10
November eDITIoN 2014
GENERATIONS OF
BURLESQUE
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Upcoming show features performers Judith Stein, Scarlet Mary Rose and Crystal Precious
by Will Johnson, Nelson Star
Legendary performer Judith Stein is once again taking the stage, this time with Nelsonite Scarlet Mary Rose and her bevy of burlesque babes at the Capitol Theatre on November 18.
Stein said one of the best performers she ever knew was a local drag queen named Annie Fannie, a 350-pound stripper. She said including people of all shapes and sizes, such as little “The local ladies are really upping their game person performer Mandy Pandy, is an integral and I’m really proud of them,” said the 66-year- part of the inclusive nature of burlesque. old burlesque icon, who is also known as Mama “It seemed like when I started everyone was Beaver. She started performing when she was doing traditional burlesque with gowns, stock25, quit at the age of 40, but eventually resur- ings, gloves. I never did that well. I was a bit faced as character Kootenay Kate once moving of a goof on stage. I took off my clothes and to Nelson. people laughed,” said Stein. Stein has been inducted into the Burlesque Hall of Fame in Las Vegas, and has travelled and performed extensively. And though her art form is primarily associated with sexual provocation, she said she’s attracted to it for a number of different reasons. “I started out in burlesque not for being creative. It was because it was fast, easy money to go to university,” said Stein, who studied art history. “I had seen strippers, and I worked as a go-go girl. I could see the creativity that was coming about. It was still tease, it was still big and luscious costumes at honky tonks. And some of the women were fabulous dancers, some were totally beautiful, but the ones that always got my attention were the ones who were entertainers.”
“I’ve very proud and happy to say Judith is my burlesque mama. She’s our Mama Beave,” said Rose. “I’m always happy to have her perform in my shows because not everybody knows what a big star she is. She led the way.” Burlesque rapper Crystal Precious said it’s female solidarity and personal empowerment that she’s most interested in.
“One of the most important elements of the burlesque community is the DIY component. Stein has mentored a number of performers, It means that having burlesque be a focus for including Rose, and it’s these generation-span- women to put their creative, performer-type ning relationships that have helped the Koote- energy, to work on their personal development nay burlesque scene to grow. Stein teaches her and their relationship with their sexuality,” said charges about her unique brand of feminism, Precious. and demonstrates her politics with her lifestyle. “I’m not up there being like tell me how hot “As far as a political statement, mine was I start- I am. I’m doing something that feels really ed in the midst of the feminist changeover. I natural to me. I’ve always been really sexual, was a radical feminist, and me taking off my and this is an authentic manifestation of my clothes and performing what I want to perform creative juices.” and doing what I wanted to do seemed like a The show is fantasy-themed, with unicorns and damn good political statement to me.” fantastical elements. Rose has also started a Kootenay burlesque training camp, called Boob Camp, and her “What’s your fantasy?” asked Rose. students will be on stage for a few numbers It starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20. For more during the show, which also features Vancouver information visit capitoltheatre.bc.ca. performer Crystal Precious.