12-14!!! Tähän pajaan mahtuu vielä, joten hopi hopi sähköpostia minulle :)

Remember; you have to e-mail me to sign up! 


Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Pirates Pleasures goes ART

This Thursday the basement of the restaurant boat Wäiski will be filled with burlesque again! The theme this time is ART, so you should join us to see what famous pieces are woken to life during the evening!!!


Saturday, March 7, 2015

A little ditty about #helbf15

Here I am, at the bottom of my bed with a horrible cold....I can´t remember being this ill since my Dengue-fever some years ago. At least I got my sinuses open now and can walk around for more than 5min without wanting to faint :) I was totally bummed out for missing the Abstinenssi-klubi last night! Good thing is, I heard there will be more of them <3 YAY! Also, feeling pretty happy that I have a couple of weekends off and not having to perform while feeling like this, I know a few colleagues that are not so lucky. Hang in there, babes! Glitter and ibuprofein go a long way.

Anyway, my point was NOT to moan about this (since there are shitloads of worse things out there than a flue, as crappy as it is) but to share a link with you from last weekends Helsinki Burlesque Festival! Read this interview with Bettie Blackheart in Sylvi (my new number also got a mention, hurrah!) - this is, unfortunately, only in Finnish.

I´ll tuck myself in so I´ll hopefully be ready to rokk on Monday again! Have a wonderful weekend <3

"Midlife Crisis" (c) Tuomas Lairila

(c) Mats Öun

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Tired and thankful

Tuesday Post Festival.

The blues after the #helbf15 has been worse than for a long time after a great event...Don´t know, it might have to do with the fact that I got to climb on Mr. Gorgeous lap on Sunday´s workshop -and well, the drop from there IS pretty high.
I will post more pictures and stories later but for now I just want to send out a HUGE thank you to everyone involved: crew, audience, performers, lovers and sinners! It truly was something to remember and even if I´m still exhausted from lack of sleep I can´t remember a time when I would have been more *alive* than right now.

Thank you for receiving my new number "Midlife Crisis" so well on Friday, I´m overwhelmed by all the good reviews everyone has given me about it <3


And when the going gets tough, the tough gets going! Come and get rid of this post-festival-depression to Cafe Mascot this Friday at Abstinenssiklubi  organized by the Ravishing Shangri-La Rubies!

Group pic by Tuomas Lairila







Saturday, February 21, 2015

Gorgeous!

#HELBF15 is ON next week and I´m stoked about everything about it! I´m bringing a new act for Friday, helping out with the backstage catering, taking many wonderful workshops and getting to meet old and new peeps <3 Simply put: bloody marvelous!

One of the absolute favourite performers is Mr. Gorgeous from New York. I had the pleasure of seeing him on and off stage at the Vienna Boylesque Festival last May and yes, he is as gorgeous and *tall* as he seems. The perfect Clark Kent-image that he brakes with the most immaculate comedic timing. He is a real sweetheart as well, being genuinly *nice* to you. He´s also a costumier, I got hubby a pair of his tiger-swimtrunks for our trip to the Keys :) We´re taking his acrobatics workshop next week Sunday -yikes!

Anyway, if you don´t have ticket for the Helsinki Burlesque Festival you ARE seriously missing out!
I´m hoping to see this act again live... <3 Mr. Gorgeous in Vegas


Friday, February 13, 2015

Valentine´s Day

This weekend you´re in for a treat around the cities of Tampere and Hellsinki! Burlesque Blossoms, which is the new version of newcomer´s night organized by Burlesk Instituutti, will take place tomorrow night at Ravintola Kaisaniemi! So if you´re in the capital or there abouts be sure to go there! Me and the rest of Thee Daisies are heading up to Tampere for the Teerenpeli Tease! We have the pleasure to share the stage with Valentine Del Pearls (FRA) and Tampere´s own The Finnish Blonde Burlesque Troupe as well as the host for the evening, Olli Siikli.

If this won´t keep your Valentine´s Day going, I don´t know what will <3

Picture by Tuuli Juntunen

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Consent.

As a burlesque performer I´m quite aware that there are a lot of photos of me out on the interwebs where I´m not, as some say, "properly dressed". In the beginning of my performing career I tried to keep my burlesque-persona and my day-job-one separated but as years have gone by I´ve realized the problematics that happens around things like this. Being a teacher by day I´ve had my share of questions about combining these two jobs (no-one ever asks about my job as a sex.councelor by the way!) and I´ve come to realize that I have to speak up. I´m not doing anything illegal. I´m a forty-year-old woman who is performing an art form that includes stripping down to very little (but never nude). I also know I´m very lucky for a number a reasons to be able to be "out from the closet" with all parts of my life because I know not all performers can´t, or want to, do this.

It´s usually people who have never *seen* burlesque who are the most intimidated. As Tigger! put it: getting naked is political. I´m very aware that not all burlesquers think like this but I have to say I agree to some degree... When it comes to who is "allowed" to show their bodies in our Western culture I am making a point when I perform. Me: a middle-aged woman with a far-from "perfect" body, taking my kit off in front of people, laughing at the norms of our society and laughing at myself -AND allowing the audience to laugh WITH me, on MY terms- it sure as heck FEELS political!

I had wished that being a Finn and coming from a culture where nudity is far more a part of every-day-life (compared to the e.g the US) I have been surprised and a bit sad about the fact that a lot of the comments on burlesque performers is negative and only dissing in ways of "s/he shouldn't take her/his clothes off  'cause s/he´s FAT" or something similarly stupid that totally misses the point of this art. This mostly happens online, of course, as most he hating does these days. At shows the response is very different, comments I get afterwards has always been very nice. A lot of people call us performers "brave" but I guess this goes with the political part I mentioned in the beginning. More than bravery I think a performer needs hours of rehearsals, costume fittings and a bloody good idea for a number to make it look good and easy :)

I´ve decided not to post any of my performance videos online, just because I don´t want to ruin the experience for a live audience. A live show is *never* the same and few of the videos are that good. I am working with a photographer on a show reel though, to give producers an idea what I´m about. But I´d rather not have whole numbers online. I have them yes, but mainly as learning material and for the occasional festival appliance :)
I´m trying to be particular about the pictures I post here or on my facebook these days - I try to avoid pastie/tassel pics ...again, I think it´s giving the ending away. This is NOT saying that I frown upon people who post those!!! I´ve done it, but this is where I am right now. Pondering. I love the boob-shots, keep them coming! I might join you at some point, who knows.

What I don´t like is when people take pictures DURING a show. Firstly: you´re not really watching the show are ya? And I´m not talking about the professional photographers. I mean those with their phones up in the air, trying to catch a glimpse and usually getting some really horrid shots...THOSE pics I have a problem with. (*edit* the pics I´ve seen on blogs etc of shows that are nice (even if taken with phones)  I don´t have a problem with. I´m talking about the ones that you would not post about yourself. You know the difference)

Let´s put it this way: would you want some blurry pictures of your crotch online? Or that photo with your face looking like an (involuntary) Halloween-mask? No? Well...
The pro´s often send you all their pics after the show and you can choose the one that get´s published. It´s common manners. I guess what I´m trying to say here is: be polite. Talk to the performers and ask permission. There are some performers that want NO pictures taken when they perform but usually the host will tell this beforehand.
Put away those phones, enjoy the show live! This goes for any live shows!

There´s a helluva lot of shit getting posted online without the consent of the ones in the pictures (or videos), much more nude than burlesque. Somehow the discussion seems to be concentrating on that it´s the fault of the person (usually a female) who posed for the photos in the first place. It´s as ridiculous as the discussion about rape where it´s the victims fault just because she wore a short skirt.

Watch this video: Emma Holten is both brave and kickass.

Think about it.