I SHALL go to the ball!

I've had the most incredible news this past week. I have been chosen, out of countless performers, to join the Burlesque Ball tour 2011! 4 cities in 3 weeks. But that's not the most exciting part, I'm going to be touring with headliner...Catherine D'Lish!

Plus I get to tour with two of my close friends, that belle epoque beauty Lola the Vamp and now Miss Alyssa Kitt who is going to be Catherine's PA for the tour. But wait, that's not where it ends...

I get to meet and perform along side Imogen Kelly! Australia's queen of the tease!

Rita Fontaine, Miss Burlesque Australia 2010!!

Miss Melody Mangler from Vancouver!

You'd think it couldn't get much more exciting, but no, today Jac Bowie the irrepressible head of Bijou Group announced that our MC is none other than Miss Astrid! I almost wet my pants with excitement when I found out.

So it's time to book those tickets because with a line up like that, they are guaranteed not to last.

Catherine D'Lish will also be running Master class workshops in a number of cities. If you are an Australian burlesque performer you will not get another chance like this for a long time and in the 48 hours since they've been announced they are already mostly full.

Melbourne: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/1944021621/alyssa/4468137546

Sydney: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/1892952873/alyssa/4468137546
Brisbane: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/1949616355/alyssa/4468137546

I'll see you at the ball....x

Want to dance like a burlesque queen of yesteryear?

I'm so excited! This term I will be teaching with Miss BB Le Buff's School of Performance.

The class is a style very dear to my heart and is called Bumps, Grinds and Shimmies, the corner stone movements of classic burlesque. Ladies attending the class will learn the moves, and a fabulous routine and hopefully gain a little insight into the styling and history of this cheeky dance form. Ladies attending will also have the option of performing at CABBARET to showcase the class routine.

I'm super excited about getting to share my tips and tricks, it's going to be so much fun! Plus as it's a new class, it qualifies for BB's new class discount, which gives you amazing value for money.

Classes are Mondays from 6-7:30pm

8 week term begins 20th June

**New Class Offer** Book into a full term of any other class and receive a 50% discount from this course.

Full term - $190 **Check out the NEW CLASS DISCOUNT**

Casual Class - $25

To book your place email BB at missbb@missbblebuff.com

To see what other classes are on and take advantage of the special new class offer, go to her website www.missbblebuff.com/infopage/school-of-performance

Look forward to seeing you all there!

x Bella

My authenticity

Photo by Dominic Kiehler

Costume by me!

What is it to be unique? To be authentic? I've been thinking about this a lot recently and even more so with the incredible excitement of this past weekend.

Recently in my epic list of thank you's I mentioned Lola the Vamp, the original and best Belle Epoque burlesque performer and how she has inspired me to revel in my own style instead of trying to create what other people might want. She is completely authentic to her own style of performance which incidentally makes her a pleasure to watch, beautiful, feminine and very successful.

This weekend Lola gave me the most magnificent complement I could receive. We were backstage all waiting to go on for the evening gown parade at the start of Miss Burlesque Gold Coast, and Lola, looking like a divine Tim Burton princess, looked at me and said my style was so authentic. I could have squeezed her but all our feathers would have got crushed!

The first few years of my burlesque career were about finding my place, finding a style that suited me. I tried to create what I thought people wanted. Something for everyone.

I created a 'doll in a gift box' act, a classic, a fan dance, a balloon pop, a 60s gogo act, and a weird halloween act. I was trying to be as marketable as possible but I didn't love all of them.

Some felt amazing to perform, some never felt quite right, but I couldn't tell you why.

Now I can.

Since coming to Australia, and having the opportunity to see Lola and a number of other incredible performers who utilise their own unique style, I've discovered that I simply love to dance...and strip. If my act tells a story then that's just great but it isn't my aim. I'm an out and proud classic burlesque performer. I love the beauty and sensuality of the body and that's enough for me.

I simply cannot be what anyone else wants me to be. I realise that means I won't be to everyone's taste and I'm ok with that. Burlesque would be boring if we were all the same!

I used to envy some of my burlesque friends back in

Brighton. They were so naturally funny. Funny and sexy and amazing, and they made it look effortless. But if I tried to be funny it didn't work for me, and if I tried to tell a story I felt clunky. Now instead of wishing I could be like them I can sit back and enjoy their amazing uniqueness.

Photo by Dominic Kiehler

Costume by Curve Couture

Now I don't want you to get the impression that I wasn't a good performer back in the UK! Far from it, I was getting the gigs and loving performing, but I've had a re-awakening since coming to Australia. I have neo acts I love performing but looking at them closely there's only one that isn't still very dance based bump, grind and shimmy, and that one, my bunny act, was a complete fluke. I think it's because watching someone dancing in an animal costume is just so damn funny.

I've found my niche, my method, I know how to create an act I love, and how not to sabotage myself. That kind of creative fulfillment is worth more than anything, because if I don't love every minute I may as well go back to waiting tables or pushing paper.

Ultimately this journey of personal discovery has only strengthened my performances and I continue to look to other ways in which to use my body onstage including ongoing training in aerial circus skills.

So the best piece of advice I could share with any performer is be true to yourself, it isn't a cliche. It doesn't mean being lazy and not pushing yourself to new heights, but to stop fighting against your grain and just do what you LOVE on stage.

x Bella

Miss Burlesque Australia 2011

It's thank you time! I had intended on posting this before the show but I ran out of time in the frantic rush to get down the coast so here is the full unabridged version. If you want to read the whole thing, grab a cup of tea and settle in, we're in for the long haul!



As is expected of any great undertaking, I have learnt a great deal.

- Hot glue gun is hot
- You always need more tulle
- Organza is the creation of the devil himself
- When you go to Spotlight, there'll always be at least one thing on your list that they don't have
- I have needle insensitive eyes, if I put it down I will lose it
- You always need more feathers
- SBS does some awesome late night movies
- Aldi does really good hot chocolate, cola and choc chip biscuits for late nights of sewing and long nights of Miss Burlesquing
- There will always be a last minute disaster, don't panic



Thank you

Cassandra Atkins and Jac Bowie for providing such an incredible opportunity to the Australian Burlesque community. To the judges, who must have had a difficult job with so many amazing girls in one show, and to the stage kittens who were simply adorable.

Thanks to Vanessa and the crew at the Coolangatta Hotel, where nothing was too much trouble for them. What a brilliant team.

Special thanks to Monique Le Minx who convinced me to enter. Talk about a lucky last minute decision!

The burlesque community of Australia, I love the supportive network we've built. Being able to rant to near strangers who understand exactly what you're going through is incredible.



To my family for your infinite patience. Thanks for accepting that the house would look like a costume shop exploded in a freak glue gun and tulle accident, and letting me take over the living room for rehearsals. We discovered tulle is lethal on a polished wooden floor and every time I let out an expletive my brother assumes I've just lost another sewing needle (those suckers just vanish into thin air) or my mum asks me if I've just stabbed myself again with a pin.

Tor, my oldest brother and photographer of b551.com, for the support, being my driver for the night and for the amazing backstage photographs he always gets of my shows using real film. I am witness to how hard he works restoring old cameras, sourcing obscure film, loading film onto the little reels by hand, photographing, dark room developing, scanning and editing. I know a lot of my fellow performers use his beautiful, candid pics for profile photos on facebook and promo, so thank you Tor!

BTW, the whole process of developing film takes a long time so the pics on this blog are just some I took during my dress rehearsal the day before the show.

My middle brother Ulls, for building my first website and for the undoubtably annoying task of re-booting said website that we'll be doing now(ish). My amazing bro also turned up with a massive bunch of flowers today after my crappy exam from him and his beautiful wife.

By the way everyone, my website is currently extremely out of date, most up to date photo's, info, etc is on facebook until I make the announcement for the relaunch.

Thanks to my extended family, most of whom were in the audience to see me perform for the very first time! What an incredible fan club!



Thanks go out to Alyssa Kit and her mama for making the outer skirt of my neo burlesque costume. It's beautiful, it's regal and I could not have done it without them! Also thank you for babylocking my horrible organza, AND watching my classic act run through. The confidence it gave me was that edge I needed. Alyssa, you are a burlesque queen. I look forward to seeing you take on Vegas honey.

To The Diamond Dahlia and Davina Mercy. I know we didn't get to do our costume day but just knowing that you cared enough to offer your help, love and support made me feel like I wasn't completely alone when I had my worst week of the last few months.

Xymantha Marie for your invaluable help backstage. I can't wait to start workshopping your new act, it's going to be a ripper!

Last but not least, the one and only BW. If you're tuning in late in the piece, BW stands for Burlesque Widower, my long suffering boyfriend who is still in the UK. BW thank you for letting me rant and sob and freak you out with weird 'I'm on the verge of a breakdown' emails. I'm pretty sure your love and support prevented a full scale meltdown. You also rule because you say I'm beautiful even when we Skype and I know I look like I've been dragged through the ugly bush backwards from late nights, crying and no makeup.



To all my fellow competitors, you were amazing. With such a great bunch of girls it's no wonder I felt so relaxed backstage.

Lola the Vamp, my dressing room buddy and a performer so unique and established she doesn't need a title. You've been a darling since I came home to Brisbane. This girl is the Belle Epoque goddess of Australian burlesque and an inspiration to me to find my own style and revel in it, instead of trying to create what I think other people might want.

Special high fives to the Strawberry Siren aka Flaming Boobs burlesque, who not only had to deal with a very painful looking burn but had to change her unique act with less than 2 days to go and still managed to be incredible. By the way Strawberry, my family loved your Redheads act! Looking forward to working with you and Lola again at the Australian Burlesque Festival in Melbourne.

Rosie Peaches, my rival for most awesome bunny act. I can't believe I got to see a girl in a bunny head planking. One word, awesome.

Truly, you are terrifying! I'm going to have nightmares about your knife twirling act for weeks.

Victory Bloom, your farmer & showgirl act was the cutest thing ever. You definitely need to do that one again!

Julz, using 99 Luftballons in an act is just a major high five moment.

Miss Burlesque Australia 2010 Miss Rita Fontaine, what a shimmy-shaker! (And thanks for the pizza:)



What a night, what a couple of months and what an honour it is to be Miss Burlesque Gold Coast 2011.

x Bella

I've got it covered...

Last night I stayed up till 2am making some beautiful pasties for my traditional act for Miss Burlesque as my actual pasties hadn't turned up from America yet. You can see one of the pair, the result of my hard work below...




Wouldn't you know it but when I woke up this morning there was a package on my doorstep...the actual pasties had arrived.

Oh well, now I have two pairs of pretty boobie covers! I'm sure I'll get to use the ones I made some time, although I probably could have done with the sleep!

x

Epic Skirt

I don't think I can impress enough how epic this skirt making experience has been. I am utterly exhausted.

It all started with my seamstress disaster, which is a tale for another day. Needless to say however that I was bemoaning my situation one Dr Sketchy's Eve to Alyssa Kitt, The Diamond Dahlia and Davina Mercy and the darling ladies must have felt for the deer in headlights vibe I was giving off as they all offered to help!

So it's with special thanks to Alyssa and her mama that the skirt got made at all. I could say that I helped but I hardly touched the outer skirt. The inner skirt however, ouch, that was my job.


My beautiful brocade fabric...

I've had to find time for sewing after my part time job and university so have spent a number of very late nights, interrupting the evening tv of everyone I live with with the whir of my tiny little Janome (thank god for subtitles), and swearing and yelping every time I stab myself with a pin, which was fairly regular.



Above you can see my lovely red tulle, which my brother Tor (of b551.com, seriously, check it out) informs me is lethal on a wooden floor when an offcut finds it's way under your shoe. Which when you combine with the infinite number of pins I've lost could make for an unexpected trip to the emergency room. Health and safety would be appalled.

So while I'm not booby trapping the house, I've also managed to watch the following shows and movies during this time:

Tuck Everlasting
The Edge of Love: which I'd absolutely recommend, not only for the film but for anyone who loves 40s clothes!
The Good Girl: which is not, as I thought, a feel good rom-com but a rather depressing indie film. Movie choice fail. (Incidentally I mentioned this error to BW and it turns out he'd done exactly the same thing.)
The entire series of Hugh Fernley-Whittingstal's 'A cook on the wild side'
and part of his 'Road Trip' series, both of which have made me feel a bit 'homesick' for England (honestly, where is home these days) and dying to go on a gastronomic road trip around the UK.

So daydreams aside and the skirt complete I allowed myself a little spin of joy in the kitchen before getting back to business.


Next step includes fringe sewing, pastie glueing, boa making and maybe at some point a little bit of choreography!

xBella

Bunny Guts

Photography by Russ Bell

Recently I've a rather difficult patch. Nothing terribly bad, and of course I appreciate that I am in general a very lucky person. But most people can understand that sometimes the layering of many (MANY) problems can be enough to send an otherwise reasonable person into an absolute funk.

I am very lucky however to have marvellous friends, both here in Australia and in the UK. One of these wonderfully marvellous friends Bea DeVile decided to send me something to cheer me up. Now if you've been in attendance at a halloween show of mine you might know about my 'Rabbit Run' act. Suffice to say it's more 'Watership Down' than 'Alice in Wonderland'.

Well Miss DeVile decided a disembowled rabbit toy would be just the trick for a bit of Easter cheer and I was in fits of giggles when I opened the little airmail packet the other morning.

So to Bea DeVile all my wonderfully, marvellous friends who have sent messages and ...odd toys, and offered help in various ways, I love you. Never stop being as fabulous as you are, because friendship might not make the world turn but it makes it a bloody brilliant place to be.

x Bella

Get bohemian with us in Byron Bay...

Photography by Kahlia Litzow

This month at DR SKETCHYS we go all uber-retro and journey back to a time of between-the-wars glamour and the decadent club life of the 1930s JAZZ ERA.

Helping our art-monkeys make this journey back in time will be two of Brisbanes most gorgeous Burlesque Beauties , MISS BELLA DE JAC and MISS LITA LYNX ! These two elegant and sensual ladies will bring a mix of old-world glitz and speakeasy transgression to the night as they stalk the catwalk swathed in slinky ballgowns, sinful lingerae and sparkling showgirl regalia. Our audience of effete, absinthe-addled artists and their shameless companions will have difficulty in maintaining their composure as BELLA and LITA strike poses of uncommon grace and smouldering seductiveness.

Returning from a corrupt and lawless tour of the countrys shadiest Gin Joints and most violent Honkytonks is our favouite Mistress of Ceremonies, the incandescent MISS MAE WILDE. Mae will be expecting a certain level of sophistication from the audience as befits the escapism of the period. It would be wise not to dissappoint her....

Occupying his customary position in the orchestra pit will be the always slightly dishevelled and DOC, ably assisted by MISS CURLY LA RUE , the smiling assasin, bringing order to the chattering masses scratching at the ticket booth window.

On hand to capture the mayhem for the perusal of the authorities will be the people of the marvellous GOLDCOAST PINUP PHOTOGRAPHY studios.

Get there about 6.OOPM for a 6.30PM start. Bring $15 to get past Curley la Rue, and if you're drawing, bring your own non-messy art materials.

If not drawing , then just swan about and enjoy the night, offering unsolicited advice and spilling gin from one table to the next.HUZZAH!

Tournee...

I just came back from a rare (these days I hardly get away from my text books!) trip out to see Tournee with a friend Scarlett the Siren, which was screening as part of the French Film Festival in Brisbane. I have to say I do enjoy going to the Palace Barracks Cinema, even if their prices are a little steeper than my local.

I also met Lena Marlene and some of the scoundrelles down, appropriately enough, at French Twist. Lena, god bless her, is not only judging the Queensland Miss Burlesque heats, but is now also arranging the stage kittens for Miss Burlesque Gold Coast and Brisbane.

So Tournee, what did I think of it? I was dying to go see this film. I mean, anything with Dirty Martini in it and I'm THERE. The woman is a goddess!

On a personal level I really, really enjoyed it. Usually it takes me a few days to think deeper into the story and analyse it further however my initial reaction is a very positive one.

Asides from being about something I adore, performance, travel and France, I have to admit that I am in general quite a fan of French film.

I love that things aren't hammered into your face. Moments are left for you to decipher. The themes of loneliness were threaded out on a number of levels. I quite like the nod towards the loneliness of being a solo performer. It can feel terribly isolating when you're on a deadline elbow deep in half finished costumes, music that isn't quite right, or dealing with less than scrupulous types all the while knowing the fantasy land you live in will come tumbling down if the bills aren't paid. To top it off, the constant requirement to justify how burlesque is performance art (to those who feel its 'just' stripping), or being expected not to be wild, weird, and sexy onstage if that's the way I feel like being (to those who feel that burlesque should only be graceful and demure).

To be able to perform with all the artistic benefits of being a solo performer, but the supportive environment of a troupe situation seems like a dream.

I'm fascinated to know how much of it is documentary and how much staged as although it was filmed on a real tour of France, it is not filmed in documentary style. I'd love to know more, particularly when it comes to Mimi Le Meux's story, and the deep sadness she exudes.

I have to say I've also got a new burlesque crush though. Julie Atlas Muz is a firecracker of a woman and I love her style of aggressive neo burlesque. Queue lots of youtube research.

The film got fairly average reviews from the critics, with some citing a reasonable point which is that not enough is revealed about the performers themselves and their back stories. This may be so, and it probably could have been improved in a number of ways as I would certainly have liked more on the performers. However I loved it and in the face of a great deal of homogenised 'burlesque-lite' representations in popular media, it was a breath of fresh air to see it as it really is. Right up there on the big screen.

So here I am, re-inspired, re-energised, and looking forward to working 10 times as hard on my career. Whatever direction my performances take, I have to remember that it is MY art, and I'm allowed to do whatever the hell I want with it.

x Bella

Body Ambassador

So I have a world full of updates to do for my little blog. There's the recent CaBBaret, not to mention the preparations for Miss Burlesque. However right now...I'm entered into the Body Ambassador competition, and I need your help to win!

Any Australian or New Zealand resident can vote for me to become the body ambassador for the Rembrandt body shape (commonly known as hourglass), you can vote for a woman from every body shape too! Two of my wonderful performer friends are also entered, Alyssa Kitt the beautiful Botticelli and Lola the Vamp, the ravishing Raphael.

Vote here and feel free to pass it on to any of your friends http://theartofshaping.com.au/competition/profile/hetti-baumann

You even get to find out my real name, ooh er!

I appreciate every bit of support you can muster, if you'll pardon the pun.

x Bella

Miss Burlesque Australia 2011

I have some very exciting news...

After being so blown away by the quality of performance at last years Miss Burlesque Australia, I've decided to enter...and I'm in! I'll be performing at the Gold Coast heats 22nd of May.

Each performer will complete a Classic act and a Neo-burlesque act, the finalists of the heat will be asked to perform their unique act and the winner goes down to Sydney for the grand final!

You can get your tickets now from this link... www.eventbrite.com/event/1384060763/MBAGC/12518197253

In the meantime, I've got to get busy. There's a lot of work to be done!

Dr Sketchy's March

Don't forget your monthly art fix at Dr Sketchy's!

Soapy

It's SOAP! How friggin creepy and hilarious are these baby doll hands and feet soaps? I was coming home from The Lady Garden last night and stopped in at a friends place for a tea and she had bought these hilarious soaps from a company called Sailor Mouth Soaps. Their card says they specialise in horror, tiki, sci-fi, nautical and kitsch soaps and I want some.

Along with the creepy doll feet my friend had bought the Day of the Dead ones, denture soaps and brain soaps. They also do really cute ones for those that are too creeped out to use brain soap!

I think these little lamby soaps are adorable.



Anyway you can check them out on etsy at www.etsy.com/shop/sailormouthsoaps

By the way if you weren't at The Lady Garden then you missed out. I had to leave after Coppelia Jane performed so I'm glad I caught it. She was excellent and I'm not sure if the guy she picked was embarressed or completely stoked to be chosen but I think everyone on stage was having a damn good time!

Bertie Page was her usual hilarious self as she kept control of the chaos and it was completely packed so I hope they raised lots of money for the flood affected artists. Really it's terrible, I know of a photographer (who does the beautiful pictures for Brisbane Sketchy) who has lost lots of very expensive equipment.

It's a hard slog to be able to afford everything you need as an artist and to have that taken from you would be devastating. Not only are your possesions gone but your livelihood as well.

So make sure you're there at Flood Follies this Thursday for another knock out night of burlesque! Flood Follies is raising money for RSPCA to rebuild their destroyed shelters and a very worthy cause indeed.

x

Twitteriness

I have finally done it. I've deleted my twitter account. I only remember it once in a blue moon and at one point thought it would be a great idea to donate a tweet a day to Greenpeace (who I wholeheartedly support). However as I hardly ever tweet myself my feed looked nothing like a burlesque performers twitter account. I figured it was really false advertising on my behalf if anyone signed up to follow me and then didn't get any related tweets so it has been deleted.

There's something extremely liberating about it.

I'm a member of so many networks, forums, blogs and all manner of online business that I have frequently spent entire days just dealing with admin and not getting down to the business I love the most, which is of course the daily bump and grind!

To celebrate this monumental moment I'll be heading on down to the flood relief gig 'The Lady Garden' tonight at Kerbside in the Valley to watch Bertie Paige and the girls and guys shake their stuff for artists affected by the floods.

I'll also be performing next Friday at the Brisbane Rockabilly Night, Friday 25th February at the Bleeding Heart Gallery on Ann St, Fortitude Valley.

See you there lovers!

Flood Relief Brisbane

Unless you've been hiding under a rock of late you might have heard that Queensland and specifically my hometown of Brisbane has experienced their worst floods in around 40 years. Some towns had it worse than others but overall around 75% of the state was affected and now it's moved on to Victoria.

Considering England fits into Queensland around 7 times you can start to imagine the scale of the damage.

So, besides volunteering for the clean up and donating to the Premiers Flood Relief Appeal what can you do? Well you can get your behind down to the flood relief gig I'll be performing at!

BRISBANE ROCKABILLY NIGHT FLOOD RELIEF GIG

17:00 - 23:30

Friday 25th Feb

Bleeding Heart Gallery

166 Ann Street

Brisbane

See you there.

xx

Round and round on the Carousel

Don't forget if you want to kick start your new year then Carousel is the place to do it! This Friday at Barsoma, Brisbane the line-up is staggeringly fabulous and it is FREE entry!