Tag Archives: Shimmy Shake School

The Shimmy Shakedown Newcomer Competition at Berlin Burlesque Week 2019

Noeline la Bouche at Shimmy Shake Berlin Burlesque Week by Suzanne Forbes June 20 2019The Newcomer competition at Shimmy Shakedown was a Battle for the Best in Burlesque!

Newcomers from all over Europe and Germany competed for the title of ‘Burlesque Entertainer of the Year’. Above, you can see Noeline La Bouche, who won “Most BadAss” I believe!Here’s Setty Mois – she was my first drawing of the night and I wish I could have captured her in more detail.

I love hearts as a theme because I love love 🙂
Cadbury Parfait at Shimmy Shake Show Berlin Burlesque Week June 13 2019 by Suzanne ForbesCadbury Parfait, who won “Most Classic”!

The Velvet Unicorn by Suzanne Forbes July 16 2019Here is The Velvet Unicorn.

This performance was intensely moving. Watching The Velvet Unicorn use “Hands Up Don’t Shoot” in the Burlesque context, with their “costume” consisting of the kind of black hoodie that is so often racially profiled, was disquieting. As it should be.

As they stripped down and twerked I thought of both the appropriation of black dance moves by white performers and how white culture hyper-sexualizes people of color to other and alienate them. I was reminded of Karen Finley throwing glitter on her chocolate-covered, abused body at the end of We Keep Our Victims Ready because “After everything they do to us, we’re supposed to get dressed and go out to dinner”. I was not surprised to learn The Velvet Unicorn works with social justice and trauma in their burlesque art. They have a radio show as well!

Skirt Vonnegut, doing a classic Reverse Strip in genderqueer style!

Memphis Shell, deliciously goth! You know I love drawing goths and redheads!

MC at Shimmy Shake Show Berlin Burlesque Week June 2 2019 by Suzanne Forbes

MC Elsie Marley in classic top hat and legs for days!

Dickie Smalls at Shimmy Shakedown at Berlin Burlesque Week Suzanne Forbes May 30 2019Here’s Dickie Smalls, looking angelic up until his amazing disco reveal!Veggie Performer at Shimmy Shake Show Berlin Burlesque Week May 30 2019 by Suzanne Forbes

I loved vegetable-clad performer Trouble Peach, she was so exuberant!

Dark Ophelia at Berlin Burlesque Week at Ballhaus Berlin by Suzanne Forbes July 12 2019This is Dark Ophelia, who was the most terrifying!

She was beautifully Bathory-licious! Her portfolio is here.

The Diamond Dahlia at Berlin Burlesque Week at Ballhaus Berlin by Suzanne Forbes July 12 2019The Diamond Dahlia was a very sexy Sigmund Freud.

She had amazing underwear 🙂 Her website is here.

And last but not at all least, Shimmy Shake School Mâitresse La Viola Vixen!

Take a bow, lady! You deserve it!

La Viola Vixen at Berlin Burlesque Week July 24 2019 Suzanne Forbes

My live-drawing at Berlin’s queer, intersectional burlesque scene is courtesy of my Patrons on Patreon whose monthly financial support allows me to make this free art available!

Not the burlesque you expect: more from Shimmy Shake Show at Ballhaus Berlin.

La Labo Balucia as Rorschach at Shimmy Shake Show at Ballhaus Berlin by Suzanne Forbes April 10 2019That’s right, Rorschach burlesque.

Performer and Shimmy Shake School burlesque teacher La Loba Balucia  blew my comic-artist mind with this. I was losing it with happiness but still managed to draw two pictures of her.La Labo Balucia performs Rorschach Burlesque at Shimmy Shake Show at Ballhaus Berlin by Suzanne Forbes April 10 2019

Ruby Skyscaper was a man-eating shark.Ruby Skyscraper at Shimmy Shake Show at Ballhaus Berlin by Suzanne Forbes April 10 2019

That’s some meta-textual feminist neo-burlesque for ya! Amazing costume, amazing shake.Noeline la Bouche at Shimmy Shake Show at Ballhaus Berlin by Suzanne Forbes April 10 2019

And legend Noéline la Bouche sang AND danced AND performed veil fans, while undressing!

Pretty darn fabulous! Noéline works really hard and performs all over, I try to catch her as often as I can.

Newbie performer at Shimmy Shake Show at Ballhaus Berlin by Suzanne Forbes April 10 2019Last but not least, this young lady Brianna was a newer performer. She did great and looked adorable!

Thanks so much to Shimmy Shake School and mâitresse La Viola Vixen for a lovely show, you can get tickets for the May edition right here!

And always, my deepest thanks to my Patrons, who crowdfund my documentary art project of a queer feminist intersectional lens on Berlin life! You can help, with any amount you like per month, a dollar or euro is great ?

My Patrons on Patreon give monthly financial support which allows me to make this free documentary art available for all to share!