I rather quickly left the country to move to Germany. I flew on the first flight out after September 11 happened. I never even knew what had happened until I landed in Hanover airport. I wont go into the reasons why I left but my life became instantly awesome. <3 you mom and pop.

I will spare you endless military photos and instead offer dorky ones.

Sadly after a lot of injury, some problems both at work and home, my military career came to an end… now a veteran.

Bye bye….the rest you know!

Check out my galleries here for a giggle or check out my Facebook fan page.

ahhh Jealousy. Its a vile emotion. Either use it to spur yourself upwards and work on your acts or it will eat you up inside. I hate it. I sometimes get a pang of jealous.Fook I am only human but I use it to push myself. Now I realise that burlesque is ONLY burlesque and there is so much more important things to worry about. I am here to entertain, I aint fixing the world’s issues so why get pent up that someone else is doing better than me or I perceive to be doing better?! Silly waste of time and emotion. Support, use it or fook off. We are meant to be a community.

I think it is perfectly ok to feel jealous but it is how you use it. Dont sit and dwell on the feeling, instead use to push yourself forward and drive your ambition. I have had my ear bent many a time by a performer wanting to slate another performer who is perceived as succeeding or achieving more of than them. I dont care for it much, as I like to think its simply juvenile. I will throw my hands up and admit I have whinged about a performer but I doubt many of you out there havent but a whinge is fine. A bitch slate isnt. This is a community. We dont like twats in our play ground.

But anyway…

The winners of the competition are:

1st Prize: one pair of signed stockings, a signed print and a signed note to the winner.

WINNER IS:

Goddess!

I see a Goddess, maybe modest?
Long flowing hair, without a care,
Very curvy, not at all nervy,
Outspoken, not broken...
A pleasure to treasure.

By Moira Thurgood

2nd Prize: 2x signed prints.

Winner:

Angie Lamb

3rd Prize: 1 x signed print.

Winner:

I sit in the audience with bated breath, the lights are dim but I can see the desire in the crowd. Slowly through the darkness I catch the blonde locks of a starlet. Her glittered skin reflecting the beckoning limelight and I know its mere moments until our dark world is made bright again. Who is this divine creature, the Queen of Tease, this Aphrodite of the burlesque scene. She is you. Lights up.

M.Trent

WELL DONE TO ALL. Special thanks to all of you who entered. Could the winners kindly send me your addresses to forward the prizes on. Email me.

Already planning the next comp!

At first it was just our Hidden Heart Academy facebook page (please ‘like’ us!), then I created the Twitter profile. Not content with that alone I then created a rather basic website for Hidden Heart Academy. But I also added a series of workshops to help the more experienced performer. Not to mention private lessons.

To be honest, I adore teaching as much as performing and seeing so many perhaps not as qualified (in my opinion) burlesque teachers cashing in I thought I would endeavour to level the playing field by offering lessons from someone who lives, breathes and works the burlesque scene; wanting to pass on the confidence and art.

It also seems I am having to branch in to talent booking as a number of enquiries have come in regarding booking of burlesque beauties. Exciting.

I do hope you all wish me well in my venture.

x

You can see our photos at
facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.349162881794623.88113.142947355749511&type=3

Anyway the extraordinary skills of Mark, the skill of The Vanity Box and the team behind the lights etc (Sarah, Chris and Laura – thanks for the coffee, yum yums and water. <3 you!) I give you the short clip of what will be a much larger film. Enjoy. Let me know what you think!

I have a fairly strong connection with Northampton. I have performed there many times for Vivid Soda, Be Barb Burlesque and a few corporate bookings. Not to mention my friends there and my work with Alan Moore/Melinda Gebbie take me back often enough.

James’ studio is with in a converted factory, which provides many an interesting back drop.

Whilst I dont have any images to show you just yet I thought you might admire some behind the scenes. We even had time to shoot a small video…granted the clip is to be used in a much bigger video but here is a sneaky peek. Thanks to the ever talented James for shooting this. Edited by me.

Slap ready! Trowel it on!!!

First outfit...naughty...

Slight change for outfit two. Love these stockings.

and now for the blindfold...

There are three prizes.

1st Prize: one pair of signed stockings, a signed print and a signed note to the winner.

2nd Prize: 2x signed prints.

3rd Prize: 1 x signed print.

The prints will be chosen by myself from the current stock available.

Now what do you need to do to win?

I have inspired art, tattoos and even the odd song believe it or not. But now inspire me with your creations. Be that videos, poetry, drawings or a simple message I dont mind…just show me. Doesnt have to be Khandie or burlesque related. EASY!

Competition closes midnight (GMT) on 22nd April. I will announce the winners on my birthday 23rd April. There is are no substitute prizes and my decision is final. Prizes will be shipped within two weeks of announcement with proof of postage taken. I can not be help accountable for lost/damaged prizes.

To enter you must be a current ‘like’ on my Facebook page and/or a follower on my Twitter and be over 18 yrs old.

You can email your work to info[at]KhandieKhisses[dot]com or comment below. Be sure to include you Twitter name/Facebook profile link so I can check all T&Cs are being met!

Happy inspiration!

Khandie Khisses. Copyright Sally Jane Thompson 2011

As I look down at my feet I notice the fabulous schedule I have had this week have really taken their toll on them. Whilst I will spare you an actual image of my poor feet, there are bruises, scraps and stray glitter to prove just what a busy bee I have been. Despite numerous showers I never quite seem to be able to do ‘de-glitter’ myself. Glitter really is the trail of choice for a burlesque darling I feel.

So Thursday saw me teaching my students in Aylesbury in my own studio. Hidden Heart whilst a studio teaching burlesque, is also branching out into promoting and event management. I have even been getting more ‘booker’ work so its all systems go there. The class was a bump and grind number so you can imagine the work my girls put in. SO very proud like an old mother hen. They even pulled off a troupe routine with expert ease! Sexy and sassy but each girl showing their own personality in the movement. Personality is so key in burlesque. No one wants to see cookie cutter burlesque. The same as everyone else is nothing of no one.

Friday and Saturday was Proud Camden performances.Proud is located in the old horse stables in Camden Market. Booked to do the late show meant I missed the delightful talents of Ophelia Bitz and Kiki Kaboom which was sad but we did get to gas together in the dressing room. Friday saw me performing with an absolute legend in my eyes: Marnie Scarlet! I love her and all her work so much I nearly exploded in a showgirl mess when I saw she was on the bill. Without being a twat or embarrassing the woman takes burlesque to a level I have not seen before. She emotes emotion and feeling with out resorting the typical burlesque moves such as titty jiggling. After her performances on Friday I was spell bound. *standing ovation from me*

Friday also saw a beautiful duo called The Orchids. Dublin based belly dancers, they enthralled me. Their movements were sensational and mesmerizing. Very impressed. Tassels off to to you ladies! Not one to often to see belly dancing I loved these girls, I would watch them all night. Movements that I could not fathom how they were made, costumes of detailed decandent delicacy and hot to boot!

A mad dash to the train station after meant I couldnt party afterwards. But on a personal note I debuted to a rather pleased audience my new act ‘Swing Out’. Inspired by art deco decadence and flapper makeup I have created a traditional bump n grind number ending in true KK fashion with a energised finale.

Not the best image....hey it was dark backstage.

My Gorilla Voodoo You Do act came out of the costume department too. The crowd seemed to really love it. Especially the tap dancing part in my brogues. The sexiest gorilla on the block I think…ha!

Saturday saw me performing at Proud with the beautiful poppet Aurora Starr and British Heart. Aurora looked STUNNING! Both her costumes were amazing but for me the bull horned one was stand out WOW! She looked fierce, tribal, strong and amazing. British Heart was his usual beautifully creative self. From his fun fur shrug to his mirror ball balls, the man is mad in the best of ways.

Big love to Amory and Max who were so helpful to me. Max and Marnie even helped avert disaster when my feather fans broke. Gotta love a performer who has a tool box with her…Marnie is the Swiss Army Knife of burlesque I swear.

Home I realised how much I missed performing in London. I seem to be performing in the capital only for corporate gigs so it is so blinking wonderful to be performing on the circuit again. If anything I miss the people! Corporate work often means you are the only burlesque artiste on the bill so it can be a lonely, regardless of how delightful the fee or location is.

Sunday was Tease Rooms in Croydon. Another first for me. Heading to the Black Sheep Bar I was greeted by a lovely Sharon (Turner – organiser) and some of my former students from my Burlesque Baby teachings. The show was awesome. Divine Miss Em had me in hysterics as she hosted, the phone throwing incident should go down in history. The Gorilla was out again but this time I performed my beloved Dark Before The Dawn act. I’d spent  few hours jazzing the bustle up by adding lights and rhinestones…bling bling bling.

Banter backstage was at full pelt at the show with many an eye being opened. Oh and I pee’d with a transformer watching me…ok he was spray painted on the wall but still it felt pervy. I know I am naughty.

Pouty McPouty. My beautiful Vintage Lynndy Loo corset and Adora Belle headdress (both custom made)

Did someone order a tap dancing gorilla?!

Got me a trophy from the staff at Black Sheep Bar...yep its a headless tribeswoman thingy. Tat for the tart!

But now here I am near Bognor having had an interview for a magazine and basking in the sun. So forgive me whilst I ponder my next move…meanwhile dont forget to keep up to date with all my razzle dazzle drivel on FACEBOOK and TWITTER. x

Thought I would let ya’ll know about my blabbering being on Shoreditch Radio last night. The delightful darling Rubyyy Jones has recently acquired her own show and she kindly asked if I would offer my vocal chords to explaining why I chose my burlesque name.

I encourage you listen to the entire show as she is wonderful presenter and multi talented. Listen here! It opens a new window and my bit is about 12min 10 seconds in.