Burlesque is a raunchy knee-slapping good time. Often it is a nod towards a bygone era, while other times it is wholly modern. The basic skeleton is that burlesque is a dancer going down to pasties and undies. The great thing is that a person can take that basic burlesque skeleton and create something unique and completely individual.

I was always interested in retro culture and I was never much of a prude. I think because I had a mixture of those two characteristics that once I learned burlesque was actually alive and well and happening in Los Angeles it didn’t take much coaxing to get me into a class. Then once I was in a class it didn’t take much coaxing to get me on stage!

I’ve been performing for exactly 15 months and I’ll be doing it for the rest of my life.
I have red hair and I wanted a name that would acknowledge what I think is one of my best features. A friend of mine suggested the name “Panama Red” which was a strain of marijuana that was very popular in the 60’s and 70’s. I didn’t just like the name because I occasionally partake, but because it was the name of an intoxicating substance and I hope to intoxicate people who watch me perform.

Panama Red is ever-changing. In fact, my first two performances I’ve discarded because who I was then is not who I am now. I think I’ve become much more comfortable, risky, and risqué. When I first started I was not confident enough to look at people in the eye for too long while I was onstage. I’d do my act and once my music was over I was out of there! Now, I take my time and enjoy all the eyes on me.

I’ve only performed in Los Angeles and Ventura counties so far. I do plan to take my acts to other counties and states as much as possible. I’ve performed at the The Monday Night Tease at the 3Clubs in Hollywood which is the longest running weekly burlesque show in LA; I’ve performed at Bordello in Downtown LA with Victory Variety Hour and Peepshow Menagerie; The Unknown Theatre in Hollywood with Ray Mond Burl Esq. and the Family Ballyhoo; Star Garden’s in North Hollywood with The Letter Follies; Skinny’s in North Hollywood; The Vanguard in Hollywood with Striptease Symposium (who puts on an AMAZING burlesque class); The Redwood Bar and Grill in Downtown LA with Pirate Burlesque; The Theater at St. Stephens Episcopal Church Campus for Red Snapper’s Burlesque Hall of Fame Fundraiser; The Cat Club with Sunset Striptacular; The Scarlett Lady in Culver City; Dillinger’s with Sexy Babylon in Long Beach; Dirty Vinyl with Vixen’s Vixen’s in Ventura; The Hush Lounge with Striptease by the Sea in Ventura.
The Unknown Theater is one of my favorite venues. The stage is very large and there’re a lot of seats which means a very large audience!

The only obstacle I have to constantly overcome is time. I’d love to spend all of my time working on my acts, making costumes, and exploring the world of burlesque but I’m a full time student. I have to split my time between these two worlds and I admit it is extremely hard to pull my attention away from burlesque.

I would describe my performance style as being very sexy, cheeky, and high-energy.
One of my all time favorite performances is to “Suffragette City” by David Bowie. I start off as a Suffragette (a woman fighting for women’s voting rights, or ‘suffrage’, in the 19th and 20th centuries) in early 20th century attire. I then start to really get into protesting and peel off my clothing to reveal a Ziggy Stardust inspired outfit! It’s a very fun and raunchy act. I love doing it.
I also do a lot of classic burlesque that is more about using your body to make beautiful imagery than about dance. However, even that usually ends in some high-powered bump and grind for me!

I’ve only been in burlesque for a relatively short time, but from what I’ve seen it would seem that this Burlesque Revival is certainly growing. Classes are springing up in all kinds of dance studios and more and more clubs are featuring burlesque dancers.
A lot of people might think that the more modern styles are harming the old-school retro-inspired burlesque but I disagree. It’s simply a different style but it still has its roots in old-school burlesque. Expression and art is amorphous and cannot and should not be stifled.

I am a student at Bryan College of Court Reporting. I’ve just finished my first year and have about another two years to go.
I love traveling. My mother is a huge traveler and I suppose I get that from her. I’ve been lucky enough to have gone to Germany, Ukraine, England, France, Jordan, Israel, Thailand, Bali, Malaysia, and various road trips around the US.
I’m a big reader. I will read anything. I’m working on a book on The First Crusade and I have a stack of books waiting to be read on magic given to me by my boyfriend, who is an amazingly talented magician.

I entered the Viva Las Vegas competition but I wasn’t chosen to compete for this year. I will keep trying! I’m confident that I will get in one year.
I also have a lot of upcoming shows that people can find on my Facebook and Myspace pages.

Extra Questions

Temperamental.

I’m seeking fun. Burlesque has made my life better. Because of burlesque my life is fun and exciting and I get to express myself artistically. Fame, fortune, and respect are nice but there’s so much more to it than that. I have a deep respect for the artform.

If I had have any embarrassing experiences I’ve repressed them so well that I don’t even remember them at all!

I’m going to change this question to strangest act I’ve done. Victory Variety Hour puts on a show every year called The Wrong Show. Anything goes in this show. It’s Penny Starr Jr’s brainchild and she encourages acts that are gross, politically incorrect, and just plain wrong! My act was a tribute to emetophilia, otherwise known as vomit porn. I used simulated vomit that was very, very real-looking and covered myself in it and ingested some of it. It was gross, shocking, strangely sexy, and a lot of fun!

Because I’m awesome.