Neo-burlesque in the 'Burque!

I believe in celebrating, well, revelling really, in the wonders of God's creation, especially earthy rarities. So do the local ladies of Albuquerque's burgeoning burlesque revival. i was lucky enough to catch the women of Bella Donna Burlesque (pictured left) at a fundraiser last year. They were amazingly joyful, entertaining and just plain fun. And that coming from me, a Kinsey "6" (okay, 5) gay guy!

Check out this week's feature spread from Albuquerque's alternative weekly newspaper, the Weekly Alibi. In the spirit of burlesque, here's a teaser:

Picture her in five-inch heels, a sequined vintage outfit, stalking a stage in Albuquerque, maybe a bar, maybe a theater, maybe a movie house. She’s brash and bossy. She gets in your face, bats her eyelashes and the fans she’s holding. She plays with you, torments you, teasing.This is Kitty Irreverent, a part of Albuquerque’s burlesque community, which has withstood the test of a few years, proving it wasn’t just a passing, kitschy trend but a full-on revivalist movement.

Kitty Irreverent builds things: a 6-foot-tall heart, a giant martini glass, a pair of painstakingly handcrafted rhinestone pumps. And a community. Kitty desires to see New Mexico’s scattered dancers congeal. "I want it to be like, ‘Go to Albuquerque. There's a great burlesque community there, and they all work together, and there are all these neat shows you can see.’"

Vive le burlesque!