My Outlaw Ways: Belated BHoF 2014

As I write this, I am one week away from traveling to Las Vegas for Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekend 2015. It will be my fourth year attending in a row. I wrote down some thoughts about the experience in 2012 and 2013 and had fully intended to do a write-up about 2014 well before now, and it's fairly inexcusable that I haven't. As I've said before, I write about the Weekender not to criticize anyone's performance but to celebrate the stuff I find inspiring or special. I am not a critic and feel I have a lot more burlesque to watch before I could begin to fulfill that role. As always, any opinions are strictly my own and in no way are intended to slight or offend. I am just trying to be a better fan/admirer of this art I have come to love, and I come to understanding through writing.

As such, I am, for this entry, at least, not going with my past "Five Favorite Performances" format. It served its purpose previously, and I certainly may return to it, but this time I'm going with something a little less structured. Also, all of the performances from 2014 are online at Vimeo, so I can link directly to the performance instead of trying to coordinate with photographers to find photos I like (one bonus of waiting so damn long to write this). In no particular order, these are simply a few numbers I enjoyed. Not all, by any stretch of the imagination, but a few that stuck with me, for whatever reason.

Bonnie Fox - 2014 - 24th Annual Tournament of Tease from BurlesqueHall on Vimeo.

Bonnie Fox: I'd be hard-pressed to name a favorite overall routine from 2014, but if forced I'd probably pick this one. Bonnie's Charleston number is as classic as they come with a great striptease seamlessly added in. I tend to prefer my burlesque on the neo side, but Bonnie was a perfect blend of technical proficiency and the SHEER JOY OF PERFORMING. Honestly, the happiness that she felt on that stage, knowing she was hitting every mark, radiated outward and allowed the audience to share in the moment. Bonnie won "Best Debut" and "Most Dazzling" with this showstopper, as well as a roomful of hearts.

Iva Handfull - 2014 - 24th Annual Tournament of Tease from BurlesqueHall on Vimeo.

Iva Handfull: There are certain people who always hit a sweet spot for me. Iva is one such performer. She's blessedly unique, mixing glam and punk and industrial and rock influences into something that's just so damn exciting every time she takes the stage. Her costuming is always creative, her musical selections are far from traditional burlesque offerings, and she ALWAYS BRINGS IT. In this case, she brought it to Scissor Sisters' "Filthy Gorgeous." She killed it, as she always does, and LOOK AT THAT MOTHERFUCKING HEADDRESS. LOOK AT IT. You're going to have a fever dream involving that headdress. And you'll want more.

Kay Sera – 2014 Movers, Shakers & Innovators Showcase from BurlesqueHall on Vimeo.

Kay Sera: I love the Movers, Shakers & Innovators showcase. Just love it. It's the best chance during the weekend to see stuff that may be a little more bizarre or humorous or just outside the box. Kay Sera turning Eve's temptation in the Garden of Eden into a cheeky reverse striptease with great props and a fine bit of tassle-twirling set to "Bolero" and "Welcome to the Jungle" was more than enough to make me happy.

The Ruby Revue - 2014 - 24th Annual Tournament of Tease from BurlesqueHall on Vimeo.

Ruby Revue: If you couldn't tell from Ginger Valentine placing as second runner-up in the insanely competitive Queen competition this year and Missy Lisa winning the "Most Classic" trophy, Ruby Revue is a collection of By-God SHOWGIRLS. From TEXAS. Dancing to a double-dose of David Rose ("Sunset Strip" and a sexed-up "St. James Infirmary,") they deliver choreography you could cut paper on and a rainbow spectacle of costumes that you'd be content to go blind after seeing. They won "Best Troupe" for this routine, and you can see why. They're one of the most professional groups going today.

Aurora Galore - 2014 - 24th Annual Tournament of Tease from BurlesqueHall on Vimeo.

Aurora Galore: I've said it before and I'll say it again now: "Most Innovative" is my favorite award of the weekend. In 2014 it deservedly went to Aurora Galore. She brought Weird Sexy Ringmaster Realness to the stage and immediately shot up the list of unique performers who do something different and special and demand to be seen and respected on their own terms. Her performance was one of the most electrifying of the weekend and thankfully, the crowd ate it up.

Lola Frost - 2014 - 24th Annual Tournament of Tease from BurlesqueHall on Vimeo.

Lola Frost: Another woman for whom I am unapologetically a complete mark, Lola is the rare performer who combines a distinct personal aesthetic with a hybrid of dance forms both old and new to create amazing burlesque that could come only from her. She's extraordinarily good. And just extraordinary in general. If you told me that electroswing was created by someone who caught a contact high from her glitter, I'd not even question the claim. Also, with this "Fancy Flapper" routine she works those assels like a prizefighter gunning for points in the twelfth round. Can I get a witness?!

Midnite Martini - 2014 - 24th Annual Tournament of Tease from BurlesqueHall on Vimeo.

Midnite Martini: It's only right to say something about the Queen, isn't it? Beginning with a great visual, then fully revealing herself and A RHINESTONED LADDER she treats like a balance beam before finishing with skilled aerial work, I think a lot of people fully expected this act to take the title as they watched it gloriously unfold. I met Midnite months later when she headlined Atlanta's Southern Fried Burlesque Festival, and I like this win for reasons beyond her obvious talent. Midnite is a genuinely nice person and a damn fine ambassador for burlesque and The Burlesque Hall of Fame and will continue to be for years to come, I'm certain. Oh, did I mention RHINESTONED LADDER?!

That's it for this time. Again, there are several more acts I could highlight with great enthusiasm, but I'm running out of adjectives. I will say that I am more excited than ever to attend BHoF in 2015, as I think I finally may have figured out how to do the thing right. And I've actually seen each of the performers vying for Miss Exotic World at least once, a few of them multiple times, and I know that pageant is going to be breathtaking for the audience and brain-grindingly difficult to judge for the poor souls put in charge of such a thing. Which probably means it will be another year before you see me write about it, because winnowing it down to a few acts is hard enough without having to choose a "winner."

I leave you with a few random photos from Las Vegas and BHoF 2014.

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