Author: Iona Fortune
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Maya Angelou: The Calypso Dancer
Long before the world knew her as a poet, memoirist, and civil rights champion, Maya Angelou was a nightclub performer.… Read more.
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Yvonne De Carlo AKA Lily Munster
Before she became a household name as Lily Munster, Yvonne De Carlo was a determined young woman chasing dreams from… Read more.
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Aquatease & the Oyster Girl
We’ve covered the fan dancers of the 1930s and 40s but I’m here to dive into another performance art that… Read more.
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Burlesque in Auburn, NE
In the quiet corners of southeast Nebraska, performance history flickers between preservation and mystery. Auburn may not boast the grand… Read more.
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Burlesque in Chadron, NE
Nestled in the Nebraska Panhandle, Chadron’s performance history is anything but provincial. Beginning in the late 1800s, the town’s opera… Read more.
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Buckaroo Burlesque in Van Tassel, WY
The Buckaroo Club — also known as the Buckaroo Bar or Buckaroo Nite Club — was once a lively fixture… Read more.
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Sada Yacco: Geisha and Global Icon
In the twilight of the 19th century, as Japan opened its doors to the world, one woman stepped through them… Read more.
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Lola Falana: Showbiz Trailblazer
Lola Falana was a force of nature, transforming every stage she touched into a showcase of glamour, grit, and brilliance.… Read more.
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Loïe Fuller
The Serpentine Dancer Born in 1862 in Fullersburg, Illinois, Loïe Fuller was a performer who defied categorization. She began her… Read more.
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La Toya Jackson
The Moulin Rouge Era In 1992, La Toya Jackson became the lead revue performer at the famed Moulin Rouge in… Read more.
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Charmion: The Strongwoman
In the golden age of vaudeville, when corsets reigned and propriety was the law of the land, one woman dared… Read more.
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Burlesque in Alliance, NE
Tucked into the windswept plains of western Nebraska, Alliance might seem an unlikely backdrop for the glitter and grit of… Read more.
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Irish McCalla
In the golden age of television—where cowboys roamed and space rangers soared—there was also a spear-wielding queen who swung through… Read more.
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Yolanda Montes AKA Tongolele
In a swirl of sequins and shadowy spotlight, Yolanda Montes—the woman the world came to know as Tongolele—stepped onto the… Read more.
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Burlesque in Clubs in Omaha, NE | 1970s-90s
By the 1970s, Omaha’s burlesque scene had begun to evolve alongside changing cultural tides. The glamour of mid-century striptease gave… Read more.
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Burlesque in Clubs in Omaha, NE | 1950s-60s
In the smoky glow of downtown Omaha’s nightlife, burlesque found a home in the clubs that lined Howard Street and… Read more.
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The Dolly Sisters: Burlesque Twins
In the glittering world of early 20th-century entertainment, few performers embodied the extravagance and allure of the era quite like… Read more.
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AKSARBEN Burlesque
When we think about the great civic organizations that have shaped regional identity, few stand out as uniquely as the… Read more.
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Dixie Evans: The “Marilyn Monroe of Burlesque”
Dixie Evans was more than just a burlesque performer—she was a living tribute to Hollywood glamour, a curator of burlesque… Read more.
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Noel Toy
Noel Toy was a pioneer of Chinese American burlesque, known for her stunning fan and bubble dances that captivated audiences… Read more.