Slutcracker Profile: Mistress Lolita LaVamp

Real name / stage name:
Mistress Lolita LaVamp, a.k.a. Elizabeth Marie Rivera-Valentine to the very privileged few . . .



Describe your artistic life before/outside of The Slutcracker, this year's or last. Were you already in the burlesque scene?
I am a proud 32 year old Puerto Rican Transgender female who hales from New York. I was born in Brooklyn, NY and raised in Southern California. I moved back to NYC when I was 19 to find myself and conquer the Big Apple. I have been involved in activism and the social service field more specifically HIV Prevention and Education for the past 14 years, advocating for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning individuals, LGBTQ youth of color from the house/ballroom scene and allied communities. I began volunteering at Gay Men’s Health Crisis as a Peer for the House of Latex Project in 1998 and eventually became a full time staff member. I was “Big Sis” of the House of Latex, a legendary ever-walking, ever-serving HIV prevention and education house that represents at balls within the ballroom community. Now my ballroom peers know me as Ms. Elizabeth Ninja of the House of Ninja. I have been an advocate for the health and wellness of the Transgender community and Sex Industry workers since 1997. I am very well-known and respected within the LGBTQ community nationally.

In January 2006, I was featured in the PBS Lesbian and Gay Television News Magazine “In the Life” in the episode named “Principles of Youth” in the segment named “Miss Elizabeth Latex” hosted by Ani DiFranco and again in January 2007 in a segment named “Beauty on the Black Market” where she speaks about silicone pumping and body feminization.

In January 2007, I became a full-time staff member at the Audre Lorde Project as the Organizing Coordinator of TransJustice, a political organizing group created by and for Trans and Gender Non-conforming people of color. TransJustice works to mobilize its communities and allies into action on the pressing political issues they face, including gaining access to jobs, housing, and education; the need for Trans-sensitive healthcare, HIV-related services, and job-training programs; police brutality, government and anti-immigrant violence.

I have been dancing since I was in High school. I did high school dance recitals and musicals (i.e. Oklahoma, Princess & The Pea). I also did community theater (i.e. “A Chorus Line” and “Lil Abner”).

I have also worked in NYC as a professional domme for various houses of domination (i.e. The Gilded Cage, Pandora’s Box, Angel Stern’s Chambers and Arena Blaze Studios).

What is your favorite accessory/clothing item/sparkly thing to don?
Fabulous earrings, a nice fitting jean and/or heels and/or skirt.

What do you do as a contributing member of society, and how do you feel about said contribution?
I became a full-time staff member at Cambridge Cares About AIDS in March 2009 as the Health Educator and Web Designer of TransCEND; a community-based HIV prevention and health education program of Cambridge Cares About AIDS (CCA) by and for transgender women. TransCEND provides 1 on 1 counseling and group support, HIV counseling and testing, referrals to transgender friendly legal and medical providers, safer sex and injection supplies, hygiene products, complimentary cosmetics and have a welcoming community safe space. I feel good and empowered by the work I do.

Are you shooting for the stars?
Always, will I land there is the question.

Are you landing on the moon?
I feel like I live on the moon sometimes.

Are you sick of career metaphors and doing shrooms behind the tent at your college reunions?
No college reunion for me and I don't shroom.

If I wanted to get you drunk enough for . . . I don't know, the best thing you can think of, what would I order?
More than one Green Apple Martini or Long Island Ice Tea. (Attn: I do not mix drinks . . . at least I try not to . . . depends on how drunk I am whether or not I notice that I am mixing . . . lol)



Best song to dance to, of all time:
Choose any Madonna, Prince, Michael and/or Janet Jackson . . . um Lady Gaga (recently), I can go on and on.

Stance on healthcare reform:
Healthcare for more than just the rich and lucky!

Slutcracker Profile: Femme Brulée

Real name:
Robyn Giragosian, aka Femme Brulée

Describe your artistic life before/outside of The Slutcracker, this year's or last.
I danced from ages 3-13 in a typical suburban dance studio, until I became tired of the cattiness of adolescent girls that thrives in that environment. After college started taking hip hop, tap, jazz, and lyrical classes, and started teaching ballet and tap to 3-8 year olds. I did a season with Big Moves, which is how I got involved with the first Slutcracker. That was my first taste of burlesque, and I haven't been able to get enough since!



What is your favorite accessory/clothing item/sparkly thing to don?
So hard to choose one! I love my gold glitter mary jane heels, and I jump at any opportunity to wear glitter eyeshadow. But my favorite might be my rhinestone bra.

What do you do as a contributing member of society, and how do you feel about said contribution?
I'd like to think I bring joy to the world with spontaneous, unannounced cupcake deliveries.



If I wanted to get you drunk enough for . . . I don't know, the best thing you can think of, what would I order?
I'm a sucker for interesting cocktails, the more unusual, the better.

Best song to dance to, of all time:
I Want You Back, The Jackson 5

The Globe Raves About Slutcracker

Oh Boston Globe, how could we have ever doubted your hipness?

Check out this in-depth feature.

Slutcracker Profile: Sugar Dish

Real name:
Vanessa White, aka Sugar Dish.

Describe your artistic life before/outside of The Slutcracker, this year's or last.
I was a dancer from the age of three until just shy of 23 when I blew out my knee. Feeling certain my dance career had come to a close, I gave it up and led a rather unfulfilling and uncreative life for the proceeding 6 years. Those were my Dark Ages. I came into the burlesque scene sort of by accident, and in the last four years have discovered my Renaissance. Finding myself totally entrenched in this creative performing arts scene is one of the best things that's ever happened to me. For realz. And The Slutcracker? I think it's safe to say that for me, The Slutcracker has been a dream come true.


At The Slipper Room

What is your favorite accessory/clothing item/sparkly thing to don?
I just became the proud owner of a full length, white fox fur stole. Don't worry, it's second hand AND vintage. These foxes were sacrificed for fashion long before my birth.

What do you do as a contributing member of society, and how do you feel about said contribution? Are you shooting for the stars? Are you landing on the moon? Are you sick of career metaphors and doing shrooms behind the tent at your college reunions?
I will NEVER tire of 'shrooms at class reunions. But that's a story for another time. My contribution to society is pure hedonistic entertainment. I get people drunk and I take off my clothes. Some people contribute by saving lives; I contribute by giving people a reason to live.

If I wanted to get you drunk enough for . . . I don't know, the
best thing you can think of, what would I order?
Whiskey. Rocks. A good, dry champagne would work, too.


Home office.

Best song to dance to, of all time:
The only way I can answer that is to say that no matter where I am or when, whatever song it is that gets me off my ass and onto the dance floor, right then and there, is the best song to dance to, of all time. Trying to get me off my ass? Play something with soul.

Stance on healthcare reform:
Yes.

Quote of the Night

Penny Candy: So wait, is the vag still set up in dad's garage?

The Creation of a Polichinelle

Last year we just bought masks for all the Polichinelles. (You may remember them, with the sleek long noses their wearers used -- in often creative ways -- to thoroughly bone one another.) This year, Slutcracker performer, UnAmerika's Sweetheart, and artist Karin Webb is creating all of the masks, aaaaand . . . this will be amazing.


Each mask will take about eight hours to make, start to finish, and there are eight masks.








The base that she is building the masks on is of her own face, with a nose and brows sculpted out of clay on top.




Once Karin starts a mask, she works for four hours straight on it -- building up six layers and then letting it dry before she cuts, paints, and decorates.




Jill notes, "the cats have been trying to help. This is a bad idea."


Once done, they will all be decorated slightly differently, for individuality.



Karin learned the arts of mask and puppet making at Dell'Arte School of Physical Theatre, where she studied Commedia Dell'Arte, or clown. She also produces cabaret-style variety shows with her partner, Jill Gibson, through their company Axe2Ice Productions.

Website Update: Bios Are Up!

Want to read about all of this year's sluts? Now you can! (And fancily, with Flash!) Check out our new sluts bio page, here.

Slutcracker Profile: Pamela Passion

Describe your artistic life before/outside of The Slutcracker, this year's or last:
I have been dancing and performing ballet, modern, and jazz almost my entire life, and I performed in student dance companies throughout high school and college. My dancing and my choreography was always an expression of my sexuality, so burlesque was the natural next step!


Pamela the Pirate

What is your favorite accessory/clothing item/sparkly thing to don?
I am definitely a shoe person. I have a closet full of stripper heels. There are some that I can't even walk in, but there are other things they are useful for...

What do you do as a contributing member of society, and how do you feel about said contribution?
I actually have two jobs at two different nonprofits. I'm an idealist.

If I wanted to get you drunk enough for . . . I don't know, the best thing you can think of, what would I order?
Anything. Tequila! Champagne!

Best song to dance to, of all time:
Kanye, "Gold Digger." It's not my favorite song, but for some reason whenever I hear it I want to get up on some sort of raised platform and take my clothes off.

The Slutcracker Featured on JimSullivanInk

Now, that it's in its second year it's become a bonafide Boston tradition, has it not? "'The Slutcracker' was so overwhelmingly popular and just plain fun, it was a no-brainer bringing it back," and Ian Judge, who directs the goings on at the Somerville Theatre.

- JimSullivanInk.com

Slutcracker Profile: Amber Candy Dixon

Describe your artistic life before/outside of The Slutcracker, this year's or last:
My artistic life before the Slutcracker(aside from just being an amazingly hot slut) included a multitude of performances in Boston and Cambridge. They ranged from Cherry at Jacques Cabaret to The Harvard Drag Night to Forever Fierce at MIT. You can see the fabulous me in all my many styles and pre-Slutcracker manifestations here.


Amber Candy Dixon, on stage

What is your favorite accessory/clothing item/sparkly thing to don?
Hmmm...my favorite article of clothing, I'm going to have to say anything that emphasizes my killer legs. You see, my body is The Commodores and my legs are Lionel Richie.

What do you do as a contributing member of society, and how do you feel about said contribution?
My contribution to society is my amazing presence. Once people gaze upon the natural beauty that is Amber Candy Dixon, they say to themselves, "Wow, I don't have to buy a telescope. I can see that the brightest star in the universe is right in front of me. If only I had my sun glasses, because my eyes are burning from the amazingly hot radiance that is Amber Candy Dixon."

If I wanted to get you drunk enough for . . . I don't know, the best thing you can think of, what would I order?
It's really a matter of me getting people drunk on my good looks. So in reality, it's very difficult to offer the girl who is everything....

Best song to dance to, of all time is tie between "Vogue" by Madonna and "Negative Approach" by Naplam Death.

Stance on healthcare reform:
As a graduate of Emerson College, it's only natural that I would want to see every American tax payer covered under a single payer system.

The Slutcracker Featured in "Bay Windows"

Likely to become a new holiday tradition [...] Already gleaning rave reviews, the highly anticipated show will feature Boston area performance artists at their best...and wearing their least.

- Hannah Clay Wareham, Bay Windows

Slutcracker Profile: Katrina Galore

Katrina Galore, As Herself

Describe your artistic life before/outside of The Slutcracker, this year's or last:
I have long been a part of Boston/NYC’s retro-fetish/punk-burlesque/art-tart scenes (scenes I might have made up). I am currently a dancer for Walter Sickert & the Army of Broken Toys and VARIETAE/PERSONAE, as well as acting Minister of Information for the S.N.A.F.U. Restoration Project. Other projects: PAN9, Women of Sodom, Gomorrah, Mother NYC's Bettie Page Realness, Grindhouse Marionettes, and Terrorsex Cabaret, and I have opened for Nine Inch Nails, Dresden Dolls, Tiger Lillies, Beat Circus, HUMANWINE, Lisa Suckdog, Dame Darcy, and more.

What is your favorite accessory/clothing item/sparkly thing to don?
TOO MANY CHOICES. My current favorite outfit is a black Diane Von Furstenberg wrap dress with a custom faux-ruby & silver choker by Archeress Arts.

What do you do as a contributing member of society, and how do you feel about said contribution?
I contribute giddy conversation, T&A, the best chocolate-chip cookies, and a sense of melancholic wonder to the universe. I think the universe needs to thank me already and quit kicking the back of my chair.


Katrina Galore, The Persona

If I wanted to get you drunk enough for . . . I don't know, the best thing you can think of, what would I order?
A Lemon Drop—wait, make that 4 Lemon Drops.

Best song to dance to, of all time:
“Blue Monday” by New Order

Stance on healthcare reform:
Universal. National. Healthcare. Now. I think when (and I do hope it's "when," not "if") the US adopts a public option/national healthcare, we will all look back on this whole debate with amazement. It will be as ridiculous to us in the future as the scene of rival firemen brigades fighting each other while a building burns in "Gangs of New York" is to us now.

If You Seek Amy

Ladies and Gentlemen, we present: Amy v 2.0. Structurally sound and nearing completion.



She'll look so nice in stripes!

Learn Yourself Some Dancing

You'll see Honey Sucklet Duvet in the flower dance this year: this weekend, you can also check out her class on The Art of Exotic Dancing. Sign up here.

Are You "In"?

Tell us on Yelp!

Costumes in Progress

The ever multitalented and resourceful Lolli Hoops came to our last Chinese rehearsal with a costume piece she's been working on for the dance: you should see the front. (Here's a hint: it's more exciting without a shirt on underneath.)



(Photo courtesy Sugar Dish. And Pixy Dust watches on.)

The Play That Changed Your Life

American Theatre Wing is having an essay contest right now, themed "the play that changed your life." Robin wrote about The Slutcracker: vote for her entry here!

Grab Your Calendar

Tickets are on sale and already selling like hotcakes for this year's Slutcracker. Last year's sold out, so we recommend grabbing yours as soon as you can! You can buy them from the Somerville Theatre in person, or online here.

Vanessa White Interviewed on The Steve Katsos Show