Lady Lola LeStrange - Cheesecake

Lady Lola LeStrange - Best Debut 2019 from Burlesque Hall of Fame on Vimeo.

Here's another example of a mostly classic number, and I love it for a lot of reasons, mainly because of the performer bringing it to the stage. Every burlesque fan has a list of performers who could sit quietly on the stage for five minutes and we'd eat it up, and Lola LeStrange is part of that subset for me.

The first time I saw Lola perform was in an improvisational burlesque show elimination-style competition where the performers may have known a couple of general themes, but had no idea what their specific music might be, couldn't repeat costumes from round to round, and might even have to team up to perform a duet in the event of a tie. It's fun for an audience and a decided challenge for a performer. Lola MURDERED IT DEAD and basically won in the semifinals. I was smitten immediately.

Lola's costume in "Cheesecake"is a striking pink and blue. I rarely have strong notes on costuming, but it's just lovely to view. As soon as the spotlight illuminates her, she projects moxie to spare as she begins her parade. When the music shifts to Richard Cheese's version of "Baby Got Back," her tone becomes more playful and carries her through to that final slap, an exclamation point par excellence.  The sheer confidence and competence every second she's on stage, nailing every move, is a triumph.

Lady LeStrange named this act "Cheescake" because of a series of memes a few years ago when women started visually comparing themselves to cheesecakes in solidarity after a bro tried to body shame a girl by making the same comparison online. Whatever her motivation, this act is damn fine.

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