Hot Seat: Media Monday Russell N Feathers, Roslyn Noir Mercy, and Sorcha Mercy from Candy Cult Burlesque 2-24-25
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Burlesque is a style of performing art that combines comedy, music, and storytelling. It originated in 18th-century Italian theater from commedia dell’arte, an early form that responded to the popularity of the more formal opera and ballet. Burlesque was introduced to the United States in the 1840s as a variety show, emphasizing its exotic and erotic elements, such as strip tease, suggestive humor, and other creative and risqué elements.
Burlesque performers have historically challenged social and gender norms and used the stage to promote feminist ideals. Today, they celebrate all bodies, genders, and sexualities. Burlesque is an art form that explores questions of femininity, sexuality, and desirability. It’s also a way of storytelling that uses humor and irony.
In recent years, a “neo-burlesque” movement has led to a resurgence of interest in the genre. In this episode of Hot Seat: Media Monday, three modern burlesque performers, Russell N Feathers, Roslyn Noir Mercy, and Sorcha Mercy from Candy Cult Burlesque, discuss their art and process and define what burlesque means to them.
The performers discuss the empowering experience of performing and the emotional journey of taking off their clothes on stage, highlighting the differences between performing in a club and a burlesque setting. They describe the experience of stripping as an emotional mix of empowerment and anxiety, noting the unique connection with the audience burlesque performers generate. For these artists, the experience of performing burlesque is all about identity, excitement, and the supportive community within the art form.
Candy Cult Burlesque will host the Fetish Ball on Saturday, March 22nd, at p.m. at Sharkey’s Bar & Grill in Liverpool. Admission is $20. They will also be at SFW: Celebrating Fashion with a Cause on Saturday, April 5th, at 7:30 p.m. Candy Cult Burlesque is online at Facebook and Instagram.
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Ron Klopfanstein is an award-winning multimedia investigative journalist, news and features editor, and creative content producer for the Utica Phoenix digital platform and 95.5 FM “The Heat” broadcast and streaming. He also hosts Hot Seat: Media Monday every Monday at 5 pm, broadcast on 95.5 FM and streaming at 955TheHeat.com. Like him at Facebook.com/ReadRonKlopfanstein, Follow him at Bsky.app/profile/ronklopfanstein.bsky.social, Threads.net/@RonKlopfanstein, Instagram.com/RonKlopfanstein, Tiktok.com/@ronklopfanstein, and subscribe to his channel at YouTube.com/@RonKlopfanstein. Read all his work at Muckrack.com/ron-klopfanstein. NOW on Spotify
