Twirling tassels, naked women, guys in thongs, irreverent humor. Who could ask for more?
Downtown’s Sector 7 was the venue for the first-ever Burlesque on the Rio last Friday night. The speak-easy appeal of the club was the perfect backdrop for this group of performers who hail from El Paso, Las Cruces, Albuquerque, and New York. The majority of the dancers are members of Lotus Blossom Burlesque, Albuquerque’s Burlesque Noir, along with some independent performers.
Headliner and special guest, the incomparable Jo “Boobs” Weldon, wowed the audience with her sultry, steamy numbers, replete with bouncy, gravity-defying breasts, glamorous costumes, and non-stop sex appeal. Weldon is the New York School of Burlesque’s headmistress. She is a 15-year veteran of the Burlesque stage whose foray into the art came by way of stripping.
“I like burlesque because it’s a form of adult entertainment,” Weldon revealed. “You’re able to completely initiate your own ideas in performances. You pick your own music, your costume, your theme, your style. You have complete artistic freedom.”
Weldon commented this art is a great way for women to boost self-confidence and celebrate their bodies and their womanhood.
Also in attendance was the cheeky and impudent Burlesque Mayor of New York, City, Johnny Porkpie, who was the evening’s Master of Ceremonies. Not only did he do a bang-up job of fluffing the audience with his enticing performer introductions, he also indulged them with his raunchy, coarse humor. The peak of his performance culminated when he stripped down to his thong and nipple adornments and shook his man junk.
Las Cruces rockabilly trio, The Double Clutchers, started things off with a bang. Their skin slapping, string plucking tunes helped loosen the mood.
The audience was then treated to a lineup of lovely, lively performers. Energetic presentations, gorgeous costumes, and sexy music were the order of the night, complete with tons of brisk, bouncy interplay between the dancers and audience members.
Drag queen “Bobcat,” enhanced the mood with a passionate number, and added a new dimension to the locally-produced Burlesque show.
Intermission entertainment was provided by Pretty Dece, a quirky, spoons and ukulele band from Las Cruces.
Missa Mischief, Madame Pearl, Jaz Bubbles, Feisty Baudelaire, Khaleesi Love Skye, Leggs McGee, Holly Rebelle, Ave Machina, and Perhaps kept things going with some very sassy, playful performances.
Bettie Mae Wiggle, organizer of Burlesque on the Rio and Lotus Blossoms Burlesque member, was also present. She had this to say about this celebration of womanhood:
“There as been a huge revival of burlesque over about the last 5—10 years,” Wiggle said. “Women are more comfortable with themselves. Being in control of your sexuality and being able to perform burlesque is beautiful, its fun, it’s silly. You don’t get to do that in real life.”
“It’s incredibly liberating taking your clothes off in front of 200 hundred strangers,” Wiggle joked. “There’s nothing quite like having people cheer you on and hoot and holler.”
Burlesque on the Rio was a five-star event that displayed some of the area’s incredible talent. It was a wickedly fun way to start the weekend!