There's Some Hose in This House

作者是 Editor 週四, 04 三月 2010 01:02

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Passion. Licentiousness. Theatrics. Playful provocation. The Rock in Hose return with an island-wide tour.

waakao In the beginning of October 2009, the Rock in Hose had to do a demonstration for the organizers of the Gay Pride Parade. Their founding member had just taken off on a sojourn to Thailand and Canada, and they were a bit nervous about the debut of their newest member. Word came down that they were accepted as the opening act at the Pride Parade and there was a nervous excitement because they knew they would be performing before an estimated 25,000 directly in front of the Presidential Palace. In the weeks leading up to the Halloween-day parade, concerns were raised because they were the first act, most of the parade might not be back in front of the stage and get to experience a full Hose show. On Halloween day, the weather was cooperating wonderfully with the organizers and thanks to the longwindedness of local hosts and legislators, the Hose started a bit later than scheduled. On stage, each one of them hit their marks, the new guy lived up to the hype, and they truly lived up to their name by rocking a crowd 25,000 strong. After, you could see it in each member's faces that they were overjoyed by what had just happened.

Since this massive show, the Rock in Hose have been on a hiatus. But now, Alita D'Bone has returned to join Trixie Treatz, Onyx, Kitty N. Heat, Duke Vita and Amor Galore for their first ever island-wide tour starting this Friday night at Roxy Roots. Waakao caught up with the bad boys/girls of burlesque to find out what turns them on and makes them tick.

How did you get involved in burlesque?

Alita D'Bone: After I first saw Lustsluts perform burlesque I knew I had found a niche. Even though they were a short lived troupe it was the first time I had seen live burlesque. Two of the Lustsluts moved to Taipei and I formed a short-lived group with them. We did a Halloween show with a bunch of bands and DJs at Paris Nightclub.
I had met Onyx at the Lost Lagoon party and told her about it and she showed interest in joining so she teamed up with us for the show. After the two Lustsluts left Taiwan, Onyx and I both told each other we wanted to keep doing it so we formed our own troupe and met the others.

Onyx: I only ever fantasized doing anything like it until Alita proposed we perform with the Lustsluts for Halloween. I was hooked from there on after.

Kitty N. Heat: Onyx and I spoke about getting involved in burlesque, but several months later when she had the opportunity to put together a show with them for Nightmare in Paris I still deemed myself far too shy to get up on stage. Watching her and the rest of the dancers gave me a huge sense of admiration and honestly, pure envy. I knew I couldn’t be in the audience for another show, so a few months later when Miss D’Bone and Onyx started talk of a new troupe, I was in.

Duke Vita: Brunch at Carnegies on a Sunday is the place to be! Seriously! I was introduced to Alita thru a mutual friend and she told me about their Burlesque performance the previous night at Halloween at Paris Club. I immediately told her that I was interested...not knowing that I was about to go on an amazing joy ride!

Trixie Treatz: Last year, on Valentine's Day, Duke Vita told me about a new Burlesque troupe that he had joined. He also told me they were looking for a fifth member. I remember thinking, "I think I've always wanted to do burlesque." The rest is history.

Amor Galore: The moment I saw the Rock in Hose I knew I had to become involved with them! I started off as their intern and worked my way up to emcee, and then ultimately to a performer.

Where do you get your inspiration for your stage shows from?

Kitty N. Heat: Once I got burlesque on my mind it was hard NOT to find inspiration in just about everything from irritating dating encounters to household appliances (just ask Onyx!). A desire to dance is probably at the heart of what first allured me to and keeps me inspired in burlesque. So, I hear a song and I think “How can I move to this? Can I turn it into a new funny/silly/dark/ sexy story using my body?”

Duke Vita: I have an opinion and use the stage to 'actively' share it with the audience! Music also inspires me! I allow myself to experience my emotions and celebrate it by sharing it with other people! Finding the right beat and right song allows me to be creative.

Alita D'Bone: We all come up with material and then brainstorm ideas on it together. Everyone is pretty open minded and funny so things get titillating and sometimes bizarre. I'm personally influenced a lot by stereotypes and gender roles and like to mock them and warp them.

Amor Galore:Personally, I draw inspiration from my phenomenal friends and our crazy adventures.

Trixie Treatz: Pretty much everywhere and anywhere. We've drawn inspiration from 1950s Bettie Page bondage to silly sexual stereotypes, punk, drag shows, and classic and neo- burlesque acts.

Onyx: Inspiration comes in many varied shapes and forms whether it is a song I love, a dance clip on YouTube, an opinion on the different roles women and men act out, or simply new undergarments and accessories I want to wear. Ultimately, I desire to inspire other women to feel good about themselves.

What is the dynamic of the group now that you have a new member and one just recently came back?

Amor Galore: The group dynamic is fantastical! Coming from all over the world with entirely different experiences, we all have so much unique energy to bring to the table! This special family has definitely been the most fun, creative, and productive group I've involved with!

Onyx: All the members of the group contribute creatively to the process of each act. Having two gorgeous men with us now makes the dynamic more balanced and we are better able to vary our performances and help each other out. Burlesque is a hobby and a kind of therapy that we each share. And there's no denying it—Alita is a driving force I could not do without.

Trixie Treatz: In a word, inspirational. Amor Galore has been a positive and enthusiastic addition to the troupe, and having Alita D'bone back has really helped get us back into full speed, with three shows in the next month all over Taiwan, followed by Spring Scream in April.

Kitty N. Heat: We’ve always been a creative and very resourceful group and none of that has changed. We all have different personalities, strengths, and talents from one another both on and off stage, and I think that’s what makes our troupe so unique. Each person has seen one of his or her ideas through into an act with the encouragement of the other members. So the shows reflect our individuality, as well as our collective energy at the same time.

Duke Vita: There is mutual respect in the troupe. Respect breeds respect, and we allow each other to openly share our unique thoughts and ideas in a safe environment! I think we sometimes overuse the words and phrases "Wow!" "You are amazing!" and "That is so Hot!" It's great to have Miss D'Bone back because she is an amazing lady! Its also great to have another male in the troupe. The estrogen levels were a bit too much! The beginning was a challenge, but each one of us found our position in the group and the rest is history!

What is the most difficult thing about being in a burlesque troupe? What is the best thing?

Alita D'Bone: The hardest part is all the behind the scenes work involved, from getting posters and fliers designed (with the help of our friend Maxime Savage) and printed, booking shows, negotiating terms, trying to get press, writing press releases, organizing and sorting photos, getting costume supplies, designing and making costumes, and then there's all the rehearsal.
We rent dance studios and meet in each other's homes up to 4 times a week, and because I'm living in Taichung now that means I spend a lot of time on the Ubus. At a minimum we'll rehearse 9pm to midnight Friday night and 10am to 2pm Saturday.
The best thing? Getting on stage with my talented and creative co-Hose and putting on a show that makes an audience scream, whistle, shout, laugh, and clap their hands off.

Onyx: The most difficult thing about being in a burlesque troupe is teaching young children all day. Finding enough hours in a week to rehearse, sew outfits, make props and plan shows can be pretty tiring, but the adrenaline from a night hearing our friends hoot and holler lasts for days, sometimes weeks, afterwards. I'm really grateful we have venues and friends that give us the chance to do what we love.

Amor Galore:The most difficult thing, I would say, is finding the perfect balance of our time. Teaching long hours, as many of us know, can be quite draining. I would love to be able to devote even more of my energy to this hobby I love so much! Easily the best thing is looking out into the audience and seeing our amazing friends' smiling faces and hearing their excited chants!

Kitty N. Heat: The most difficult thing is probably explaining what burlesque is to people who wish we were strippers. The best part is talking to people right after the show who have that same feeling I had the first time I saw a burlesque show.

Trixie Treatz: In some ways, the most difficult thing is also the best thing. Working with five other people is a challenge. Trying to coordinate rehearsal and meeting times, delegating all of the off-stage duties, trying to have everyone's opinions heard and making sure that everyone is on the same page can be really hard. But at the same point, when we get up on stage together, I know there is NO ONE else I'd rather be doing this with!

Duke Vita: Most difficult? To challenge the word "offended"! People love using this word to limit other people and to box them in, and suffocate them. Also to be confident without being arrogant! And to cope with less sleep! Best thing? To share my passion and talent with people!

Do you still get nervous before a performance? How do you overcome that feeling?

Kitty N. Heat: The idea of being on stage in your bra and underwear can be scary! But more and more I think the things that scare you are good for you, and I look forward to how much fun I’m going to have on stage. I spent a good portion of my childhood choreographing killer dance and lip-syncing routines with my sisters and friends with the ultimate goal of becoming a singing and dancing missionary nun in mind. So, when I get to perform I’m also hit with this corny feeling of “dreams really can come true!” minus the habit and adding some sexiness.

Alita D'Bone: Tequila and a group hug. We huddle up and say what we are grateful for and our energy builds. The tequila helps.

Duke Vita: Always! Nothing that Tequila can't fix! I always try to use my nerves to bring out the best in me. Love the feeling when adrenalin pumps through the veins!

Onyx: I'm always nervous before a show, but usually just before we go on stage we make sure we huddle and share some words. It's most often pretty mushy stuff, but it does the trick. I still don't know how to combat cotton mouth though.

What is one of the craziest experiences that happened to you during one of your shows?

Duke Vita: Hhhhmmm *blush* I got turned on by one of my fellow troupe members! And no! I didnt loose my golden star!

Onyx: One of the craziest experiences I've had was my first time on stage. It was the first and the last time I've been drunk before performing, which consequently made me miss some of my cues before realizing too late that my song was over. This didn't stop me from wholeheartedly believing and blaming the DJ for cutting my song!

Alita D'Bone: During a show at Vibe when I was the back half of a pony, with my tail to the audience doing a dance move, these shockingly ignorant girls reached up and fondled me.

Kitty N. Heat: Besides the occasional technical difficulties? Craziest experience may have been the show at Vibe when a girl ripped off my tutu. My friend got in this girl’s face to reiterate the “no touching” policy during shows.

Trixie Treatz: The entire experience of doing Gay Pride was pretty crazy from start to finish. Having the opportunity to perform in front of a crowd of an estimated 25,000 people, on a massive stage, on a beautiful sunny day, with all of our friends watching and cheering us on? Enough said.

You are doing the new These Hose Were Made for Rocking tour. What can people expect from these shows?

Trixie Treatz: We've got amphibious love stories, sneaky felines, a touch of bondage, and a lot more.

Amor Galore:They can expect to see some great new acts that we have had LOADS of fun putting together, as well as some of our favorites from throughout the year with a few adaptations here and there. They can also help to see me off, as this will be my last series of shows with the Rock in Hose for now, as I am leaving this beautiful island in April.

Alita D'Bone: We have come up with brand new numbers that we'll be debuting on this tour, as well as some of our classic acts. Each night of the tour will feature three different sets over the evening, and on each date a different DJ accompanies us on the tour, so we can all party down late into the night.

Onyx: Our show has a third extra set now giving everyone the chance to see some of our old favorite acts as well as new group, solo and duet numbers. We will also be singing new original songs. Everyone can look forward to a lot of leg, sweat and shameless sexual content.

What do see for the future of the Rock in Hose?

Onyx: As long as there are sock and stocking stores in Taiwan and a pumping soundtrack, we'll be doing our best to bring a twist of burlesque to your weekend.

Alita D'Bone: I'd like for us to do more big events like the Gay Pride Parade, and more big parties as well. We have bands and DJs that we would like to work with in the future and would also like to do a Rock in Hose documentary. I did a few burlesque workshops when I was in Thailand and this is also something I'd like to get more into. Ultimately going on a world wide tour would be ideal.

Trixie Treatz: I hope to expand more to Taiwanese audiences in the future, and would love to take our show on the road.

Amor Galore:I see GOLDEN things in the future for my lovely Hose. I think burlesque has a special place in each of their hearts and the beauty is that it can be whatever each Ho wants it to be.

Kitty N. Heat: Haven’t you heard the chant? We’re Rock In Hose! We rock in hose! The ho must go on! And so it shall…

waakao