If you want to see legendary burlesque dancer Dita Von Teese perform in Dallas, her “Burlesque: Strip Strip Hooray!” revue at the House of Blues on April 1-2 is your last chance.
“There’s never been a show of modern burlesque of this scale,” said the entrepreneur/author/designer/dancer.
Von Teese, who has performed since ’91, told CBS 11 News that she wants to move into her next phase of life to focus on her personal life and two luxury lingerie lines.
Her 90-minute show features four of the raven-haired beauty’s most renown performances. Von Teese’s meticulous attention to detail shines through every custom costume (embellished with up to 200,000 Swarovski crystals) to the music. She only performs in heels by French footwear designer Christian Louboutin.
QueenieAustralia unique formal dresses
Her “Gilded Birdcage” act plus an act from the iconic Parisian cabaret Crazy Horse was recently added to the show. Von Teese doesn’t micromanage any of the other performers either. “Every performer has their own diverse style and beauty. Each of the acts are all their own; that’s part of the self-creation that is burlesque.”
Self-creation is something the performer with porcelain skin is passionate about.
“Women can create a mystery and allure – beauty is what you make for yourself. I want women to feel good about themselves and embellish their own beauty.”
Also new to the show is a musical re-creation of 11 minutes of Swan Lake.
“We took all the parts that could be turned sexy with live music, and made Swan Lake into striptease,” said Von Teese.
Working closely with musicians to create original music “to deliver that great, rich style of burlesque songs,” was one of the most challenging parts of building the show, according to Von Teese.
“I create my own music because I want original, special music just for me,” she said.
The daytime vegan (no meat or dairy during the day) said she wants to inspire her audience, which is comprised 80 percent of women.
“I encourage women to have another role model for beauty other than what we’re fed in the mainstream media. I had no role model of ‘sexy’ growing up… I certainly didn’t think I was any great beauty. I would flip through Sports Illustrated and say ‘I don’t look like them.’ So I created my own beauty and glamor. I had a do-it-yourself approach to beauty,” said Von Teese.
“Burlesque: Strip Strip Hooray!” has appeared in Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Ana, and Seattle, with debut performances in Atlanta and Ft. Lauderdale.
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