Announcing... BARED ESSENTIALS!

I know we haven't even finished BOYLESK 101 yet, but I just wanted to put the word out to all you gents and boys who've contacted me about future classes about my next "undress to impress" project...

BOYLESK 101: BARED ESSENTIALS!

A one-day ONLY Boylesk workshop created to help you "get your feet wet and your fly unzipped" in the world of Boylesk striptease!

For those of you unfamiliar--but unrelentingly curious--about what exactly this "Boylesk" thing is, allow me to explain...

Boylesk, technically speaking, is the male version of female burlesque striptease. However, unlike conventional go-go dancing or stripping, Boylesk is a performance art drawing on elements of theatre, dance, drag, and exploring "masculinity" onstage in a 3-5 minute long striptease.

In BARED ESSENTIALS, we will work on the basic--and bare--tools necessary to create a Boylesk striptease including center and core work, class striptease exercises and challenges, and even brief but incredibly succinct make-up and costume demos taught by guest professionals. 

Basically, BARED ESSENTIALS is five hours of learning how to be more confident, creative, sexy, and stupid onstage and win and audience's attention and adoration.

Some Frequently (and sometimes Flippantly) Asked Questions...

"Okay, but why should I take a class on taking my clothes off? That seems like a waste of time and money."

Well, truthfully speaking, maybe you shouldn't take my class (especially with that attitude)! But if you really want a reason... I created the BOYLESK 101 workshops in response to a growing number of requests from guys like me (and maybe you) who wanted to get into burlesque but were...

a) Clueless where to begin; especially since Burlesque originated as a female form and continues to be mostly female driven.

b) Frustrated creatively with their work as actors, dancers, and artists and wanting to try a different performance form.

c) Excited and aroused by the idea of using their bodies and brains to create work that is as sexy and provocative as it can be clever and humorous. 

Thus BOYLESK 101 was born. The Bared Essentials class is an opportunity for guys to not only again experiment with a new way of creating performance art, but also see if they want to progress and invest further in the BOYLESK 101 seven week long course. 

"So, do we like, get naked in this class. Is this a sex party?"

Two-part answer: YES, we strip in class (though not fully nude). NO, this is not a sex party, a craigslist hook-up, or a speed dating opportunity. No shame, but only those guys truly interested in Boylesk should contact me. 

"I don't have a six pack and I don't work out; can I still take your class?"

YES! The goal of BARED ESSENTIALS and ANY Boylesk workshop I teach is to inspire you to create interesting, provocative, and entertaining stripteases on your own terms! I'm not looking to create an army of dancing Ken dolls!

"I'm a trans boy. Am I allowed in the class?"

Basically, if you identify as a male and you have a positive attitude, I WANT YOU IN MY CLASS! 

If you've ever been titillated by the idea of Boylesk,

If you need a break from your regular artistic pursuits,

If you've got a penchant for public indecency and a knack for chewing scenery, 

BOYLESK 101: BARED ESSENTIALS is for you!

For more information, questions, and registration, email me--Go-Go Harder--at info@gogoharder.com

What: BOYLESK 101: Bared Essentials!

When: SUNDAY, OCT. 7 Noon-5pm

Where: Triskelion Arts--118 N 11th St (btwn Berry/Wythe Ave), Brooklyn 11211
Conveniently located off the Bedford Stop on the L Train

Cost: $90

Register at: info@gogoharder.com

Thank you Molly Ringwald...

A quick story:

When I was seven, a girl at my daycare let me play with her Barbie which sported a cocktail dress that transformed into a duffle bag.

When I was ten I saw "Pretty in Pink"--on T.V. people--where Molly Ringwald took one ugly prom dress and made another ugly prom dress.

When I was eleven I watched a back up dancer in a John Cougar Mellancamp music video sport a vivid shade of deep maroon lipstick.

It is my belief that these three events profoundly altered and influenced my life and continue to do so in subconscious ways...

Seriously though,
Today's class literally focused on the surface of Boylesk--as in, how a performer actually looks when he walks on stage. Referring back to the very first day of BOYLESK 101, my goal today was to impress upon my students the need to put plenty of time, energy, and thought into their costume AND make-up choices for their numbers.

Now, of course I didn't in anyway want one of my guys to leave feeling like they had to be some air-brushed, hairless, dancing Ken Doll (*number idea*); I'm a hairy, pale--I prefer "porcelain-skinned"--Boylesk-er myself. BUT, I do fastidiously trim and manicure my chest, back, and ass and also do my best to cover any skin imperfections I have on any given day. At the risk of sounding like a middle school guidance counselor, I strive to make my own personal canvas as neutral as possible. Meaning for instance, zits are zits. Whether they're on your nose or on your right butt cheek, cover them up! Body hair is beautiful, but treat it like the hair on your head and keep it coiffed--a little glitter and an electric trimmer with attachments goes a long way.

In these efforts, I was aided by Neo-Burlesque bombshell and professional make-up artist Bambi Galore who condensed years of training into a half hour presentation on basic skin care and foundations for men that left me informed, breathless, and optimistic about yellow tinted color correctors!

My thoughts on costuming are this:

1) Whether you swim in rhinestones and glitter or not, everything that a performer brings onto the stage should ideally have a heightened  style. That doesn't mean it has to sparkle, but consider the pracitcal use of a rhinestone or a spotlight sequin. Sure they're pretty, they're colorful, BUT THEY ALSO CATCH LIGHT! In other words, they shine out in what are otherwise dark, dim, and crowded clubs and bars. Incorporating embellishments like these physically distracts an audience member from tweeting about being at a burlesque show and instead, causes him to actually FOCUS on the show in front of him. At least for 30 seconds or so.

I remember a grizzled, "Old Man and the Sea-esque" acting teacher of mine who one day asked me,

"Do you know why women wear lip gloss?"

I froze, slightly petrified not only by the teacher, but also the gender loaded waters he had just embarked in.

"Its simple stupid," he said. "Because it makes their lips glisten! It catches us men's attention!"

(Consider my attention captured.)

Now, regardless of whether or not my teacher was so out of touch he thought I spent my time looking at females' lips, he did make a valid point: when you're in the spotlight, make sure you shine! Let your costume shine, let your energy shine, and to a greater or lesser degree, let your face shine (or emit a dewey, "natural" glow... thanks again Bambi!)

Which brings me to my next point...

2) A beautiful costume is only as strong as its number. And likewise, a well constructed and choreographed number is incredibly amplified by a beautiful costume. There is a balance to be achieved here, a "stripping Zen state" if you will.

And...

3) Not to tangent too far into queer theory and sexual politics, but as a male performer in a predominantly female art form originated by women, I do feel a certain sense of duty to put as much time, effort, and focus into my appearance and costumes as do the hard working ladies of Burlesque. Granted, there are slips and meek efforts on both sides of the gender wheel, but I am continually inspired and humbled when I get to share a dressing room with my fellow enchanted Burlesque ladies who spend hours setting their hair, curling their eyelashes, and rhinestoneing varoius garment, pasties, and merkins (vajazzling if you will.)

A Final Thought...

I keep encouraging my students to think of their upcoming Boylesk numbers as "stripper monologues." And just like any monologue, the more one practices AND the more one accrues life experience, the more that monologues changes. So too, in my opinion, does a striptease number. For instance one ideally becomes more comfortable with his number's choreography so as to allow for surprise improvisations; or, perhaps he completely re-choreographs certain sections. So too then will his costume probably need to be altered, replaced, or in the very least, expanded upon in some fashion.

For example, below is a visual timeline of the first number I ever created: "Hot 4 Teacher." Originally a one-off for a night club where I was working as a go-go boy, I created this number with very humble means. As I began to become more interested in Boylesk and the Burlesque community, I realized I needed to invest more energy into my costume and props and try to meet the high standards being set by the professionals. You'll see what I mean...

(On Fire Island, 2010... Pretty much what you see + a sweater vest and a pair of cut-offs)

(Fall 2010: added rip away shirt, school boy shorts, and propeller hat)

(London, Spring 2011: completely new costume with specific color scheme.)

(London, Fall 2011: note embellishments on shirt and tie.)

(London, Spring 2012: further embellishing.)

(Summer 2012: additional prop.)

(Summer 2012: additional prop.)

I just recently completed another change to the costume, and have plans for more embellishments, but my point is simply this: there's always improvements to be made.

I know I feel especially inspired by the male performers featured below whose efforts definitely show in their uniquely styled and crafted costumes pieces (and, to be blunt, cock pieces.) Their attention to detail, both in their choreography and costumes, again inspires me to continue to hone my skills equally both in the rehearsal room and the sewing room.

Enjoy, and may the gem-tac be with you!

JETT ADORE

MARK WINMILL

PACO FISH

Facial Expressions: or, Avoiding the "Dead-eyed slut doll face."

Though I realized I've probably been beating the proverbial unicorn to death throughout the Intro to Boylesk Class when it comes to the topic of eye contact, I can't help but personally feel that burlesque is an eye contact sport!

(If bedazzling were a recognized competition, I'd finally have trophies to take home to my father.)

Consider this: performers from stand up comics to singers all work with a microphone and utilize various spin-offs of that popular—albeit overdone—phrase: “everyone having a good time tonight?” However, as strippers we don’t necessarily have that luxury of sound. Instead we rely on an arch of the eyebrow, a pouting lip, a crooked smile, and an infinite supply of facial manipulations that all say, “you still with me?”  

Facial expressions are an essential part of one's striptease. They help a performer tell his story, sell his number, and most importantly, sell himself to his audience. Even if a performer is doing a non-linear or story-based number, facial expressions still imbue the stripping of garments with a sense of intention and emotion. So, in class, I forced the boys to take a spot at the dance mirrors and practice facial expressions that were unique and individual to each guy--think that one scene in Fried Green Tomatoes minus the vagina-gazing.

(You just know that cellophane dress is a burlesque number waiting to happen...)

However, not every situation onstage allows the performer to engage directly with his audience. For instance, you may be on a gigantic theatre stage with blinding lights or perhaps you find yourself in a crowded bar full of people tweeting about being at a burlesque show and brainstorming clever trending hash tags. And, as Jo Weldon Boobs also pointed out during a surprise visit, its physically impossible to make eye contact with every member of one's audience.

What I suggested to my students and what I follow through in my own performing is picking several spots throughout the crowd that allow me to keep my face forward and my expressions readable during a show. And I also still seize any chance for a genuine exchange with a close seated viewer, because as Ms. Boobs again noted, it further engages the rest of the crowd as they eagerly try for their own "one-on-one" moment. 

 (Putting my best bucket forward.)

Below are several videos of performers who I feel consistently always give "great face." Their expressions convey a variety of emotions to the general audience while still allowing for some improvisational work with individual voyeurs.

Enjoy! And remember, FRESHLY SLEAZED: The Intro to Boylesk Class Showcase happens APRIL 22ND!

JEZEBEL EXPRESS

PEEK-A-BOO POINTE

BOYLESK UNIVERSITY!

Many of you by now know that in three weeks New York City is going to be bombarded by Boylesk performers from around the world for the first ever New York Boylesque Festival! You can click that dashing, albeit nelly Frenchman below for the official festival website, tickets, and a glimpse at the truly amazing gentlemen who will be storming the stage and stripping it all away.

"Hi my name is Pierre, and I want you to touch me..."

(Think of it as a "cacophony of cock," or perhaps a "smorgasbord of sausage," with a generous sprinkling of glitter of course.)

AND... in addition to what will be two amazing shows, there will also be four fantastic BOYLESK WORKSHOPS! Introducing...

BOYLESQUE UNIVERSITY!

Saturday, April 28th

Taught by Scott Ewalt, Tigger!, Hot Toddy, and Go-Go Harder and brought to you by Daniel Nardicio and Thirsty Girl Productions, we cover practically every inch of Boylesque (think yardsticks.) Read below for classes and info:

A Brief History of the first 120 years of Boylesk:1883- 2003

TEACHER: SCOTT EWALT
TIME: NOON-1PM
COST: $10

Scott Ewalt's epic documentation of Boylesk is represented in this in depth time-line of photographs and film clips dating from the male burlesque pioneers of the Victorian era to the golden age of Boylesk during the sexual revolution in the mid-twentieth century.

Acting Burlesque

TEACHER: TIGGER!
TIME: 1PM-3PM
COST: $20

Set the stage on fire! Go from talented to TNT! Build a larger-than-life Burlesque Persona with Tigger! and take your shows and your stage identity to the next level. Tigger! is a recognized pioneer of the current burlesque scene but has been an actor all his life, “acting like a stripper” for 20 years. Using his degree in theatre, his experience teaching college acting, and over 30 years on the stage (both Shakespeare & Shimmy), he employs his theatrical training & perspective to break down what makes a burlesque performer stand out from the herd.
Whatever you do in front of any kind of an audience, You are an Actor. Learn techniques and tips to make the most of what you’ve got.

Dance Technique for Burlesque

TEACHER: HOT TODDY
TIME: 3PM-4:30PM
COST: $20

Incorporating jazz technique as well as Broadway style movement, students will learn a variety of steps and moves to incorporate into their burlesque choreography. Special focus will be placed on body isolation & traveling movements culminating in a short but sexy routine! Some dance or movement experience is encouraged but not required.

 
The Superman Strip!

TEACHER: GO-GO HARDER
TIME: 4:30PM-6PM
COST: $20

It's a bird!
It's a plane!
It's... a somewhat bedazzled, exotic Boylesk dancer!
Like superheroes? Love taking off your clothes? Perfect, because Harder is dedicated to transform you from the boy-next-door into the sex-bomb boy wonder! We'll examine how to apply Boylesk and striptease basics to everyday clothing--think hipster nerd--and learn the A-Z of the g-string!
Please bring a nerd look composed of clothing from home (think slacks, button down shirt, sweater, glasses, and especially a tie and belt.) Also, bring a pair of boxers or underwear and a g-string or jock strap. We'll create a routine that you can add your own stripper spin to and reveal your Boylesk bombshell!

Check back for class location. For any questions regarding specific classes, email me at info@gogoharder.com and I'll point your pencil in the right direction.

Freshly Sleazed Boylesk!

The Intro to Boylesk Class is officially over half way through as of yesterday! After several cups of Dunkin' Donuts coffee and some quality deli danishes (gluten free pbj for me), the students showed the first drafts of their boylesk stripteases, and let me tell you, its going to be one hell of a showcase! There's going to be a variety of sexy, queer, bizarre pieces including everything from James Bond to Madame X with plenty of leather and a few sequins as well (if I have anything to say about it.) The class and I were even so fortunate to have the headmistress of the New York School of Burlesque, Miss Jo Weldon Boobs herself pop in and offer some feed back whilst the boys popped off their clothes.

(What I'm sure is certainly a candid photo, the one and only Miss Jo Boobs!)

So... its with great pleasure to fill you in on the official details of where the clothes will be coming off...

FRESHLY SLEAZED: The Intro to Boylesk Showcase!

(Still, from Pink Narcissus)

Proudly bringing you a brawny, ballzy revue that's 100% man--not from concentrate! Featuring the Intro to Boylesk Class students, these novice strip teasers have been learning the A-Z of the G-string for 7 weeks and now finally show YOU what they’ve learned—and what they’re made of!

Each boy will perform his own class-crafted Boylesk routine, PLUS, special performances by myself, Go-Go Harder, and one of the "alums" from my first class, Mr. Go-Go Gadget pictured below!

 

 (Photo by State of Emergency)

And... raffle prizes by The Pleasure Chest, free donut holes and sticky sweet nibbles and treats, and $5 Bloody Mary's and screwdrivers!

Come hungry because we're serving up a menu that’s heavy on the meat with a piece for every appetite!

Sunday, April 22nd
1pm door/2pm show
Bowery Poetry Club
308 Bowery (btwn Bleecker/East Houston St), near the F, V subways
$8

 

To continue to inspire the students (and myself for that matter) I hope you enjoy a few videos by some incredibly fantastic burlesque and boylesk performers. It's my opinion that any number can continue to be improved and watching performers like those below continue to motivate me to do just that. Enjoy! 

 

DIRTY MARTINI

 

EVIL HATE MONKEY

MS. TICKLE

On "climaxing" during your striptease...

As you all know by now, one of my main goals with The Intro to Boylesk Class is to assist my students in developing their own Boylesk stripteases. So, over the first three weeks, we've examined the "bare bones" of a striptease, from the first few seconds a boy enters the stage, to manipulating, teasing, and whisking off his costume, and now finally, to unveiling that big, panting, sweaty exclamation point I refer to as...  

THE FINAL REVEAL 

(cue gong.)

To help my students and myself breakdown the bare parts of a striptease number, I defined the Final Reveal as such:

"The peak or highest climax of one's number. The point at which all aspects of your story line meld together and deliver the final 'payoff' to your audience."

However, I tried to impress upon my budding boylesk'ers that while of course a final reveal can imply a physical reveal of one's body, there are many different ways of "climaxing" in your number. The following are just a few examples I've observed and loosely termed from watching the amazing burlesque and boylesk artists I have the privilege of performing with.

Bare Bum: Ray Gunn

Again, semi-nude or full nudity reveals are of course always a great way to end a piece. Female performers showcase pasty covered breasts and a g-string or merkin, and male performers strip to a g-string or pouch. I personally believe that if burlesque girls are stripping off as much as possible then we male performer's too need to be willing to at least strip down to a bare bum. And one set of cheeks I never get tired of looking at belong to the fantastic Chicago based Ray Gunn.

Phallic Prop: Jett Adore

One of the many things I love about this number is not only Jett's ability to amaze and tease his audience with a seemingly small amount of costume pieces, but also that he showcases at least three different kinds of "birds" throughout the number using the same mask, saving the most impressive peacock for last.

Bizarre Twists: Julie Atlas Muz

What I really admire about this particular number of Julie's is that she is thoroughly stripped down halfway through her piece, yet there is still more story to be told. Julie's final reveal not only relates to the story she's created of a real life serial killer but also is both clever and funny in its (literal) execution.

Physical trick or stunt: Miss Ekaterina

As audience members I think we are always amazed especially but acts or feats we feel ourselves never capable of achieving. Even the (semi) simple act of jumping into the splits can cause a crowd to burst into cheers from its sheer dynamic physicality. Though Miss Ekaterina displays a variety of professionally trained contortions throughout this number, she saves a trick that not only manages to be physically impressive but also extremely hilarious. Her number is wildly successful not only for its use of impressive physical stunts, but also because she has incorporated these moves into a believable, highly entertaining story.

Broke Back Boylesk

I finally have video for one of my new favorite acts: Rhinestone Cowboy. Its one part Liberace, one part break-away, and all parts Broke Back Boylesk! 

Here I am with the sensational Miss Polly Rae of The Hurly Burly Show! The act was conceived in New York and workshopped in London but there's plenty of glitter and horse meat for both sides of the Atlantic!

Click the photo and enjoy!

RHINESTONE COWBOY!

Ride that Tie!

So yesterday in class the boys and I looked at two essentially "masculine" garments and how to strip them off our bodies: the tie and the button down (not break-away) dress shirt. There's a myriad of ways to strip and play with these clothing items as well as some pitfalls to avoid. For instance, I know when I first started stripping I would often "floss" my body with my tie, i.e., rapidly rub it back and forth between my legs as if I was a deranged boyscout trying to light a fire in my crotch (totally different number).

Instead, I was thankfully redirected by Miss Jo Weldon Boobs of the New York School of Burlesque to hold the tie tautly in both hands, and then gyrate my pelvis forward and back again as if riding it for a much more controlled, need I say sexier bit of "stripper-ography."

A button down shirt is somewhat trickier because it requires lots of small movement of small body parts in a small concentrated area to release the garment for what is often a crowded room of drunks or an audience set far back from your stage. I find it helpful to incorporate my entire body, popping my hips as I undo each button or stretching the fabric of the shirt after I undo a button to expose as much chest as possible.

("I said ride that tie dammit!")

Once the garment is off its really up to the performer to make the most or least out of it. It's helpful to remember that you probably won't spend the same amount of time playing with each costume piece. You would just end up with a number that's  very short or very long but in either case not that dynamic or interesting. Instead, I encouraged the students on top of exploring the many options for how a garment comes off their bodies to also play with different tempos and rhythms hidden in their music to create more varied, layered choreography. Below are two videos of burlesque and boylesque stars Boo Boo Darlin' and Ray Gunn, each taking a basic strip tease and not only imbuing it with the above mentioned point, but also creating extremely specific, personal story lines with their numbers resulting in sexy, humorous, and entertaining pieces.

BOO BOO DARLIN'

 (Click above for "Slow Motion")

RAY GUNN

Assessing your assets, giving them the goods...

It's really amazing to me just how far a genuine smile (and maybe a wink) can get you in life, onstage, and especially, in New York City. You'll have to forgive me if I start waxing reminiscently about fast times and hard men and spandex and pleather in frosted tones because I just finished watching Show Girls so I'm still in the mindset of miss Nomie Malone (cue sound effect of hands doing weird cat-like choreography.)

(Thrust goddammit!)

And yet, Nomi is a perfect example for this post of a dancer who knew her assets: a wicked hyper-extension of the pelvis and some fine, fine nail art. I say this jokingly, but it seems to me that as strippers and teasers we have two kinds of assets: those that are specific to our gender and those that belong specifically to the performer. As a boylesker in a basic striptease, I'm taking off layer after layer of clothing and garments to reveal what? Essentially, my junk. Whether clad in some flashy spandex or a spiked up codpiece, the strip revolves around revealing what makes me male. What makes the number special, is my individual assets or personality I reveal during the number. Yesterday in class, I challenged the students to seriously think about what makes them each special as performers and how to reveal at least glimpses of those traits during their teases. Is it a smile? A specific body part or region? A thick mat of chest hair? Etc., etc. Whatever it may be, I know that when I'm in the audience I'm amazed most not only by a great number, but more so by a great personality, and there's just as many ways to showcase that as there are to take your pants off.

(That's right Burt, you showcase that chest hair!)

Testicle Festivals Abounding...

If you are a performer or fan on the burlesque scene in any city, chances are you are familiar with its rapidly growing kid brother BOYLESK (or BOYLESQUE).

However, I often find myself explaining what it is "I do" over and over to new acquaintances, at parties, and in some cases, to new-and old-burlesque gals. Whereas at first I used to feel self conscious or even annoyed at having to explain that I'm "kind of a male performer in the burlesque scene, but I'm not just a stripper but I'm also kind of an actor and it's also sort of like a performance art...etc." I actually now relish the opportunity to enlighten others about this performance form which has now completely occupied my time. Even more exciting to me is the fact that more and more boys are getting involved in the scene, so much now that there are two new, need I say MAJOR events happening on different sides of the Atlantic:

THE NEW YORK CITY BOYLESQUE FESTIVAL

 

How amazing is this?!?! For the first time ever boys from across the country and the world are going to be sharing the stage in a show that's all about Boylesque! And don't misunderstand me; I LOVE performing alongside my burly-q ladies, but again, performers and fans know that all male shows are few and far between, especially one of this scope and size. 

The festival happens APRIL 27-28. I will not be surprised if these events completely sell out, so get your tickets in advance HERE!

And... across the pond in my home-away-from-home...

BOYLESQUE IDOL

 

Over the past year and a half I've had the great joy to travel back and forth between NYC and London to perform and teach. Again, while there have been male performers in the UK scene for awhile, there has been such a growth lately that the WORLD BURLESQUE GAMES now have a male show (which I will be competing in) PLUS, my dear friend and powerhouse producer TEMPEST ROSE has extended her Burlesque Idol empire to now include a BOYLESQUE IDOL! 

And of course, don't forget about the Intro to Boylesk Showcase happening SUNDAY, APRIL 22ND. Details soon!

The Most Naked A Stripper Will Ever Be...

...is in front of a group of students. At 1pm in the afternoon. In a dance studio situated next to a pilates exercise center, a cobbler, and a "finishing school" for young ladies.

Luckily for me I have EIGHT eager new students, all waiting to bust out of their clothes--and that's exactly what we did today.

My Intro to Boylesk Class is geared towards learning the basics of baring it all in a striptease number that is 1) well orgazined, 2) entertaining, and 3) ultimately the student's own creation.We have seven classes to create these numbers which are then produced in a student showcase (mark your calendar's, April 22nd!).

Besides introducing the students to the strict school uniform (which would be underwear), we also specifically examined making an entrance onstage emphasizing economy of movement, eye contact, and individual audience interactions and moments. So instead of teaching the beginning steps of making a pie crust, or say, sewing a button (ah, speech class) I instead instructed this fresh crop of strip teaser's and pleaser's on the importance of maintaining eye contact while suggestively rotating your hips.

 (Sure, kind of like that.)

We also discussed creating a stage persona or a stage character. The students' first assignment (and yes, even strippers get homework) is to write out a monologue of who they see themselves as onstage. Without diving too deep into the aesthetics of performance (this is a post after all), I asked themselves to consider either developing a stage persona, or, a stage character. Its my personal opinion that the former term is more of an extension of one's own personality amplified for the stage where the latter is perhaps a more extreme personality that may or may not share the performer's own thoughts, values, let alone habits of walking, talking, or dressing. For example, singer Beyonce Knowles, an already well established, somewhat wholesome pop culture persona created "Sasha Fierce" as a more wild, exotic character to inhabit onstage.

As part of the class, I'm going to be posting examples of current, amazing burelsque and boylesk performers, especially those living and working in NYC. Which brings me to the videos posted below. Bradford Scobie and Tigger! are two fantastic veterans of the NYC burlesque, theater, and downtown performance scenes, Tigger! being recognized as the King of Boylesque as well as the first ever Mr. Exotic World, 2006. On top of their already dynamic stage persona's, Scobie and Tigger! also have created a plethora of stage characters to the delight, amazement, and (many times), fear of their audiences. Below are two examples, the first with Scobie as "Moisty the Snowman" and the second with Tigger! as "Tawny the Tigress." Enjoy, and continue to follow the class as we explore the A-Z of the G-String.

Moisty the Snowman

 Tawny the Tigress