Samantha Stone began performing in the Toronto queer community just over a year ago and has already taken the drag scene by storm. She recently placed fourth in this year's Drag Idol and has trained for various aspects of theatre at the University of Windsor. Samantha is very community-oriented, so she is thrilled that she can take part in this fundraiser to help support the cornerstone of our community, The 519 Community Centre.
Bobby Pinn, also known as 'The Little Tramp,' began his performance career at the tender age of 8, when he toured Europe with the singing group The Lancashire Lads. He recently crossed over to the silver screen, and makes a rare live appearance at Glamorous.
Breakprancing was born when Charleston and breakdancing met in a bathhouse lobby. It has been a torrid love affair between these dances of the disenfranchised. Breakprance Crew looks to put the queer into crew, the bottoms into toprock' tops into downrock and to showcase just how gay both breaking and swinging can be when they get together. It's their first time performing in Toronto -- please don't be gentle, they'll feel neglected.
Mademoiselle Crème Brûlée was born in France and spent her early life training in boudoirs around Paris. She then backpacked (figuratively because ladies don't carry backpacks) across Europe and down towards India where she trained in Indian classical dance. It was in Bombay where she was discovered by an agent from London (England). After a stint in London's West End she migrated to Broadway and more recently, to Toronto where she currently resides.
Dick DuBois first appeared on the scene among the shifting, fleshy, groping shadows of a fashionable opium den on the west side of London, circa 1896. Remarkably well preserved and vigorous, given his advanced age and dubious beginnings, DuBois now contentedly resides in the New World and enjoys lechery, buggery, and needlepoint. Keenly self-conscious and excruciatingly shy, he prefers the shadows to the spotlight, but has taken up burlesque out of a perverse devotion to the Protestant Work Ethic, with a view to self-betterment through self-abnegation.
He sincerely hopes that you are ready for this jelly.
Comedy queen and pioneering drag artiste Donnarama has been working the scene for 12 years now with numerous titles and achievements such as Miss Smirnoff Twisted, Drag Idol, The Coors Light Queen Of Halloween and many more. She uses her comedic techniques to raise funds for various charities and is a prominent supporter of Canadian arts and community awareness.
PushPULL Dance is a non-profit organization, composed of individuals who are professionals (lawyers, doctors, engineers etc.), passionate about their careers, and yet still retain their passion for dance. PushPULL allows these individuals to bring their passion to the stage.
Skin Tight Outta Sight Rebel Burlesque is recognized as one of Canada's pioneers in the Burlesque Revival. With nine years of sold-out shows under their sequined belts, this troupe bridges the gap between retro and revisionist with influences such as classical ballet, bump 'n grind, Motown and just plain Out There!
Skin Tight Outta Sight has a strong history of community involvement. Using burlesque to challenge stereotypes around gender, body size, diversity and feminism, the troupe performs regularly at festivals and fundraisers for local arts organizations and social agencies. They are the founders of The Toronto Burlesque and Vaudeville Alliance, which welcomes other ecydysiasts to "Take it off!" in their fair city. In 2008, Skin Tight Outta Sight teamed with other luminaries of the alternative arts scene to produce Toronto's first juried International Burlesque Festival.
Swingin’OUT is Canada's only queer swing dance group. Founded in 2000, Swingin’OUT now has a long history of teaching swing dancing to, and performing for, Toronto's LGBTQ community. Swingin’OUT dances Lindy Hop, the original form of swing dancing from the 1930's and 40's, as well as related dances from the same era, including Charleston, Balboa, and Blues. Swingin’OUT has performed at Toronto Pride, the AIDS Walk for Life, the Toronto Lindy Hop Homegrown Cabaret, and has been known to spontaneously break out into dance on subways, in restaurants, and at Cawthra Square Park.
Swingin’OUT offers swing dance lessons for beginners and experienced dancers every Thursday.
The Saucy Tarts have been high-kicking their way across Toronto stages since 2003. From the roots of their manic-panic hair to the toes of their shit-kicking boots, the Tarts are committed to giving traditional cancan a kick in its frilly knickers!
They've had the pleasure of performing with a wild variety of artists from burlesque babes Skin Tight Outta Sight to the sensational musical duo The Wet Spots. Past performances include Pride Toronto (three years running!), a picket line cabaret in support of locked-out CBC workers, community fundraisers and private parties. The Tarts have enjoyed exposure in magazines including Xtra, fab, Outlooks and Trade, and were featured in the short film Vive Le Cancan by Art Litwell and the documentary A Straight Guide To Pride.