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Volume 10, Issue 47, Week of November 25, 2013
Saskatoonʼs REAL Community Newspaper
Taking off Burlesque resurgence brings classic art form to Saskatoon
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Cheripop Purr (aka Jackie Latendresse) will perform at Burlesque on Broadway (Photo by Marcia Provenzano)
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ackie Latendresse has a university degree in dance. She is an artistic director, a teacher, and she owns and operates a dance studio in Saskatoon. Sometimes she morphs into a burlesque dancer named Cheripop Purr. Purr is such a tease. Cheripop Purr will be performing on Nov. 29 at the Broadway Theatre, along with other members of the city’s Rosebud Burlesque Club. Latendresse said her interest in the history of Vaudeville and burlesque inspired her to start the troupe. “My research into the Vaudeville time period was the real spark of interest. I spent a year researching dances of the vaudeville and burlesque genre time period. It’s an area I love to read about. That, and I have always been drawn to all things glamorous. “I started Rosebud as a little fun side project. That was seven years ago, and it is growing rapidly. It’s going strong and extremely popular. There is a renaissance in the genre of burlesque.” Burlesque on Broadway is the biggest show Latendresse has produced. She wondered out loud when the iconic theatre — which opened in 1946 — might last have hosted a burlesque show. Or if it ever has for that matter. “It’s quite extensive,” she said of her production. “We have a live jazz band (the Canoodlers) working with us. A number of the pieces have live music with the performances, which is quite rare these days. Usually people are using pre-recorded or canned music. We are really excited to be working with musicians. That’s always a lot of fun and adds an extra element to the show.” Burlesque shows include comedy. MCs Hellen Bedde and Stella Behaviour will aptly fill part of that role, Latendresse said. “They are totally clever and very
hilarious, and quite well known to our fan group.” Twelve members of the Rosebud club will perform. Another five will be back-up dancers. Jolie Stripes from Montreal and Helvetica Bold from Ottawa will be guest performers. New burlesque has taken many forms, but all have the common trait of honouring the past, with acts including striptease, expensive costumes, bawdy humour and cabaret, Latendresse said. “We work with the art of the tease so each layer removed, no matter how small, is a reveal of some type — be it a hat, a glove, etc. Some reveals are subtle and some obvious, but each one has a special appeal to the viewers and helps to show the style of the performer.” She said the style is exhibited in how they take items off, how they present themselves and how they treat the article of clothing after it has been removed. Yes, outfit malfunctions can happen, she said. “If something goes wrong, you just have to embrace it and go with it. Maybe have a little fun with it if you can and get a few laughs. But you must always stay in your character while you are on stage no matter what. That is the challenging part for sure, not breaking character.” Burlesque is theatrical art, Latendresse said, when asked to explain the difference between burlesque, girlie shows and strippers. “The girlie shows are related to burlesque, but came out of the circus and carnival genre. Some of the great burlesque dancers from the heyday of burlesque came from the girlie shows, the side shows, and carnivals and circuses.” She said Wild Cherry, a burlesque legend, came from a circus family. “She danced her first performance in a girlie show. As she grew up she moved
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