Australian Burlesque Festival

I am very excited to have been selected for the first ever Australian Burlesque Festival which starts in Melbourne next week. I will be performing in the Sexy Circus Sideshow division next Friday night, June 4th. It's being held at The Order of Melbourne on Swanston St - the same venue as Red Door Burlesque. I am having a stage extension built as I type to ensure I can include all of my hardest tricks! Check out my profile on the website www.australianburlesquefest.com/missy

I also have a few days to potter around Melbourne and see the other shows that are part of the festival - Shimmy Shakedown on Thursday with the beautiful Sarina Del Fuego and The Big Tease on the Saturday night.

I just have to be careful not to go shopping - Melbourne is a dangerous city for a gal like me!

Una Batalla a la Muerte

It is late notice but I am performing this Saturday as the half time entertainment for Sydney Roller Derby League again. The exciting part news is that it is being held at The Hordern Pavilion. This is the biggest and best flat track roller derby bout that has ever been put on in this State - don't miss this battle to the death between Sydney City Assassins and Northern Brisbane Brawl Stars! Wear black and red if you want to support Sydney Roller Derby League.

Doors open at 5pm for a full night of roller derby entertainment, including roller girls, a demo bout between two mystery leagues, music, performance artists and much, much more! Sydney City Assassins will play Northern Brisbane Brawl Stars at 7pm. I believe I will be performing around 7:30-8pm.

Tickets available through Ticketek http://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=ROLLERD10

First quarter of the year already over.

I'm currently sitting in front of three computer monitors editing video footage from Vari-a-tease! at the Adelaide Fringe Festival. That took place five weeks ago. I had intended to write about it as soon as I got back but I returned home to find the internet was broken! One thing after another and the next thing you know a whole month has passed.

Adelaide Fringe was an incredible experience. Having never taken on anything of that scale before, Danica and I learnt a huge amount. Some things we'd do differently whilst other things worked really well. Apart from a few technical hiccups on the first night the show ran pretty smoothly. We received some awesome reviews including being Adelaide Advertiser's Top 5 picks of what to see on Friday February 26th. The performers were amazing... and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this is the first of many collaborations.

In keeping with my interstate domination (I was hoping for international... but interstate will do), I performed in Melbourne last weekend. Red Door Burlesque invited me back and the timing was perfect as I already had plans to be in Melbourne that weekend. I performed both pole and aerial hoop and as always the crowd there were great. I also had the opportunity to meet Strawberry Siren which I was excited about as we are both performing at the first ever Australian Burlesque Festival....

Yes, yours truly was selected for the Sexy Circus Sideshow division of the Australian Burlesque Festival. I am really honoured to have been included and am working along side the best in the biz. So if you're in Melbourne on Friday June 4th be sure to come to The Order of Melbourne. In fact, you should buy tickets to all four nights and if you're not in Melbourne you should buy a ticket for the flight there and back as well.

Finally, this coming Thursday, April 8th, I am performing at the Sydney Roller Derby League's fundraiser event at the Gaelic Club. The theme is 1920s gun powder glam glitter with 1950s pop-acid swing and punk rockabilly overtones (what ever that means?!). I am choreographing a new show for this event to Benny Goodman. I need to get lots of tassles for all the shimmying. Tickets are $15 through moshtix or $25 at the door. The Snowdroppers are headlining and I've heard many-a-friend rave about how awesome (and cute) they are. Check it out.

So that fills you in for the first quarter of 2010. Hope the rest of the year is as action packed.

Adelaide Fringe Festival

2010 is well and truly underway. I have been head down, bottom up in preparation for the Adelaide Fringe Festival. I've been wanting to perform at Adelaide Fringe for a while now and the opportunity has not presented itself... therefore I created the opportunity along with my co-producer Danica Lee www.nytevision.com

This is our first foray in producing a show like this. It is one thing to perform but quite another to organise everything from scratch. It is proving to be a very steep, but exciting, learning curve.

So here it is.....

Vari-a-tease! Putting strippers back in their place.

Inspired by the variety shows of old, Vari-a-tease! is bringing burlesque and vaudeville back to the theatre. The Holden Street Theatre in fact.

Burlesque and variety has been enjoying a grand revival in recent years, with performers from all walks of life taking to the stage and embracing an art form that hasn't seen such popularity since the 1930's. Vari-a-tease! features some of the best performers Australia has to offer in burlesque, vaudeville, cabaret and magic - having sewn their performing oats on temporary stages all over Australia and internationally - these artists are ready to tread the boards just like their colleagues of old.

A rag tag bunch, the show features everything from the almost extinct vaudeville classic hat and cigar routines to pole dancers and burlesque girls with 80" feather fans (quite a feat considering the lass is only 5'2").

Presented in the stye of an old black and white reel, Vari-a-tease! aims to bring variety to the theatre and set it firmly back in its place.

Vari-a-tease! is a part of the Adelaide Fringe Festival and runs from 25 - 27 February 2010 at The Holden Street Theatre at the special 'after dark' time of 10:30pm. Tickets are available through FringeTix.

Half Time Entertainment

Yep, it's happening again... I'm the half time entertainment for the Sydney Roller Derby League's "Seasons Beatings'. It's the last bout of the year - Sydney Assault Sirens vs CBD'viants. Whilst they are eating their orange quarters, the crowd will be entertained by yours truly performing a Christmas themed pole routine. Your Christmas budget won't be stretched as it is only $10 and it is all ages. You'd be crazy to miss it. Last bout sold out so be quick to get your tickets through Q Jump http://www.qjump.com.au/event/4741/Sydney-Roller-Derby-League-Seasons-Beatings

Competition Mode has shutdown.

I am now officially out of the competition vortex. Miss Pole Dance Australia was held on October 16th. The competition was a lot harder this year due to the new selection process- selecting the best in the country as opposed to a few from each state. By making it the finals I already felt like a winner and night itself was a success. My routine went well, stuck all of my tricks, remembered choreography and did the best I could. Looking forward to watching the dvd.

The weekend before last I flew to Melbourne for the Australian Pole Dance Championships (www.australianpoledance.com) at the Thornbury Theatre. I really loved this competition for recognising the diversity within the pole dancing genre. There were four divisions in the championships. 1. Pure Pole - based on skill, technique and execution - this was similar to a gymnastics competition where competitors had to fulfill certain trick criteria. 2. Doubles - self explanatory 3. Women's Freestyle - based on artistic expression through performance, pole skills, dance and creativity. 4. Men's Freestyle - the first time a men's division has been included. Very exciting to finally give the boys a turn.

The heats for the Women's Freestyle, the division I was competing in, was on the Friday night. There were 15 of us vying for a place in the finals. The order was drawn out of a hat and I was number 13 on Friday the 13th! I no longer consider 13 unlucky as I was one of the six who made it to the finals. The finals took place on the Saturday night. I was a little worried that I would be fatigued from the previous night's performance however, the adrenalin kicked in and I was fine. More than fine. I was awarded 2nd place and received my first ever trophy :)

I met some wonderful people and made new friends. I also had the chance to catch up with some old ones (when I say old I'm not referring to their age but rather the period of time that I've known them!). Spent Sunday with my friend James. We wandered down Brunswick St, Fitzroy and spent the evening eating and socialising at The Peacock Inn in Northcote. I love a pub that supplies 30+ sunscreen and Aeroguard in their courtyard... very thoughtful.

I flew back last Monday and am back to reality whilst dreaming about the next interstate or international escapade.

woo hoo...I was selected for the finals of Miss Pole Dance Australia!

If you're wondering where I've been for the last few months, I been in the void that is Miss Pole Dance Australia. Those that were with me last year know what it is like and have probably been dreading this time of year. It is all I talk about, think about, dream about etc. It started months ago with trying to up-skill my tricks, then arrange pole combinations and their order according to the music and finally tweeking the choreography. Nothing else happens... emails are neglected, food in the cupboard runs out and the house looks like a bomb hit it!

All of the hard work has paid off and I will now be performing at The Enmore Theatre on Friday October 16th.

Now I have to go back to training.

Whoops, how time flies

I've noticed that I've become slack updating my news. I've been plodding along working, teaching and training for Miss Pole NSW Heats.

July has all of a sudden become busy with gigs. So here are the details...

This Sunday, July 19th I am the half time entertainment for the Sydney Roller Derby League season final. I went along a few weeks ago to check out the venue and to watch a match and I had a ball. It took a while to understand the rules of the game but that was part of the fun! My throat was sore from yelling and cheering. If I though I received some good bruises from pole dancing it would be nothing compared to these girls.

The match is held at Sydney Boys High. The doors open at midday and the game starts at 12:30pm. The cover charge is $15 - it is well worth it. Sydney Roller Derby League is a non-profit organisation and the cover charge goes towards transport for interstate matches... support these girls.

For further details check out www.sydneyrollerderby.com

Friday, July 24th, I am performing at Newtown Pop-up Fashion Store

"The Australian Fashion Movement will be hosting their 2nd Pop-Up Shop on July 24 featuring provocative, inspirational and creative fashion designers. At the event you will be able to buy directly from hottest Australian fashion designers along with watching fantastic entertainment from alternative fashion models and performers. Get advice from stylists and meet the designers in person! A Glamourous Fashion Playground!"

www.nothingtowear.eventbrite.com

Friday, July 31st Black List Rock Club

Yep, I'm at Black List again but this time at a different venue - upstairs at 2a Roslyn St, Kings Cross (I have a soft spot for this venue. It was the first club I snuck in to underage...shhhh). Doors open at 10pm and cover charge is a measly $10.

www.myspace.com/blacklistrockclub

Thursday, August 27th Miss Pole Dance Australia, NSW Heats

I'm doing it again. My poor friends and family put up with me last year during Miss Pole, I'm sure they will disown me this year. The all absorbing, all encompassing, all tiring Miss Pole. This is the event I am working my butt off for. I have a great idea and awesome music mixed and compiled by the wonderful NeoTokyo.

If you wish to see what my brain is up to, come along and watch it at Slide Night Club. Tickets only available through Bobbi's Pole Studio 02 9264 0080 (very limited numbers, so be quick, chop chop)

Sexy Saturday Session

This Saturday's workshop at iPole has SOLD OUT.

Watch this space for details on the next one which will be in June.

May news

I have been staying under the radar a little since I got back. Recovered from jet lag and went straight back into work mode.

I am currently spending my time organising classes, making costumes and dreaming big!

This weekend (Saturday 23rd) iPole is conducting another Sexy Saturday Session from 11am-12:30pm. Please call iPole on (02) 9557 8069 for further details and to reserve your spot. Only a couple of places left - so be quick.

The following Friday (May 29th) I am performing at the relaunch of Black List at Civic Underground, corner of Pitt and Goulburn Sts. Will be a great night of old school rock, punk, glam, metal, rockabilly and psychobilly. I will be debuting a new routine too. Cover charge is only $10 so you have no excuse. www.myspace.com/blacklistrockclub