Life is a stage ... So we spoke to four confident women about how to shine, even when you're feeling a little insecure.
Lola Torch, Molly Teasely, Lacy O'Ceans and Kitty Catatonic are burlesque dancers and members of the new Tucson Libertine League. They founded the production company "to stimulate and challenge audiences with bold performances from Tucson’s most audacious artists," according to the group's Facebook page.
Burlesque is a variety show usually centered around striptease — but it's open to interpretation. Lola sometimes incorporates singing, aerial silks and Lyra hoop dancing in her performances.
Lola Torch feels sexiest when she's comfortable in her own skin.
Meet the ladies
Lola, 41, has been doing burlesque for a little over 11 years. You may also know her as Emily Marchand, and she does it all. She’s a burlesque dancer, show producer, photographer, singer, costume designer, and fitness instructor. She envisions Lola as take-no-prisoners cabaret babe. "We are one and the same but I get to express that side of Lola more," she says.
Kitty, 23, has been doing burlesque for a year. She combines her spirit and love for social justice in her performances. Hannah Wolf says Kitty is just an amped-up version of herself. She uses Kitty to harness all the extreme that she has inside of her.
Molly, 25, has been a burlesque dancer for over a year. Her show name was inspired by bad-ass woman Molly Weasely from Harry Potter. She asked to keep her muggle name a secret because of her day job. (Yes, she called it her muggle name.) Molly was attracted to the glittery, shiny, sparkly side of burlesque.
Lacy, 30, has been doing burlesque for two years. She took the letters of her given name, Casely Coan, to make Lacy O'Ceans and since she’s Irish, she added the apostrophe. She described Lacy as the baby of Velma Kelly and Michael Jackson who spent her summers with Britney Spears. She’s feminine but vulnerable.
The best part of burlesque
Lola says she likes creating new characters.
"Knowing that there are no limitations, that I can make any costume I want to do, I can perform to any song I want to do, it's all up to me. I'm the only person on stage there. It's fun. It's like figuring out what your Halloween costume is going to be," she says.
Kitty says burlesque is freeing.
"It's a very liberating art form. It's kind of like where I harness my power and I feel very free. Burlesque is something that tells a story without feeling like you have to please something else," she says.
Molly likes the creative expression.
"You get to do things that you wouldn’t normally get to do, you get to use your body and get familiar with your body in ways that normal, everyday life doesn’t allow you to," she says.
Lacy loves being able to communicate in a nonverbal way.
"I love being able to flex my creative muscles and then get to share the work," she says.
Advice to the haters
Kitty says, for her, burlesque is not about sex.
"Burlesque is incredibly empowering. I'm not doing what I do for other people's enjoyment. I'm doing it for myself and for my empowerment, and I am in total control when I'm on stage. There's never a moment where I'm directing my sexuality towards an individual or a man where I am trying to get them off. It's very much not sexual to me. I do sexual things, but it's more of an empowering movement for myself," Kitty says.
"This is the body that God gave me. He or she did not tell me that I had to put clothes on it nor did they tell you that you had to put clothes on it, nor did anyone ever tell me that it was inappropriate to feel confident in my skin," Lola says.
Advice on beating nerves
"I have learned over time to switch my way of thinking. I used to be very introverted, very shy, and very concerned of what other people thought of me. And rather than thinking, 'What if this happens? Or what if that happens?' I think, 'No, you're a badass! You're a queen.' Telling yourself how incredible you are as a person and as a spirit, you can really do anything," Kitty says.
"Be confident in yourself because you’re the only one that’s built up the expectation in your mind," Molly says.
"I think having a performance persona is a really amazing thing because it makes it much easier. Maybe it's a separate persona, maybe it's just this best version of you. It's too different from a pep talk in the mirror," Lacy says. "Think of yourself as that person that's kicking ass."
Advice to those that want to give burlesque a try
"Just go for it. Just listen to some music that inspires you or makes you feel good or empowers you. Let your body move and see how the music takes you and then just go for it," Kitty says.
"If you have the confidence and the interest in it, try it. What do you have to lose? You'll love it," Molly says.
Lola suggests finding a class and going to as many shows as you can. She recommends learning as much history as you can about burlesque and familiarizing yourself with what people are doing now.
Advice to people that don't feel bikini-ready
"Nobody can have the body that society has projected on us. What really matters is how you feel and that you're happy with yourself," Kitty says.
And "our bodies aren't going anywhere. Be comfortable. Don't worry about it," Lacy says.
Kitty Catatonic feels sexiest in the bathtub.
Oh, and one more thing
"It's okay to sometimes feel shitty about yourself, as long as you don't stay there," Lola says.
Check them out
Catch Lola and Kitty at their next show: Burlesque Battle of the Bands at 191 Toole. It’s on Saturday, July 29 at 9 p.m. Tickets are $10.
And if you're interested in learning more about burlesque, take Floor Polish's burlesque fitness class with Lola. She uses sexy, sultry music to get you in the mood and then you leave all sore at the end. Classes are at 4:30 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays. Find more information here.
