Apathy Angel © Leland Bobbé

This is my recent portrait of Neo-Burlesque performer Apathy Angel. One of a handful of performers I’ve shot with masks, this was one of the most intense. I love that silver and black.

A quote from Apathy:

“Burlesque is performing and entertaining but it’s also a way of expressing the things that I’m feeling. I like to think of it more as performance art than a sideshow or as body entertainment or stripping. When someone comes up to me after one of my more ‘out there’ performances and asks, did this symbolize or mean anything personal to me, then I feel like I’ve succeeded in getting across my message beyond the audience just seeing a girl get naked on stage. It’s like killing two birds with one stone.”

Little Brooklyn © Leland Bobbé

Little Brooklyn, the long time co-producer of the infamous Starshine Burlesque is one of the most original neo-burlesque performers on the scene. Her acts mix classic tease with a slapstick sense of humor. Everything we shot together had an element of comedy but when she pulled out “the worlds largest underpants” with the Pee Wee Herman tie I knew this was the one.

A quote from Little Brooklyn:

“Where did all the baggy pants comedians go?  They’re right here, they’re just wearing pasties now.”

Donny Vomit © Leland Bobbé

As part of my Neo-Burlesque project I wanted to photograph not just the burlesque performers but the hosts and sideshow performers as well. This is Donny Vomit. For nearly a decade, Donny has been performing acts of the strange and bizarre such as the Human Blockhead(nail in nose), Fire Eating, Sword Swallowing and more. For this shoot we tried a few different things but i really liked this sword. We actually did some shots of sword swallowing but this was my favorite because i felt it  really captured his personality.

A quote from Donny:

“When I first started doing sideshow stunts I was opening for punk and rockabilly bands back in Oklahoma. A friend of mine who was in one of the bands saw my show. I was eating light bulbs and swallowing balloons at the time. He said  that I needed to get myself a rock ‘n roll name. He smirked at me and said . . . ‘I know what I’m going to call you . . . Donny Vomit, because every time I see your act, I just want to throw up’.”

Veronica Varlow © Leland Bobbé

This is the amazing and provocative Veronica Varlow. Veronica is a burlesque performer, pin-up model, actress, producer and performance artist. She is the owner of the online boutique Danger Dame, which specializes in clothing inspired by burlesque and cabaret. For this portrait session Veronica went military, complete with bullets and rubbed on dirt. Veronica was a pleasure to shoot and with a face like that you just can’t go wrong.

A quote from Veronica:

“I’m very serious onstage: it’s a serious seduction for me. When I do my thing I want the audience on the edge of their seat. I want us to be communicating non-verbally; we’re having a non-verbal conversation. That’s the way I love to do it.”

Julie Atlas Muz © Leland Bobbé

Julie Atlas Muz is one of the most influential neo-burlesque performers anywhere and her model of performance has greatly shaped it’s resurgence in recent years. Through the power of dance and performance art, she tells stories that are beautiful, political and emotional with a major dose of irreverence. She uses humor, positive sexuality and glamour to address serious topics in a playful manner.

My challenge in this portrait was to use the silk fans in a way that didn’t dominate the photograph. Even though keeping those fans looking good was a physical challenge, Julie was able to still give me a great expression.

A quote from Julie:

“A friend of mine invited me to start doing burlesque at the KGB bar on 4th Street between 2nd and 3rd in a show called The Red Vixen Cabaret in 1997. I was always naked anyway in experimental theater and loved many aspects of it. In experimental theater you rehearse for 6 months for 2 free shows in a church. In burlesque i could perform once or twice a week at that time and I could get my ya ya’s out.”

MsTickle © Leland Bobbé

This is the incredible neo-burlesque performer MsTickle. Costume designer, writer, director and more, she epitomizes the pinnacle of style and elegance in modern burlesque, As a photographer, shooting her in this costume was a challenge because of all of the elements involved. This is one of the most commented on of all of my neo-burlesque portraits.

A quote from MsTickle:

“Burlesque is about revealing something. It’s not necessarily a body; we just use our body as a way to reveal something. We may be revealing something about how we feel about our place in society or how we see the world more than it is about our bodies.”