Call Me Stormy

Babes of Burlesque: 15

DIRTY MARTINI

Born Linda Marraccini in New Jersey, Dirty Martini is one of the reigning queens of Neo-Burlesque, known for her flamboyant, over-the-top re-creations of classic burlesque gambits — for instance, the fan dance, the balloon pop and the dance of the seven veils. New York is her home base, but the world is her oyster. She tours extensively, and was one of the featured performers in the documentary Burlesque Undressed, along with Immodesty Blaize, Catherine D’Lish and Michelle L’Amour. In 2004, she was crowned Miss Exotic World, as well as winner of the Jennie Lee award for tassel twirling.

At Glasgow, Scotland’s 2009 Cabaret Festival, she delivers an exuberant, patriotic interpretation of Dolly Parton’s “I’m Proud To Be An American.”

Here, she performs her Balloon Act at the 201o Toronto Burlesque Festival.

Her website: http://www.missdirtymartini.com/

Babes of Burlesque 13

COCO LECTRIC

This Texas temptress so electrified the crowds at the 2010 New Orleans Burlesque Festival that she earned the Queen of Burlesque crown. She’s based in Austin, where she’s headmistress of the Austin Academy of Burlesque and founder of the Jigglewatts Burlesque troupe. While she’s a Neo-Burlesque performer, she consciously strives to re-create the power and purpose of classic burlesque moves.

She told one interviewer: “I always think back to ‘What is the intent here?’ Classic tease is the intent; ingenuity with your costumes, and your peels, your removals, that is the intent: having that fire, having that tease.”

Here’s her performance at the 23rd Annual Miss Exotic World Competition.

And here’s her 2011 Cinco de Mayo performance at Viva Dallas Burlesque.

Babes of Burlesque: 12

COCO FRAMBOISE

This pint-sized dynamo is known for her outsized stage presence and large signature props. She takes audiences on a thrill ride from the saucy to the surreal to the sublime. Based in Toronto, Canada, where she founded and runs the Coco Framboise School of Burlesque, she was the invited Canadian headliner for last year’s Australian Burlesque Festival tour, and has shared the stage with such megastars as Catherine D’Lish and Immodesty Blaize. Here she is at Harrah’s Casino for the 3rd Annual New Orleans Burlesque Festival.

Here’s a more recent performance at the 2016 Toronto Burlesque Festival.

Babes of Burlesque: 10

CHERRIE A DORABLE

From Finland, comes Cherrie A Dorable, “The Pearl Borealis.” With her luminous blonde hair, milky white skin and voluptuous, hourglass figure, she stands out in the burlesque scene.  Her stage charisma is rousing and her classy dancing style evokes the golden age of burlesque. She also is one-half of the superduo, Holy Curves!, with the red-hot Olivia Rouge. Here’s Cherrie in How May I Serve You?, conjuring up a picture of what happens behind closed doors afterhours at a bar.

Here, Cherrie demonstates some nice hip amplitude at the 2009 Psychobilly and Burleque Festival in Helsinki, Finland.

Babes of Burlesque: 9

CHARLOTTE TREUSE

A founder of the Rose City Shimmy, a burlesque collective out of Portland, Oregon, Charlotte Treuse is an intoxicating entertainer. She revels in the classic, and a deep respect for the glory days of burlesque distinguishes her seductive performances. She feels most inspired when accompanied by a live band, and has partnered with Orchestra L’Pow to create the revue: Bump and Grind for the Sophisticated Set. Here’s her performance from the 4th Annual New Orleans Burlesque Festival —  a fitting selection as she’s in the process of relocating to New Orleans.

Charlotte in Night Train, one of her signature acts at Portland’s Hawthorne Theater.

Her website: http://www.charlottetreuse.com/index.html

Babes of Burlesque: 8

CATHERINE D’LISH

Extravagant costumes and elaborate props are hallmarks for the elegant Catherine D’Lish, “The Striptease Virtuoso,” who often ends her shows by taking a bubble bath in a giant champagne glass. She is considered one of the world’s premier fan dancers, performing amid a grand gilded birdcage, giant spiderweb and an eight-foot-tall waterfall complete with fountains. On the scene since 1990, she creates her own shows as well as touring widely in revues including Burlesque Fest. She appears here in The Web at the 2010 Viva Las Vegas Weekend at The Orleans Casino.

At the inaugural New Orleans Burlesque Festival in 2009, she performed with the world’s largest feather fans.

Her website: http://www.cdlish.com/index.htm

Babes of Burlesque: 8

CATHERINE D’LISH

Extravagant costumes and elaborate props are hallmarks for the elegant Catherine D’Lish, “The Striptease Virtuoso,” who often ends her shows by taking a bubble bath in a giant champagne glass. She is considered one of the world’s premier fan dancers, performing amid a grand gilded birdcage, giant spiderweb and an eight-foot-tall waterfall complete with fountains. On the scene since 1990, she creates her own shows as well as touring widely in revues including Burlesque Fest. She appears here in The Web at the 2010 Viva Las Vegas Weekend at The Orleans Casino.

At the inaugural New Orleans Burlesque Festival in 2009, she performed with the world’s largest feather fans.

Her website: http://www.cdlish.com/index.htm

Babes of Burlesque: 7

BRIANA BLUEBELL

Miss Burlesque Australia 2012, Briana Bluebell calls herself a “ballet dancing, booty shaking, fan-twirling burlesque artiste.” She hails from Sydney and exudes a classic, captivating presence onstage with a sexy twist. She says, “When all eyes are on you, your heart is pulsating as you move with precision, grace and elegance. A self-created vision of art dripping with glamour. Those are the moments I live for.” Here’s one of her signature acts, a homage to the James Bond movies.

Stepping out of her comfort zone, she sings a show tune, before stepping, quite elegantly, out of her showy costume.

Her website: http://www.brianabluebell.com/