Today we’d like to introduce you to Hot Take Burlesque
Hi Hot Take, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Hot Take Burlesque started out as the love child of Victory Red and Kitté L’Amour way back in 2022. In the years following the pandemic there was a shortage of inclusive burlesque shows throughout Utah. And thus Hot Take Burlesque was born to bring Utah burlesque talent to the front and center! Shorty after the troupe began, Victory and Kitté knew their lives would not be complete without their own little bundle of joy! A burlesque baby by the name of Rosa Rica soon joined the production team.
Hot! Take Burlesque is not just a troupe, we are an experience! A vibrant celebration of empowerment and queerness! Our tantalizing performers will transport you to a world where naughty meets nice, where boundaries blur and inhibitions fade away. Hot Take Burlesque produces shows throughout Salt Lake City Utah, and its surrounding areas. The shows they produce celebrate established performers, and provide a platform for newer performers and burlesque-curious folks to shine on stage.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road has not been smooth, in fact its been more of a roller coaster ride! Producing live shows in any atmosphere is a challenge, but Utah presents unique obstacles due to the strict blue laws we must navigate. From dealing with venues and venue bookers, we’ve experienced venues decline to book us from the fear of to having to adhere to these strict blue laws. Because these laws are often contradictory and vague, it makes a lot of venue bookers nervous to provide space for us. Burlesque still carries a lot of stigma in this religious dominated state.
As a queer and female presenting production team we’ve also experienced some biases from a male-dominated night life industry. This has led to some frustrating experiences when it comes to securing spaces to perform. We continuously strive to produce shows that are financially accessible to the audience, while compensating our cast and crew fairly.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Hot Take Burlesque produces inclusive, queer-friendly burlesque variety shows and gives local and national burlesque artists a safe space to share their art.
Hot Take Burlesque won several awards including: Troupe of the Year (2023, 2024 – Salty Desert Burlesque Festival), Producers of the Year (2023 – Salty Desert Burlesque Festival), and Best of Naughty and Nice (2023 – Best of Salt Lake City Weekly – Best of Utah). Several of the troupe members are award winning performers as well.
Something that sets us apart from other production teams, is that we’ve created a growing family of artists that support each other. We’re often used as a resource for people interested in learning about the art of burlesque. In addition to providing a space for performing, we also refer people to other local artists, producers, and instructors that are part of the Utah burlesque tapestry.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
If you’re interested in getting started in performing or producing your own burlesque shows we encourage people to go to local shows and productions. This will allow them to get a feel of how those productions run. A great way to dip your toes into the scene is to kitten for a show. A burlesque show kitten is a vital part of the production, and a gateway to performing. Kittens help performers set the stage for their acts, help clean up after acts, help with tips and tip exchange, and help to keep the show running smoothly.
Its also worth noting that producing shows is essentially a business. Having skills that help balance the artistic along with the business side of shows is necessary.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hottakeburlesque/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hottakeburlesque/
