1) Canada’s SexTV channel will be premiering an original documentary on the Miss Exotic World Pageant, entitled: “Bump and Grind: The Making of a Burlesque Diva”. It features five (unnamed) performers from their hometowns, making their way to Vegas for the competition, as well as commentary/appearances by Margaret Cho, Dita Von Teese and Dixie Evans. Premieres June 21st on SexTV.

2) LAT’s Richard Abowitz chatted with Tura Satana and 2007 MEW Immodesty Blaize at the Reunion Showcase last Friday, where Tura Satana expressed surprise in continuing interest in her film work (”Faster Pussycat”, etc.). Immodesty Blaize said this is a fantastic time for a striptease career, and that she has a novel coming out soon, laced with a few showgirl secrets.

In other news…

3) Puppet burlesque!

4) Artist Taylor Robenalt is showing her latest work at the Centre Gallery (Florida) in an exhibit entitled “The Leg Business”, celebrating the businesswomen of burlesque:

Through a creative investigation, I intend to illustrate my admiration towards the courageous women whom opted to acquire a paid occupation and career rather than wifehood or motherhood as their life’s work. For the first time in American history the structure of the family and workforce were being challenged, due to the burlesque women obtaining and dominating this vocation. In my work, I want to concentrate on the high level of artistry and professionalism, which the burlesque queens achieved in the industry. Unlike contemporary striptease, burlesque was a larger theatrical act that involved live music, skits, humor and glamorous costumes. The costumes where tailored to fit the individual queen and had multiple garments (up to ten pieces) that assisted in the art of stripping which was more of a tease then a strip. Actually, the women never revealed all of their bodies. Part of the act was creating an illusion of being naked, while wearing nude colored pasties and g-strings. I want to explore this concept by trying to immolate the illusion of nudity through using mixed media on my surfaces. I intend to polish the surfaces of each sculpture in order to obtain a soft and sensual sense, similar to that of a woman’s skin.