The Newcomer competition at Shimmy Shakedown was a Battle for the Best in Burlesque!

Newcomers from all over Europe and Germany competed for the title of ‘Burlesque Entertainer of the Year’. Above, you can see Noeline La Bouche, who won “Most BadAss” I believe!Here’s Setty Mois – she was my first drawing of the night and I wish I could have captured her in more detail.

I love hearts as a theme because I love love 🙂
Cadbury Parfait, who won “Most Classic”!

Here is The Velvet Unicorn.

This performance was intensely moving. Watching The Velvet Unicorn use “Hands Up Don’t Shoot” in the Burlesque context, with their “costume” consisting of the kind of black hoodie that is so often racially profiled, was disquieting. As it should be.

As they stripped down and twerked I thought of both the appropriation of black dance moves by white performers and how white culture hyper-sexualizes people of color to other and alienate them. I was reminded of Karen Finley throwing glitter on her chocolate-covered, abused body at the end of “We Keep Our Victims Ready“ because “After everything they do to us, we’re supposed to get dressed and go out to dinner”. I was not surprised to learn The Velvet Unicorn works with social justice and trauma in their burlesque art. They have a radio show as well!

Skirt Vonnegut, doing a classic Reverse Strip in genderqueer style!

Memphis Shell, deliciously goth! You know I love drawing goths and redheads!

MC Elsie Marley in classic top hat and legs for days!

Here’s Dickie Smalls, looking angelic up until his amazing disco reveal!

I loved vegetable-clad performer Trouble Peach, she was so exuberant!

This is Dark Ophelia, who was the most terrifying!

She was beautifully Bathory-licious! Her portfolio is here.

The Diamond Dahlia was a very sexy Sigmund Freud.

She had amazing underwear 🙂 Her website is here.

And last but not at all least, Shimmy Shake School Mâitresse La Viola Vixen!

Take a bow, lady! You deserve it!

My live-drawing at Berlin’s queer, intersectional burlesque scene is courtesy of my Patrons on Patreon whose monthly financial support allows me to make this free art available!