Arabian Nights

Last fall, when I performed at Caput Mundi International Burlesque Award in Rome, a camera crew from Fizioni Entertainment was there to film everything in 4K. As a thank you for letting them shoot this project, all performers got a video from their respective acts. They had three cameras, and filmed each act two times - first during the rehearsal, and then during the show - which resulted in videos shot with six cameras from all angles. It's so nice to get professionally shot videos of performances, and as I received mine yesterday, here it is! I did my act Arabian Nights, and I think that was a very appropriate choice, since I use an aladdin lamp filled with glitter in that number, and an aladdin lamp is exactly what Fizioni Entertainment use as their logo! Haha!

Roma, Roma...

So. If you read last weeks posts, you already know I went to Rome to perform in Caput Mundi International Burlesque Award. Me and my sister did get some time over for sightseeing though. So here is what we did and saw in the beautiful, romantic city called Rome...

We saw the ancient Colosseum...

...and killed a gladiator! Some things just have to be done...

The we celebrated our victory with gelaaaato. Italian ice cream is seriously the best in the world!

After climbing down the Spanish Stairs, we met a whole bunch of horses ready to drive around tourists. Of course I had to cuddle a bit with one of them!

Rome becomes even more beautiful after dark, when all the buildings and fountains are lit up by light installations. Here is the Pantheon. You don't realize how massive it is until you're actually standing there among those huge columns... It always impresses me how people could build such amazing buildings such a long time ago, without the modern equipment we have today.

Then we had a very romantic dinner! My sister told me to drink my Prosecco slowly, because she had hidden a ring in the glass. I didn't find it though. So I guess it went down in my tummy together with the pasta. Haha!

Sister got a bit cold, so I let her borrow my fake fur stole I had just bought at Zara. She liked it so much I was afraid I wouldn't get it back. Or, as she said when she put it on; "It's so cozy! I just want to curl up in a fetal position and cuddle with it!". Hm...

Then we found a spot to take cool light-pictures at!

Here is another photo from my performance at Teatro Centrale Carlsberg - the reason I came to Rome in the first place! This was taken just when I pour glitter over myself. Sparkle, sparkle... After lots of walking, lots of ice cream, lots of Prosecco, and lots of burlesque, it was time to say goodbye to Rome and all the new friends I met there. Hope I'm able to go back some day...

Caput Mundi International Burlesque Award - Part 2

Saturday morning - the second day of the burlesque festival - I woke up in a heap of glitter! After a later breakfast, and a bit of Rome sightseeing, it was time to get ready for the evening's show. Most of the performers of the festival stayed at a hostel called The Yellow, and when it was time to head over to Teatro Centrale Carlsberg, we were all picked up by a long row of Fiat 500 cars from the 50s!

The cars then drove us in parade through Rome to the theatre. At one time the engine died in the leading car, so the drivers of the three following Fiats ran out to run-start the first car, and then rushed back to their own cars to continue the parade. Haha! These old Fiats might not be so trustworthy, but now I really want one too! My dress is a vintage one from the 50s, by the way. From vintagebluemoon on Etsy. And yes, I know I'm smoking in the bottom pic. Bad! BAD! Don't follow my horrible example! Anyway. Moving on...

When we got out of the cars outside the theatre, there was a red carpet (which was actually black and sparkly) with photographers lined up to let us bask in the camera flashes before we stepped inside. I could get used to that! Just like the night before, Jack Woodhead started the show by singing a lovely song! The other Saturday performers were:

Our fabulous conférencière, Vibrissa Eccola Qua!

Fräulein Frauke!

Lilly Bulle!

Nuit Blanche!

Bana Banal!

The producers of the whole festival - Dixie Ramone and Albadoro Gala, here together with Jack Woodhouse!

Mrs Rose!

Bianca Nevius!

Raven!

Greta Qamar!

Eliza DeLite!

Clea Cutthroat!

And the evening's guest star - reigning Queen of Burlesque 2013 - LouLou D'vil!

A big applause to the creators of Caput Mundi Burlesque Award - Dixi Ramone and Albadoro Gala (pictured above), aka The Missunderstanding! We had two amazing evenings at the theatre, ending on the Sunday with a laid back farewell party at The Yellow. I hope this festival will take place next year too, and that I will be able to go back and see all - or at least some - of these wonderfully crazy people again! And Rome itself of course! Me and my sister did have time for a bit of touristing, but more about that another day...

All photos marked "Bichard" by John Paul Bichard.

Caput Mundi International Burlesque Awards - Part 1

November 1-3 Caput Mundi International Burlesque Award went down - for the first time - with a bang in the middle of Italy's beautiful capital, Rome! I had never been to Rome before, so going there to perform was great! The organizers behind the festival were Albadoro Gala and Dixie Ramone - aka The Missunderstanding, and they did a great job!

So, here is what happened on the first day - Friday. The event took place at Teatre Centrale Carlsberg in the center of Rome. The stage looked old fashioned and was perfect for a bit of burlesque striptease!

Photo: Christine Engström

My sister Christine had come with me to Rome - something I was very happy about since my Pain Demon was being very annoying! Having someone you can trust close to you when you're in a lot of pain makes things easier. Sis had brought her camera, and here she caught me backstage putting red glitter on my lips.

Photo: Christine Engström

Here I am with the lovely Mrs Mystique, just before she attacked me...

Photo: Christine Engström

Don't get too close to pretty geishas! They might turn out to be demons. I learnt that the hard way...

Then the show started, with Jack Woodhead on the grand piano! Other performers were:

Red Juliette!

Before mentioned Mrs Mystique!

Betty Q!

Vesper Julie!

Vanille Plaisir!

Adoria Amoria!

Lady Francescca!

Giddy Heights!

Sally Van Tassel!

And me! I did my "Arabian Nights" act, which I end by pouring glitter over myself out of an Aladdin lamp. Since I was too tired to take a shower when I came back to the motel that night, I woke up with very sparkly sheets the next morning. Haha!

Erochica Bamboo did a guest performance, and in the intermission there was an auction to collect money for the building of a school in Dharavi, India. Most performers brought something to sell. My object was a pair of worn out pointe shoes. 

The Friday was actually a competition, to crown the best newcomer with the title "Papessa of Burlesque". The winner was Betty Q, who here can be see with her crown - a pink, sparkling replica of the Colosseum! 

All performers got goodiebags too! Inside it I found some very useful stuff: Pretty pasties from Zou Zou, and a 10 Euro discount card and a Power Bullet - a little vibrator - from Alcova. Tired, but happy, we then returned to our hostel - The Yellow - where most of us stayed. The next day was the second show day of Caput Mundi. But more about that on Wednesday...

All photos marked "Bichard", by John Paul Bichard.