A DANCER from Dublin 15 is hoping to pull off a show-stopping performance with an act featuring a naughty Bosco at the Miss Burlesque Ireland Grand Final in the Tivoli Theatre this Saturday (July 23).
Arlene Caffrey, from Clonsilla, will transform into her alter-ego, La Petite Mort, and take part in the burlesque battle at 6pm this Saturday for the final that’s part of the Liberties Festival.
Businesswoman Arlene took up pole dancing with her mother as a fun hobby ten years ago and to her surprise, found she had a natural love of, and talent for, performing.
“We just thought it would be a hilarious activity to do altogether,” she says. “All my family are pretty open-minded and we’re always up for a laugh.”
Arlene went on to win Miss Pole Dancing Ireland in 2007 and now runs the successful Irish Pole Dancing Academy from DLight Studios on North Great Clarence Street, Dublin 1.
She has always had an interest in Burlesque and like lots of women, is fascinated by its glamour and flamboyant costumes. However, she initially lacked the confidence to perform.
“I never had the confidence to get involved until after I became proficient in pole dance,” the 29-year-old explains. “That helped me to come out of my shell and become more confident in my body and with my personality.”
The Dublin Burlesque scene is still in its early days but interest is growing with a Dublin Festival on the cards later this year.
Risqué Burlesque striptease shows featuring provocatively dressed female cabaret artists first became popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
But despite its slightly dodgy past, today’s performers say modern Burlesque is a true art form, really good fun and fantastic for building confidence.
“One of the best things about it is that Burlesque is very much about embracing all kinds of different ages and sizes,” says Arlene. “The message with Burlesque is that all bodies are beautiful. It’s more about an attitude than a physical appearance – and the gorgeous, fun consumes of course.”
For this Saturday’s final, Arlene will have to impress judges in a number of rounds, including one where she’ll be performing an interesting sounding ‘Bad Bosco’ routine.
“It probably sounds like a mental juxtaposition, but it’s 2016, the centenary of the Rising, and I was felling very patriotic and wanted to create an act that was Irish,” she laughs. “I wanted something fun and not too serious so I thought Bosco would be good.
“I decided to explore the idea of what happens to Bosco when the cameras aren’t rolling and he’s not on TV.”
Arlene’s La Petite Mort will be up against seven other performers in this Saturday’s final. They are Fifi La Roux, Santina Spitfire, Flaming Jade, Bonnie Boux, Gala Gray, Scarlett Van Tassel and Miss Memphis Shell.
Doors open at the Tivoli on Francis Street, Dublin 8, at 6pm on Saturday (July 23) with the show beginning at 7pm. Tickets costing €20 are available from Eventbrite in advance or at the door on the night. For more info see Facebook.com/missburlesqueireland.