herry Sparkle Burlesque Co.
C
by Benjamin Nunnally
It’s 20 minutes past midnight on a weekend at the Crimson Tiger. The room is
washed in shadows, with just a bar of multicolored lights above the stage for
illumination. Aleda Lamour of The Cherry Sparkle Burlesque Company slinks
across the stage in black lingerie.There are silhouettes of men peeking through
the glass double doors behind the Tiger’s stage, looking like little boys trying to
sneak an eyeful before they’re caught by their mothers. The other Cherry Sparkle girls peek out from behind the curtain they’re using as a changing room.
Catcalls, hoots and hollers erupt as Lamour starts fiddling with a bra strap
during her striptease act - a kind of performance that’s virtually impossible
to catch anywhere in Calhoun County - but surprisingly, it’s the ladies in the
crowd making all the noise.
“I want to entertain the masses while empowering and celebrating women of all shapes and sizes,” said Kat Kitchen, alias Cherry Sparkle, co-founder
and co-leader of the group.
Lamour’s lithe body might inspire some jealousy - her own boyfriend
tends to step out during her dances, notes Kitchen, because even though
he’s supportive of her performances, it’s strange seeing people watch her
dance - and if the guys are quieter than the ladies, it’s because they’re enrapt.
That’s the power of burlesque: without being pornographic or sleazy, a
woman can command the attention of a room full of people, hypnotize
with a shake of the hips or, yes, titillate with a few brushes of the fingertips
against the clasp of her bra.
That’s not to say that all of the show is directed at arousal; the night’s first
act features a five-girl, choreographed dance sequence, calling to mind the
fun of Moulin Rouge as opposed to the spooky oppression of Showgirls.
Mistress of ceremonies Cleopatra of the South provides a nutshell history
of burlesque before giving way to a short skit between comedian Bobcat
Caruthers and dancer Violette Rose, which segues into Rose’s number with
PrettyBoy Floyd, currently the only male dancer of the troupe.
“We almost called it the Cherry Sparkle Variety Show,” said Kitchen, who
founded the group in July. “We’re hoping to have singers, musicians and
more skits.”
Co-founder and co-leader Paige Baker Burton, alias Madame Aria Charms,
joined soon after Kitchen introduced the idea. She brings with her 13 years
of experience in a variety of dance styles, like classical ballet and tap. She’s
performed in tonight’s first act as a dancer, but that’s not normally her preference. Instead, she directs choreography and gives the group direction,
which has landed her the rank of “madame” in the group.
When someone in burlesque needs guidance, they come to the troupe’s