Ballinteer babe on the bill for Burlesque ball

A SOUTHSIDE Burlesque artist is competing for a title in the first international competition to be held in Ireland.

Nikki Brooks, aka Lady Veneray, from Ballinteer, is one of 11 finalists in the Miss Burlesque Ireland event that is taking place in the Button Factory on Saturday, July 19.

The 32-year-old has been performing since 2012 as a solo artist and also with Grim’s Rogues Gallery.

The Ballinteer beauty, who lives in Shankill and works in Stillorgan, decided to down tools as a DJ and take up Burlesque dancing and modeling just over two years ago.

“I joined a troupe and quite instantly the performing bug hit me,

? she explained.

“Burlesque is an incredible thing. It is liberating, creative, energetic and like a family.

“One minute you are at your desk at work and the next you are performing to a crowd of smiling people with lights shining and glitter everywhere.

“As a performer I also adore the process of act-making as much as the performing. It takes weeks to bring together music, choreography, rehearsal and costume making for the act that can last all of three to six minutes.

“But in those minutes you get to express a part of you that is your inner alter ego and entertain your audience.

?

Nikki said that although she is still very much a newbie on the scene, she has been bowled over by the help, support and guidance from all corners.

“People want to help you, they want you to succeed and in turn everyone supports each other,

? she said.

“There is an image people have of backstage at Burlesque and cabaret shows, with girls tying each other’s corsets and sparkles everywhere and it is really like this.

“So with all of this in mind I decided to make the plunge. I filled out the application form with my ideas, accomplishments, sprinkled some glittery hopeful tears and hoped for the best.

“It was a challenge like I had never set myself before. All Miss Burlesque contestants have to perform a Classic act, styled and choreographed to the Golden Age between 1920 and 1960.

“In the next round we must perform a Neo-Burlesque /modern revival type act and then partake in an Elegant Gown Parade. Judges will be looking for dance technique, your delivery of storyline and theme, costuming and how well you engage your audience.

?

Nikki said the Miss Burlesque competition has been brought to Ireland by Azaria Starfire, a finalist in Australia in 2012.

“Azaria knows what it is like to go through the journey, the work that needs to be put in and how utterly terrifying and exhilarating the whole thing is,

? Nikki stated.

“She is with us lovely ladies every step of the way. If you do not know who this lady is I urge you to go to Facebook now, look her up and fall in love.

?

According to Nikki, Ireland is a hotspot for Burlesque at the moment, from The Burlesque & Cabaret Social Club in the Sugar Club, Kat Mosielle’s Stars & Strips show and her Tea Party, The Rogue’s Gallery, The Pony Girls, The Basic Bitches Ball, Up & Coming in Arthur’s, as well as regular nights in Galway, Belfast and Cork.

“So please come and support this Ballinteer burly babe,

? she added.

“The night is going to be one of the top nights of the year with contestants such as Lilly deValle, Epiphany DeMeanour, Santina Spitfire, Calamity Sparks, Foxy Cox and Kat Moiselle.

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For more information see Miss Burlesque Ireland www.facebook.com/missburlesqueireland and Lady Veneray www.facebook.com/LadyVeneray

?¢ Nikki Brooks, aka Lady Veneray