Edtior’s Note—The Youtube video of this performance that you see at the end of this review would likely be PG or X-rated. Parents be forewarned.
Twirling pasties, flying clothing… chocolate syrup?
All of these things and more are what the performers and audience witnessed during Jeez Louise’s POC-glittered burlesque touring production, Jeezy’s Juke Joint - A Black Burly Q Revue.
The leading lady, Tribble, socially sashayed to and fro greeting guests as emcee of the night. She rounded up the stirring crowd with her comedy and elegant prowess. VAM studios— known to this writer and others for producing the Chicago music scene’s most prominent visuals—opened up their home to burlesque performers city-wide and internationally. Even Chicago burlesque performers graced us with their presence behind the bar to set the mood for this unique skin, shimmying, and a deep red lit spectacle.
Between acts were gogo performances by Camille Leon, Cruel Valentine, Switch the Boi Wonder, and Jaz'Leen, that, in this dance lover’s eyes, went above and beyond the typical boots with the fur club ambient movers. The crowd was lively and one couldn’t help but feel a strong sense of community in the spirit of black queerdom, sex positivity, body positivity, and what seemed like the most amped up Thursday night that may have spanned city limits.
The fabulous display was the kickoff for two more days of artists coming in internationally and locally to bring the masses together in the spirit of old cabaret appreciation with a spin we so rarely see at the common swanky night lounge.
MochaMocha, Shimmy LaRoux, Lou Lou La Duchesse de Riere, Josephine Shaker, RisKay Rene, Ms. Briq House, SistahDon Noire, Rida Strange, and Isaiah Esquire sauntered up and down the stage and left the crowd screaming for more with dollar bills covering the floor. The night didn’t end with the last performer -- the name Juke Joint was realized as the DJ,,The Wife of Wrath, spun to performers and guests mixing, mingling, and well...juking.
If you wave your freak flag (in every sense of the word) high and proud, this reporter says Jeezy’s Juke Joint is home. If you aren’t of age, or don’t have an assortment of pearls to clutch, or are weary of exotic dancer poles, perhaps skip this one.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Cast:
Emcee - Tribble
Demi Noire (London)
MochaMocha (Chicago)
Shimmy LaRoux (Chicago)
Lou Lou la Duchesse de Rière (Montreal)
Josephine Shaker (Chicago)
RisKay Rene (Chicago)
Ms. Briq House (Seattle)
SistahDon Noire (Buffalo)
Rida Strange (Champaign)
Isaiah Esquire (Portland) GoGo Dancers - Camille Leon, Cruel Valentine, Switch the Boi Wonder, Jaz'Leen
DJ - The Wife of Wrath
Catering - Taylor's Tacos
Bar - Deep Eddy Vodka
Venue/Production - VAM Studio
To learn more visit the Jeezy’s Juke Joint website
All photos by AP Roberson
About the Author:
Brittany Harlin is the founding artistic director of Chicago Urban Dance Collective and 2017 recipient of the Chicago Dancemakers Forum Lab Artist Award. Her influences are Hip Hop and Modern Dance Pioneers. In addition to company work, her dancing and choreography has been featured at Ragdale Foundation, Links Hall, Elastic Arts, Aragon Ballroom, DRAMA Duo Music Productions, Black Ensemble Theatre, and Hip Hop International.
Brittany’s focus is Hip Hop, Modern, Funk Styles, Waacking, and House, combined with growing knowledge of somatics and kinesiology, all through the concert dance lens. Her goal is to bring dance education to a place of complete body awareness, spiritual expression, and connection. Brittany hopes to establish her practice in expressive therapy, creating opportunities, and inclusiveness.
Her teaching artist pedagogy & philosophy are weighted in respecting the integrity of the vernacular movement, by sharing what she’s been taught from respected community members - and stopping exactly there. She relates those concepts to personal natural movement, and the energy of the dancers she’s working with. Her goal is to create solidarity between diverse backgrounds, conducive to the essence and intention of The Hip Hop Socio-Political Movement. Harlin’s passion in dance extends to her community as she has launched her most recent endeavor of teaching professionalism and industry standards to aspiring professional dancers.
When Brittany isn’t dancing, she is supplementing her work with her passions for poetry and songwriting. She’s been referred to as a fawn and a hippie on multiple, separate occasions.
Click here to read more Picture this Post stories by Brittany Harlin.
