The Artists of A Wink and A Smile Burlesque
Miss Cherry Valens - Co-Creator and Cabaret Burlesque Dancer
After years of extensive professional dance training in styles ranging from ballet to Brazilian samba, Miss Valens is appropriately qualified to put the 'dancer' back into the title of Burlesque Dancer. Using her undeniable talent for dance, choreography and costume design Miss Valens has created acts that are a stylish and sensual display of dance, tease and humour.
Her performances are reminiscent of the glory days of music hall, variety revues and vintage musicals. Miss Valens' highly developed performance skills allow her to effortlessly combine charm and grace with sex appeal and fun. Since beginning the burlesque revival in Adelaide, South Australia, Miss Valens has graced the stage at numerous events and private parties for clients such as SAFM, Peter Lehmann Wines, Newmarket Insurance, Ausdance, GLAM Adelaide, Kustom Kulture Weekender, Sugartime in Sydney and Red Door Burlesque in Melbourne. In a field dominated by smoke and mirrors, Miss Cherry Valens is the genuine article.
Dahlia Opala - Co-Creator and Vaudeville Performer
For as long as she can remember, Dahlia has immersed herself in the Arts, with a particular passion for viewing live performance and installation art. Her love of the burlesque and vaudeville genres has led to her own unique interpretation and performance of neo-burlesque and glam drag. Inspired by Gypsy and circus culture, vintage fashion and cheesecake comedy, Dahlia's acts are as original as they are provoking. Although her two stage personas Maxi Mae and Maxi Man, could not be more diverse, both explore human traits and nuances from a comedic angle.
If Dolly Parton, Benny Hill and a tulle factory ever had a child, twisted burlesque princess Maxi Mae would be it. A fluffy, cheesy, somewhat self-indulgent prima donna, Maxi loves to flirt, tease and parade on the stage with an abundance of props and scrumptious ultra feminine costumes. In Maxi's bizarre and colourful world, nothing, and absolutely nothing, is over the top! Sexy glam king Maxi Man is the perennial ladies man who longs to live up to his idols and fellow 'seductioneers', Tom Jones and Barry White. Somehow missing the mark (and voice), Maxi Man lip synchs his way into drag king heaven, entertaining the masses with his flamboyant cross dressing, gender play and unremarkable dance moves. With his striking good looks often compared to a young Johnny Depp, Maxi Man is sure to leave a string of broken hearts and laughs long after he has left the stage.
Sammy Dee - MC and Burlesque Dancer
Sammy has been a part of the team since the end of 2007, having performed in major festivals like Feast and Fringe. She loves to interact with her crowd through mischevious introductions and interactive audience games. Her style of performing in reminiscent of the cheesecake girls of the 50's. She often uses fun Jukebox hits in her colourful and cheeky acts, with subtle hints of traditional burlesque sexiness and tease.
Fifi Amore - Burlesque Dancer
Fifi has always had a love for all things glamorous and feminine. Her love for dance began at the age of 4 after being mesmerized by the sight of her first ballet performance. This year will see her graduate from Adelaide centre for the Arts with a Bachelor of Arts in dance performance.
Fifi became an artist with a Wink and a Smile Burlesque in October 2008, and has since performed regularly at the monthly Seduction Society performances, as well as in the Adelaide Fringe Festival, Feast Festival and other events. Her style remains feminine, cheeky, sassy, entertaining and original, while being inspired by classic musicals, the era of 1940, glamorous costumes, vintage and modern dance. Fifi has numerous acts in her repertoire demonstrating to the audience classic tease and mischievous playfulness and will continue to create acts of this nature.
Canela - Dancer and Gymnast
Canela originated from Mexico but is now living in Australia. Having been a rhythmic and artistic gymnast for many years she also trained in ballet, jazz and salsa dancing she has the right mixture of mystery, dance and contortion on her acts. She is spicy, exotic and loves the stage. Canela has been performing around Australia with Ding Productions and has danced for the Tasmanian ballet company among many others.
Lady Luck - Singer
Lady Luck has been entertaining Adelaide audiences covering many genres of music for some time now and is highly respected by her peers in the industry.
Her experience has been as a Lead Vocalist and Backing Vocalist for some of Adelaide's top bands. She has toured both nationally and performed internationally as well as performing live on television. In 2005 she auditioned for the popular reality TV show "The X Factor" and made it through to the top 35 out of more than one thousand people who auditioned in Adelaide. She received very favourable comments from the judges who included Mark Holden and Kate Cebarano.
Lady Luck joined the cast of A Wink And A Smile Burlesque in 2007 and has since participated in the 2008-2009 Fringe Festivals and Parade as well as The Fringe Cabaret Festivals, Feast Festivals and numerous private and corporate functions. Lady Luck shines as a solo artist,relishing her role as the very sexy and seductive Cabaret Singer. She has a sensual yet strong and powerful vocal style and combined with glamorous costumes and scintillating stage presence, often leaves the audience wanting more...
Cristiane Carlos - Brazilian Samba Dancer
Born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Cristiane is the typical Brazilian that loves dancing! She began jazz training when she was nine years old. At the age of ten she joined the dance group 'Paquititas' performing in many cities across Sao Paulo. Looking to improve her artistic skills, she joined the theatre company 'Teatro da Cidade' where she performed in musical stage plays. In 1992 after her exposure to acting she was invited to dance on tour for the TV Globo show 'Os Trapalhoes'. Always looking to further develop her dance skills, Cristiane became an accomplished flamenco and belly dance performer and in 1998 became a belly dance instructor in Rio.
In 2006 Cristiane moved to Adelaide and decided to add authentic Brazilian flavor to the Samba and Axe scene and in 2008 began instructing, choreographing and performing SAMBA, AXE and BRAZILIAN FUNK with LA BOMBA. Recently Cristiane has expanded her theatrical stage experience by showcasing samba in various productions by A Wink and a Smile Burlesque at shows in the Adelaide Fringe Festival and Cabaret Fringe Festival.
Molly Morphine - Gender Performance Artist
Good Golly, Miss Molly!
A captivating and theatrical Gender Performance Artist with a suitcase full of camp characters and kooky creations. She joined A Wink And A Smile Burlesque in 2008 and has left punters all over Adelaide wanting more. Performing alongside Superstar International Entertainers in shows at The Mars Bar and Garage, and enchanting audiences with her unique style in The Garden Of Unearthly Delights, Miss Molly brings unimaginable colour and movement to the stage. Versatile and innovative, Miss Mollys repertoire includes iconic Marilyn Monroe, a hilariously entertaining Liza Minnelli and fun celebrity illusions to the dark and edgy glamour of a Disney fairytale. EXTRAVAGANZA!
Dird E Oldman - Vaudeville Dancer
Dird has been dancing and performing since he was able to walk. He first took ballet classes at the age of three. Learning ballet from Christine Larkin, Christine Underdown and Terry Simpson, and contemporary from Kim Hales-McArthur. He received advanced training in ballet and contemporary as well as a diploma in Classical Ballet from the New Zealand School of Dance. His professional achievements include a full performing tour of New Zealand with the Royal New Zealand Ballet Company, the lead role of Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake with the Tasmanian Classical Ballet Company, as well as several performances with the Australian Ballet and English National Ballet. Dird has returned to his hometown now as he is an old married man (sorry ladies). His wicked sense of humor has now been corrupted by the craziness of marriage and his dance talents will be used to shock and horrify you, and hopefully also entertain.
Miss Paula-Jane - Go-Go Dancer
In addition to their gorgeous regular cast, A Wink and A Smile Burlesque has been proud to present local, interstate and international guests in their shows including:
Lola LaBelle (UK based burlesque dancer) Hans (MC/singer/dancer) Miss Amelia Von Wheels (MC/singer/drag gender artist) Madame Love-Lee (Burlesque dancer/Pole dancer) Danica Lee (Sydney based burlesque dancer) JOYa (Tribal belly dancer) Keith Keller (Magician) Tiffany Redman (Opera singer) Doctor of Hellucinations (Vaudevillian singer) Miss Whips (Burlesque dancer) Dakini Violet (Belly dancer) Bollywood Trio (Dancers) Lachlan Haig (MC) Aurora Murphy (MC) Janine Eckert (MC)
Bringing back the swinging 60's with her fun party-vibe Go-Go-Dancing is Miss Paula-Jane! She will show you how they really shook it up to revolutionary rock/pop and fast surf tunes back in the era of free love, when the dresses were mini, the boots were high and the mind-set was psychedelic. Miss Paula-Jane has been performing with A Wink and a Smile Burlesque since Feast Season 2007, which has since seen her perform along side many live bands and events including the Big Day Out in 2009, the past few Kustom Kulture Weekenders in Adelaide and Red Door Burlesque in Melbourne. In 2008 Miss Paula-Jane became the go-go dancing queen of Adelaide when she began Adelaide's only go-go dancing classes and started teaching the ladies of the City of Churches how to shimmy, shake, monkey, swim, twist and a whole stack more! This vivacious girl's routines are full of fun and energy, teamed with a beaming smile and fabulous shimmy-ing costumes. Miss Paula-Jane is bound to leave you with a smile and wanting to go-go too!
Jamie Jewell (Singer/actor)