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Friday, October 20, 2006
Burlesque Noir to Scare Up Chills, Thrills
By Dan Mayfield
Journal Staff Writer
You can do a lot in Albuquerque if you just ask for volunteers.
Just ask Holly Rebelle— sure, that's her stage name, but when you're a burlesque star, you can get away with a lot.
Rebelle was part of the old Lonely Hearts Burlesque troupe in Albuquerque a while back. When that troupe went the way of the Studebaker, she decided to start her own troupe.
"I had done a burlesque performance in 2004 as a single act and it went over well," Rebelle said. "But my vision was bigger than myself."
Now, the group has 14 members who perform either solo dances or in giant choreographed numbers.
"This is far beyond the original plan," Rebelle said. "I wanted to do group pieces and solo pieces."
She imagined a dozen or so performers— much like Lonely Hearts— doing shows around Albuquerque with full choreography, costumes and complete shows.
Oh, burlesque. This is the ancient art of the tease, the flirt. Sure, they get on stage and shake to sultry music and take off their clothes— but not all of their clothes. They leave the essentials on.
And they're not alone.
Burlesque Noir is part of a nationwide resurgence of burlesque troupes that are bringing back the strip-tease show, along with Albuquerque's other active group, Belladonna Burlesque. But where Belladonna is a vintage-style group, Rebelle said Burlesque Noir is "neo-burlesque."
"Our show is more theatrical than anything," Rebelle said.
"We use modern music. We have piercing," said performer Lil' Heathen. "We have modern performances like the 'pirate vs. ninja' piece and the 'Safety Dance' piece. Some are more traditional. For Halloween, it's more costume heavy.
"And we don't get dollar bills in our G strings."
For Saturday's show, the troupe will spoof zombie movies, "The Wizard of Oz" and more.
The women in the troupe are all volunteers and come from all walks of life. Some are professionals, others are students, mothers or all of the above.
"I'm more introverted," said performer Lucy St. James. "But on stage I find a different part of myself. I live a normal life and the rush of the crowd, it gives me such confidence."
For most of the members, Burlesque Noir is like a second job. The group practices every Saturday for eight hours and all the members help out with fliers, photo shoots, the Web site, selling merchandise and recruiting DJs and bands to perform.
At Saturday's show, the band The Big Spank will perform.
"It's a whole different show each time. Whatever. Anything goes," Rebelle said.
Most of members joined Burlesque Noir after seeing Rebelle's online ads for new members and going through a try-out.
"I have one criteria; Your boyfriends, husbands or significant others have to be supportive," Rebelle said.
Eventually, Rebelle said, the troupe wants to take its show on the road and to the world burlesque championships, Miss Exotic World, where groups compete for prizes and titles.
"We haven't worked out a road show yet. Most of the girls have 8-to-5 jobs, they're mothers or they're in school," Rebelle said. "But that's a dream."
Burlesque Noir's Boolesque Spook- tacular
WHEN: 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21
WHERE: Launchpad, 618 Central SW
HOW MUCH: At the door, $5 before 10 p.m.; $8 after 10 p.m. Visit www.burlesquenoir.com