Red Hots Burlesque’s National Treasure: Sugar Lee
SUGAR LEE
INDIANA
This week’s National Treasure is a double threat! Sugar Lee sings and dances into our hearts, known for being “not only sweet, but full of spice.” This Indiana-based performer is a classically trained singer and dancer who began the bump and grind in 2008 with Bustout Burlesque in New Orleans. “Dancing is the love of my life and my truest source of passion,” Sugar Lee tells Red Hots Burlesque. “…One of my greatest struggles in burlesque is to relax, break my own sense of conventionality, and let that passion show through. The other thing that sets me apart is my rogue-ish lifestyle – I have lived in and gotten to be part of the scene in many places across the country during my burlesque career!” Spending a couple years in New Orleans, the San Francisco Bay Area, and now in Bloomington/Indianapolis, Sugar Lee has a style and quality of performance touched by all of her travels. This lady lives a double life: “I get a high from knowing that I have a secret fabulous existence outside of my normal every day. The culture of my day job is one where people think it’s wild to go have a drink on a weeknight! I have seen and experienced things through burlesque that would blow these people’s minds.” We have been honored to host Sugar Lee as a featured performer with Red Hots Burlesque during her years in the Bay Area.
WHAT TO DO IN INDIANA: “Come to Indiana for craft beer. When the land is flat and half of the year is icy and cold, there is a lot of time to hone in on the brew skills.”
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Red Hots Burlesque’s National Treasure: Bambi La Fleur
BAMBI LA FLEUR
FLORIDA
Our Florida National Treasure has created a reputation bringing classic American glamour back in fashion: the flawless Bambi La Fleur, a corporate, high-end burlesque performer also noted for her Marilyn Monroe impersonations, has trained with many legends of burlesque. She currently studies the incorporation of magic in burlesque with Dusty Summers, Las Vegas’ Only Nude Magician. Her respect and knowledge of the burlesque’s foremothers sets La Fleur apart from the pack. “I’m trying to keep burlesque alive, but don’t be mistaken: if I have to watch a glove peel, a boa on one girl after the other, I would be asleep.” La Fleur wants to be entertained, and she knows her audience. Currently she is diligently working to create the First International Florida Burlesque Festival, a festival dedicated to Florida’s own first female pinup photographer Bunny Yeager, who we lost earlier this year. La Fleur’s own brand of burlesque is retro-based and she encourages up-and-comers to remember the origin of the art. “Have your gimmick,” she tells Red Hots Burlesque, “but know your roots.”
WHAT TO DO IN FLORIDA: “My show! But really, the gator farm in South Florida. And go to South Beach and see the Art Deco district… Hollywood, FL. [The stars] all used to come here. It’s a beautiful state with beautiful beaches.”
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Red Hots Burlesque’s National Treasure: Moxie Rhodes
MOXIE RHODES
WISCONSIN
Like the tattoo of Petunia on Pete & Pete, our National Treasure Moxie Rhodes has Divine’s likeness on her shoulder, and she’s just as likely to dance. Since 2006 Rhodes has performed burlesque in Madison, Wisconsin, and has been co-producing Peach Pie Caburlesque since 2011. “I feel lucky to be part of a troupe and collaborate with them,” Rhodes tells Red Hots Burlesque. “We are cabaret as well as burlesque so we incorporate singing into our acts. I prefer diy costuming as I am broke and as well inspired by simple problem solving. I love traveling and leaving my safety net… and meeting new folks.” The troupe recently hosted Fierce International Queer Burlesque Festival in their fair city, which brought queer performers together from all around the country. This blonde bombshell blends an old school style of tease and humor, mixed well with modern satire and character-heavy musical renditions. “I prefer an appearance of mild gender ambiguity,” says Rhodes, who has performed at the Movers, Shakers and Innovators showcase at The Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekend 2011. “Being a full on sex kitten but doing it while making people laugh is what gets my interest. My goal is to make my audience think and feel good about striptease with ease.”
WHAT TO DO IN WISCONSIN: “Come swim in our lakes! Come get lost in our woods! Please enjoy local Microbrews and fresh as well as fried cheese curds! (this is coming from a lactose intolerant) Lots of amazing German cuisine; sauerkraut mustard and brats!”
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Red Hots Burlesque’s National Treasure: Bettysioux Tailor
BETTYSIOUX TAILOR
RHODE ISLAND
A lady who lives by the motto “Larger than life is just the right size,” Bettysioux Tailor visits us from the country’s smallest state Rhode Island! Besides being an award-winning burlesque performer — Bettysioux won “Most Beautiful” at the 2010 Great Boston Burlesque Expo — she also is a talented costume designer. While her love of fashion and costumes came first as a costume designer for the past 18 years, Providence’s own Sensational Siren Bettysioux Tailor realized that she could put her first love together with dance to entertain audiences with her over the top performances. Since 2009 she has also urated the Great Boston Burlesque Expo’s Costume Exhibit. Her performances are steeped in camp, as well as by her unerring fashion sense. This performer pulls out all the stops for her performances: tap dance, singing, you name it! Along with performing solo, Bettysioux Tailor has also performed with Rhode Island’s Big Bang Burlesque.
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