THE BATTLEFORDS - The premier burlesque group in Saskatchewan, Rosebud Burlesque, based out of Saskatoon, will help the Dekker Centre bring a close to its 2023 season.
The show on May 26 marks the first time the Rosebuds will be back on the big stage since the COVID-19 pandemic, something they’re looking forward to.
“It’s been pretty exciting for us because we haven’t been doing a lot of performances since the pandemic,” Headmistress Cheripop Purr said to the News-Optimist.
“...we get back into the studio to practice, and rehearse, pulling out the costumes and gluing (on) gems, and doing all of those things … (we) are so ready to have some fun.”
The company does a variety of burlesque performances, some of which include the classic strip tease, comedy, music, spoken word, or the fire dancer set to be performing in the Battlefords.
“This particular show that we’re doing has a variety of performers of different styles, bringing their top acts to the Battlefords.”
Purr feels that people need a break from reality, which is part of why she started the company to begin with, the other being her love of dance history.
“I just kinda fell in love with glamorous aspects of the time period,” Purr said about the 40s and 50s in Saskatchewan, noting that she dug deep into everything burlesque, ranging from conferences in Seattle to doing workshops with the living legends of the art form.
“I absolutely fell in love with it … and I really wanted to bring that back to my dance practice in Saskatchewan,” she said, noting Canada has a rich history with burlesque shows, with the province at one point even touting burlesque houses.
Now today, the renaissance of the art form leads Purr to believe that feminism, and confidence in one’s female body, are on the rise.
“...(It is) a very powerful, very pro-female, pro-feminist art form right now … reclaiming the female body and female sexuality and sensuality.
“We attract the whole gambit of people,” Purr said, noting that their usual audience cuts across all genders, sexualities, and age groups, and they hope that their show attracts another crowd hoping for a night of fun, sexy performances, music, and laughter.
“The Dekker Centre is beautiful we’re thrilled to be going there … we’re really excited, we hope people will come out.”
