And Now for Something Completely Different!

Bombshell Betty and Fromagique present…
A Burlesque tribute to Monty Python and All Things Ridicul-esque!

We will have killer rabbits, dancing Spam, exploding shrubberies, singing lumberjacks, dead parrot juggling, Departments of Arguments and Abuse, the Spanish Inquisition, a Ministry of Silly Walks striptease and much, much more! You will not want to miss all the fun!

Burlesque acts by:

Bombshell Betty!
Red Velvet!
Pearl E. Gates!
Pickles Kintaro!
If-N-Whendy!
Lezzie McFaggerson!
Andi Stardust!
Mistress Marla Spanks!
Carlita Cupcake!
Velvet Vixen!
Cinnamon Stick!
Baby Blue Boom Boom!
Pyro Pantera!
Laura Borealis!
Plus Burlesqueteers so new, they don’t have stagenames yet!
MC’s Patina DeCopper and A. Randy Johnson

With live musical accompaniment by San Francisco’s cheesiest band:
FROMAGIQUE (Bombshell Betty, Patina DeCopper, A. Randy Johnson, B.J. Johnson (no relation), Ezra Lipp)

* * *

Tues. Mar. 1st, 2011
@ The Elbo Room
647 Valencia St (2 blocks from 16th St. BART)
Doors @ 9PM Show 9:30PM

21+ W/ ID

General Admission $10
Table for two: $35 ($30 at the door if they last)

For presale tickets, go here!

Sci-Fi Burlesque!

Our Sci-Fi themed show at the Elbo Room on Tuesday, September 14, was out of this world! We packed almost 250 people into the upstairs to see the approx. 25 burlesque acts, featuring the debut performances of the most recent Burlesquercise Intensive I graduates! If you missed all the fun, we will be repeating the event with most of the original acts plus a few new ones this Monday, September 20, at the Uptown in Oakland! More info here:

http://www.bombshellbetty.net/shows.html
http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=128675187181761

Well bless my Star Wars! All that tassel twirling and shimmy-shimmy of burlesque, at times it seems you can’t turn around with a eyeful of curves hitting you at full speed in this town. Not that I’m complaining. But I must admit, I’ve always been concerned – when do the sci-fi aficionados get  their very own night of burlesque beauties? …Leave it to Bombshell Betty to heed my heart-felt cry for our darling and economically life-affirming nerds (you know we’re a cradle for Tech 2.0 or whatever, right?). Strutting the stage on a very special night at the Elbo Room (Tues/14) will be any number of ladies loving the heroes, the bad guys, the technology, the far-fetched cleavage of the sci-fi genre that you would think just begs for a little more spec-ta-ta-tacular exploitation…

Caitlin Donohue
SF Bay Guardian’s “SexSF” blog

Here are a few photo highlights! You can see many more fabulous photos by SF Station of the show at the Elbo Room here.

Too Many F&$#ing Bunnies and photo fun!

Our April shows are going to be SO much fun. The theme is “Too Many F&$#ing Bunnies” and the acts that are scheduled are going to be so much mayhem and fivolity! Join us at the Glas Kat on April 28 for our 5th “Bombshell Betty Burlesque Bailout” show, benefiting local out-of-work, under-employed, and recently-laid-off actors, comedians, dancers, musicians and performers of all kinds!

Also, here are some photos of my act with Patina de Copper at the “Awards Show” Hubba Hubba Revue at the DNA Lounge on March 19. I am very excited about my new costume for that act! You can’t tell from these photos, but this act was Patina’s striptease debut.

Patina helps me remove my gown...

I love these underpieces! Unfortunately, all the rhinestones don't show up in the photo!

Myself as me, Venomous Veronica Voom as a paparazzi, and Red Velvet as Joan Rivers for the Burlesqueteers 'Red Carpet Schtick.' Photo by Hanna Quevedo for SF Weekly.

 

Photo by Hanna Quevedo for SF Weekly.

Photo by Hanna Quevedo for SF Weekly.

Burlesque Bailout Show this Weds, Jan 13!

This Wednesday, Bombshell Betty and Fromagique are producing a night ofcomedic skits and dancing to benefit our localrecently-laid-off/under-employed/out-of-work actors, dancers,comedians, musicians and perfromers of all kinds!

This will be our 4th benefit show! ALL money will be donated toout-of-work, underemployed, struggling Bay Area artists, performers,and producers. We have raised and donated over $4,000 so far. Help uskeep helping the people that need it most in our community ofperformers!

Featuring burlesque performances by:

Bombshell Betty!
Red Velvet!
Miss If-N-Whendy!
Sure Thing Shirley!
GoGo Bananas!
Tasty Temptress!
Fina Fatale!
Rosey Areola!
Vadge O’Fonner!
Dangerous Delilah!
Stella Bordeaux!
Brandi She’s A Fine Girl!
Lezzie McFaggerson!
And more!

Live music performed by: Fromagique!

Odessa ‘Lil will be your Mistress of Ceremonies!

Raffles, prizes, and more!

Wednesday, January 13th, 2010
Doors 8PM Show 9PM

Glas Kat
520 4th Street, SF (near Bryant)

$10 * 21+ w/ ID

FREE ENTRANCE TO BaGG afterward, so stick around and dance!

Sponsors:
-Whole Foods SoMa
-The Glas Kat
-BaGG
-Fromagique
-Bombshell Betty Dance

* * *

For details about MORE upcoming shows, go to: http://www.bombshellbetty.net/shows.html

Hello hello HELLO!

My, my! It has been way too long since I posted anything here. Isn’t it always the way of things that when you have SO MUCH going on, updates just don’t happen, while when not much is going on, it is easy to update? Seems like it should be the other way around and there should be  more updates when things are crazy, but so it goes. Too much has happened since last I posted to write about it all and get you up to speed, so I will just post some fun tidbits here instead!

First up, take a look at this great video to get a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to attend a Bombshell Betty Pinup Workshop:

The “Luxury Edition” Pinup Workshop Tour has been going really well. The photos from the shoots at the various hotels have been amazing! I will post some of my favorite photos here soon, just as soon as I get through picking a handful out of the thousands of photos we’ve shot in the last few months. We have workshops coming up in LA, NYC, Philadelphia, San Francisco (of course), New Orleans, Houston and Seattle, plus more being added to the schedule all the time!

One of my Burlesquercise students, Amy Martin, is a brilliant cartoonist on top of all her other talents. Check out her blog and buy her books! They are genius! Amy’s business card calls her “obscenely feminist” and you’ll see why. Here is a cartoon she did after attending Burlesquercise classes.

  
NOTE: In burlesque, unlike bellydancing, there is absolutely no problem with your ass shaking when you shake your shoulders! In fact, the more wiggle and jiggle the better, so let it all shake! Yes, really!

We produced a benefit show in July for our local (SF Bay Area) unemployed, under-employed and struggling performers, the $timulus Package Benefit Show. We were sponsored by Whole Foods, Annie’s Social Club, Sweet Petite Baking, and of course Bombshell Betty Dance, and helped raise ~$1500 to help feed our local performers! The event was such a great success that we have decided to continue running these benefit shows every 3 months or so for as long as it is necessary!

In keeping with the $timulus Package theme of the evening, all of the acts involved money, work, the economy, and food. RJ Johnson captured some really great photos from the show, and I have decided to post a few of them here for your enjoyment. You can see more photos from the show and from other shows by RJ Johnson by visiting his Facebook page and LiveJournal galleries. NOTE: I have only posted PG photos here. Enjoy!

Here I am singing with Fromagique! Bandmembers from L to R: Randy Johnson on bari sax, Patina de Copper on trumpet, Ezekiel Pseudonimo on clarinet, and Rusty 2.0 on trombone and backup vocals.

 

One dress down, one to go!

 

Sultra Violet and Vicious Veronica Voom in "Show Me the Money!" This was Sultra Violet's "solo" debut, with 4 backup dancers.

 

Miss Red Velvet looking amazing in green!

 

This was Kiki Yeah Yeah's solo debut! Woo!

 

Miss If-N-Whendy performed a fan dance with fans she made out of trash... very thrifty!

 

Agnes O'God read us a naughty bedtime story...

Randy and I did a skit to "Money Makes the World Go Around"

 

These girls choreographed this routine themselves to "Come on'a My House" in the Burlesquercise Intensive series. They created the costuming themselves after taking the costuming class!

 

Foxy Chartreuse hamming it up in one of the skits!

 

Holly Highbeams as Lady Liberty!

Fosse-esque, Boylesque, Choreography with Fromagique, and MORE!

Hello burlesque fans!

Happy February! I’ve been looking forward to this month over a year, and it’s not because of Valentine’s Day. What’s got me so excited? Come out on Thursday, Feb 5, to the Pin It Up, Babycakes! art show where I will be debuting my collage and assemblage art work as well as performing with Fromagique and the Burlesqueteers. The art show starts at 6pm, burlesque at 9pm.

Also in Febraury, don’t miss out on a unique workshop with Living Legend of Burlesque, Isis Starr, on February 15!

In March, we are kicking off a lot of fun NEW classes! I’m starting a new Burlesque Choreography series that will include live accompaniment by Fromagique, my burlesque band. I’m offering “Burlesque for Men: A Boylesque Crash Course” for men who don’t want to leave all the burlesque fun to the girls! Plus MJ Paul is back at the studio to teach “Fosse-esque: Burlesque Jazz.” And don’t forget the popular “Cardio Can-Can” which is a great way to get a real workout while having lots of fun. There are only a few spots left in the February series, so sign up now if you want to join the fun! So many fun classes to choose from!

Have a look at the descriptions below, and I hope to see you all out at a show or out and about sometime this month.

Shake a tail feather!
Betty

Bombshell Betty Dance

http://www.bombshellbetty.net

*

IN THIS ISSUE (Full descriptions below):

- Burlesque Choreography with Fromagique! Starts March 2
- Fosse-esque: Burlesque Jazz with MJ Paul! Starts March 12
- Burlesque for Men: A Boylesque Crash Course! Starts March 4

*

BURLESQUE CHOREOGRAPHY
with LIVE accompaniment by Fromagique!

In this special burlesque choreography session, we will be focusing entirely on the choreography for the Burlesquercise acts that are performed with Bombshell Betty’s burlesque band, Fromagique! The band will play the music for the last class in the series, so that you can get some experience performing with a live band. It’s exhilarating and VERY different from performing to a CD. You won’t find another class like this anywhere!

In this series, we will go over the steps for “Put a Lid on It” (a sassy Charleston act), “Feeling Good” (a slinky Chair Dance routine), plus a BRAND NEW group act, never before taught or performed! Building up to the choreography, we will cover basic Charleston and chair dancing techniques that you can use for future acts or on the dance floor.

All participants in the Burlesque Choreography series are invited to perform these acts with Fromagique at upcoming shows around the Bay Area!

Mondays, 6:30-8:00pm
March 2, 9, 16 & 23

NOTE: Fromagique will play music for the class on March 23!

For more info and to sign up: http://www.bombshellbetty.net/burlesquercise.html
Find Fromagique online at http://www.myspace.com/fromagique

*

“FOSSE-ESQUE”: BURLESQUE JAZZ with MJ Paul

Do you want to learn to dance, but you’re too intimidated to attend the “beginner” dance classes at most dance studios that seem “advanced” to you? This unique and non-intimidating beginner’s dance class will focus on movement and stage presence, and your body awareness will improve dramatically. You will increase your perfomance value, strengthen and develop your core, improve your flexibility, and learn basic dance skills that you can already do without even knowing it! This class will be invaluable as you pursue burlesque and other dancing interests!

In this series, you will learn choreography for the Fosse classics and will instantly recognize dance moves made popular by pop artists in the 60s 70s and 80s that Fosse originally choreographed in the 50s. Don’t miss this unusual and fun class series!

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR: MJ Paul can be found teaching various workshops and master classes throughout California. He is the longtime assistant to Emmy award winner Suzy Miller and has been dance director/resident choreographer for SF boylesque for the past 18 months. His varied theatre background has included working on productions such as: Cabaret, Damn Yankees, A Christmas Carol with the renowned Gilbert Reed Ballet, 12 days of Christmas with Ballet theatre of SLO, Kathy Mata Ballet, Bombshell Betty’s Burlesqueteers, and Fieldwork at Shotwell studios. His main dance influences include Bob Fosse, Suzy Miller, Rob Marshall, Teresa Slobodnik, Gilbert Reed, Katy Warner, and Carlos Carvajal.

Thursdays, 8:30-10:00pm
March 12, 19 & 26

http://www.bombshellbetty.net/burlesquercise.html

*

BURLESQUE FOR MEN:
A Boylesque Crash Course!

Have you ever been to a burlesque show and wondered, “Why do the girls get to have all the fun?” Would you love to perform burlesque, but you’ve been held back because you think burlesque is only for women? Boylesque is one of the hottest new things in the burlesque movement today, so come join the fun! In this introductory series, you will learn all the basics of burlesque performance including: * the burlesque strut and bump and grind dance movement * song interpretation and choreography basics * prop use * audience interaction and how to leave them wanting more * and much more! We will break down traditional and modern female burlesque performance and explore the traditional roles of men in the burlesque, using all of this information as a jumping point for creating modern and provocative Boylesque acts. All participants will be invited to perform at upcoming shows in San Francisco!

Wednesdays, 8:30-10:00pm
March 4, 11 & 18

http://www.bombshellbetty.net/burlesquercise.html

*
BOMBSHELL BETTY DANCE
Exclusive Home of Burlesquercise!™
Mailing: PO Box 77842 SF, CA 94107
Studio: 715 Bryant St # 102 SF, CA 94107

http://www.bombshellbetty.net

*
Blog: http://bombshellbetty.wordpress.com
Be an Everyday Bombshell! http://everydaybombshells.wordpress.com
*
Online classes! http://www.bombshellbetty.net/onlinestudio.html
*
Burlesquercise!™ DVD: http://www.bombshellbetty.net/introdvd.html
Pin-Up Book: http://www.bombshellbetty.net/pinupbook.html
National Pin-Up Workshops: http://www.bombshellbetty.net/pinup.html

Sneak Peek: Collage Pieces for Pinup Art Show

I just received the official announcement for the “Pin It Up, Babycakes!” art show that I am participating in this February at 111 Minna. I have pasted the email below, since it is full of great information about the show. Sign up for the mailing list to receive information about pre-sales on the many fabulous works of art being shown in this event.

As promised, I am including photos in this post with some preview pictures of a couple of my pieces that will be included in this show, unveiled here for the first time ever outside of my studio! I’m only showing pictures of 2 of my pieces here, and I will have several more available for pre-sales and being shown in the event.

For more info,  about my artwork and this wonderful pin-up themed show, read my previous post.

“Shanghai Eve”

2009 by Bombshell Betty
Photograph, watercolor, fabrics and paper on wood.

Shanghai Eve – Full Image

“Nature Calls for the Glamourpuss”

2008 by Bombshell Betty
Photograph, glitter, sequins, potting soil, silk leaves, living pathos cutting, glass, plastic and watercolor on paper and wood.

Nature Calls for the Glamourpuss – Full Image

Nature Calls for the Glamourpuss – Detail

Nature Calls for the Glamourpuss – Photo detail
 

From: Alice Stribling
Subject: Pin it up, Babycakes: Fishnets, Tarts and the Art of the modern tease
Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:10:31 -0500

Hello art lovers-

Pin it up, Babycakes is almost here!  I have been co-curating this project with artist Jessica Whiteside for over a year and I am excited to officially introduce it to you.

This exhibition features art inspired by pinups that span many genres: including hot rod, cheesecake, and faux advertisements. It also has modern burlesque influences, including a nod to the original ladies of burlesque in a film reel that will play on opening night.

Opening night will have something for everyone:

• Outstanding art and photography by some of the most talented artists working
  within this genre
• Red hot merchandise for you or your Valentine’s Day sweetie which will turn any lovely lady
  into an instant pinup star
• Burlesque performances complete with fashion show by our sponsor Dollhouse Bettie Lingerie
• Thee Merry Widows will rock out with their boobage out at midnight

Mark your calendars for the party that you don’t want to miss:

Pin it up, Babycakes opening night
February 5th, 2009  /  6pm-late*
111 Minna Gallery, San Francisco
*Please note that we will start charging $5 at the door at 9pm for the performances

To find out more specifics about the show and opening night event, please visit the show website: 
    http://pinitupbabycakes.com/

How pinup has influenced me as an artist:

I grew up with a warped idea that curvy ladies were not sexy or desirable, because most of what I saw in fashion magazines did not represent my shape in many ways.  So in my mind, to be sexy, a woman had to be very thin. Discovering and studying the genre of vintage pinup has made me see that this belief is not necessarily true.  These pinup ladies of the 1940s-60s had hips! And a bustline! And they were deliciously sexy and appealing.

These images can be many things to many different people: demure or erotic, free or fun, empowering, cute, or perhaps raunchy and a turn-off. That’s ok and that’s why they are interesting to me. It is certainly not for everyone.

For collectors:

We will be sending out an email with presale information about two weeks before the show opens to give all of you, my lovely fans, a chance to have first pick of the art that I have produced for the show. We expect collectors to jump quickly, so please don’t delay in purchasing if you see something that you like.

Thank you-
Alice Stribling

Add event in Facebook:  http://tinyurl.com/9kcjyb
Add event in MySpace:   http://tinyurl.com/8onzm9
Add event to your Google Calendar:

  

 

 

 

 

December Burlesqueteer Shows!

This month, you have two very different opportunities to see Bombshell Betty performing with the Burlesqueteers and her new band, Fromagique:

MONDAY, December 15, at the Uptown Club in Oakland and
WEDNESDAY, December 17, at Stagewerx Theater in San Francisco

Details below…

* * *

12/15: BURLESQUETEER NIGHT at the UPTOWN HUBBA HUBBA!

Uptown Hubba Hubba is back with BOMBSHELL BETTY’S BURLESQUETEERS returning to shimmy, shake & grind their way into your hearts and psyches.

This month will feature a full set by Bombshell Betty and Randy Johnson’s new band, Fromagique, with burlesque performances by Tinky Sparkles, Red Velvet and more! The band debuted at the November Burlesqueteer Night at the Uptown Hubba Hubba to a great response. Come see what all the fuss is about!

Booze, Beauties, Funny Fat Guys & Rockin’ Good Times for all! Now that’s a damn good Monday night!

EVERY THIRD MONDAY! Doors 9PM, Show 10PM
21 & Up w/I.D.

As always, it’s just FIVE BUCKS all night!

Uptown Night Club
1928 Telegraph Ave
Oakland, CA
(1 block from 19th Street BART!)

* * *

12/17: BURLESQUETEER HOLIDAY MADNESS!

Sit back and relax in comfortable theater seating while sipping your wine and enjoying the hilarious and delightful acts from your favorite burlesque troupe, the Burlesqueteers!

This month you’re in for a special treat: a FULL burlesque lineup followed by a set with Bombshell Betty’s band, Fromagique. That’s double the show for the price of just one!

Featuring burlesque performances by:

Bombshell Betty
Red Velvet
Holly Highbeems and Josie Starr
Tiger von Claus
Milkshake
Tinky Sparkles
Penny Paperback
Plus burlesque debuts by 3 brand new Burlesqueteers!

Hosted by Odessa Lil, your *thwack!* Mistress of Ceremonies

Doors at 7pm, Show at 8pm

$15 at the door
$12 in advance (Will Call only). Order your tickets today!
Presale tickets are available until noon on the day of the show.

Stagewerx Theater
533 Sutter St. @ Powell Street
San Francisco

“Pin It Up, Babycakes!” Art Show

In February, 2009, I will be participating in a group pinup-themed art show, “Pin It Up, Babycakes!” at 111 Minna. The show is being curated by two of my burlesque students: Alice Stribling (aka Sweet M’alice) and Jessica Whiteside (aka Tinky Sparkles). The opening gala on Feb 5, 2009, will include burlesque performances by the two curators, the Burlesqueteers, and myself, and will be MC’d by Kitten on the Keys.

The other artists included in the show are:

Jessica Whiteside
Alice Stribling
UK artist Emma Mount
Molly Crabapple
Shaunna Peterson
Tanem
David Perry
Darling Propaganda
Kirsten Easthope

At this show, I am officially unveiling my collage/assemblage artwork, which combines my pinup and nature photography with watercolor drawings, fabric and found objects to create fantasy portraiture. Here is my artist bio from the website:

I started pinup modeling in 2000, shortly after jumping into the world of burlesque performance. I needed sexy promo shots, and since burlesque and pinup are two sides of the same coin, it was a perfect excuse to channel my inner Bettie Page. In 2003, I stepped behind the camera, using what I learned from working in front of the camera to help me direct my models to get the most flattering shots possible. I have pursued pinup from both sides of the camera ever since, including shooting for SuicideGirls.com and other websites, the Bombshell Betty Pinup Workshops and private clients.

As a photographer (and posing director with other photographers), I get great joy from helping women who do not look like conventional models get photos that make them look more beautiful than they thought possible. I believe that we all have a perfect pinup somewhere inside us, regardless of age or body type, and through the proper styling, posing, lighting and camera angles, that pinup queen can be brought out for the world to view. From the responses I have received from participants in my Pinup Workshops, I know that having beautiful glamour pictures taken for the first time can be a transformative and empowering experience for many women, having a tremendous positive impact on one’s self image.

My collage and assemblage pieces are a very new medium for me, and I am very excited to present them for the first time at the ’Pin It Up, Babycakes!’ show. This form allows me to tell a story visually in a similar way as when I perform a burlesque piece, the main difference being that I must tell a whole story through elements that are visible all at once rather than in a linear sequence of events as with burlesque. I am thoroughly appreciating the challenges and possibilities of this medium, and I hope viewers enjoy the pieces as much as I enjoy making them.

Artwork from this show will be available for presales starting in early January 2009. I will post samples and where to go for presales around that time.

12/19: Hubba Hubba Revue CHRISTMAS SPECIAL!

I have been so busy producing my own shows and working on many varied projects that it was quite a surprise when Kingfish, head honcho over at the Hubba Hubba Revue (San Francisco’s biggest monthly burlesque show and quite possibly the biggest monthly burlesque show in the world), pointed out to me that I have not performed at the big Hubba Hubba show in over two years!!! What the heck? I am remedying this situation by performing at the big Holiday Show in December, details below…

Hail Santa! It’s Time For…
The Hubba Hubba Revue CHRISTMAS SPECIAL!
 

Brandy-up that egg-nog, cuz Christmas-time has come again! Join San Francisco’s Biggest, Wildest Burlesque Show for a Holiday Spectacular crammed with more goodies than a slice of Grandma’s fruitcake! 
 
Sexy Elves, Racy Reindeer and the drunkest Santas in show-business!
 
SEE! Acts of Christmas Cheer with…

Bombshell Betty!
Deshret Dance Company!
Katya Smirnoff-Skyy!
Tit-4-Tat!
Honey Lawless!
Odessa Lil!
Pin Key Lee!
Miss Mae Western!
Bunny Pistol!
Kiki Bomb!
Charlie Darling!
Edgar Poe and the Rave-Ons!
sASSy Hotbuns!
The Twilight Vixen Revue!
Rubenesque Burklesque!
Gorilla X!

…and The Hubba Hubba Go-Go Hell-Cats! 

LIVE! Have a Hang-Ten Hanukkah with…
MESHUGGA BEACH PARTY!
 
HEAT-MISER DISCOUNT! From 9PM to 9:30PM, only at the box office night-of-show, tickets
are just $10! 
 
Free dance lessons upstairs, 9:30 – 10:00PM, by Blitzen Brian of Swing Goth! 
 
The Hubba Hubba Revue CHRISTMAS SPECIAL!
Friday, December 19th, 9PM
DNA Lounge, 375 Eleventh Street, SF
$15, 21 & Up w/valid ID
($12 advance tickets at http://www.dnalounge.com )
 
See more at: 
www.myspace.com/hubbahubbarevue
www.hubbahubbarevue.com 
 
SANTA SAYS, “GOOD BOYS AND GIRLS HELP SPREAD THE WORD!”
 
HUBBA HUBBA REVUE is brought to you by:
Effen Vodka! Anheuser-Busch! Costume Party! Dark Garden Corsetry!