We’ve had a great response from our Step It Up 2007 post, with events going on this Saturday, November 3rd, 2007! While we thought we had browsed all the events around the US, a chance encounter with a seemingly innocent young woman who goes by the name “Miss Emilia†led us to a Step It Up event in a league all it’s own - The Global Warming Burlesque Show!
Billed as “An Environmental Extravaganza,†The Global Warming Burlesque Show is a FREE event going on at Rockstar Bar in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY at 9:00 PM the evening of November 3rd. Miss Emilia is a burlesque performer herself, but also a staunch environmentalist and organizer of the show. Besides the show, the “Extravaganza†includes an art installation, DJs spinning all night, and, oh wait, you’re wondering what tie-in this has with the environment? They get that a lot, and we were wondering the same thing. We did an interview with Miss Emilia, and we’ll let you hear what she has to say. Beyond that, we have to say we wish we could be there to revel in happiness, togetherness for a cause, and, um, lots and lots of glitter.
Some people are cleaning up beaches; others are having global warming marches. What’s the inspiration behind the Global Warming Burlesque Show?
I love burlesque - I am a burlesque dancer and I like fun and sexy and delightful and at times challenging performances. I also an an environmentalist (I work as a sustainability manager at a building products manufacturer, and i got my degree in environmental studies). I participated in the previous Step It Up day of action in NYC - when we all dressed in blue and stood in line across a future water-level rise in lower Manhattan. It was a really energizing day in my life. Usually the fight for environmental and climate justice is so dark and depressing. I try to do the things that I can do decrease my personal environmental footprint daily - but even doing that sometimes feels ineffectual, or you feel alone. I think it’s important to come together in a celebratory manner to pay attention to climate change, and also have fun and feel energized. I support all the other actions and I am glad that people are doing more hands-on clean-up activities or political marches. It all needs to happen. I think we should all do what we do best, and for me - I felt I’d be at my most energized and at my best if I put on a show. I have always wanted to combine my passion for burlesque with my passion for the environment. I just hope the show will help us all live with the fact that this is an issue that is a piece of shit - but we must accept it. And we can have fun and relax sometimes too while acknowledging that this is a very real problem.
How many performers do you have so far?
Well, we have the Dazzle Dancers (about 15 people), World Famous *BOB*, Rose Wood, Super A Lot!, Missile Dick Chicks (maybe two people), Puppet State Players (about two people), Justin Tyme and Suspicious Package (three people).
Art installations by Marie Evelyn (Scrapcycle), AT Birdsall Photography, Jsun, Sumarty, Sophia Costumes. And we have a few DJs spinning and doing sound installations.
What other environment-saving going-ons will you be having at the show? Well, thanks to the folks organizing the Step It Up rally in Washington Square Park, they will be setting up a “letter writing station†at the bar to help people continue to write notes to their representatives. We will have someone helping people convert their electricity bill to wind power (it’s a widely available option in NYC but no one really knows about it!). There will also be a collaborative art project - also coordinated by the Step It Up rally organizers that will carry over from the rally - that involves planting “your own carbon sink†in the form of a tree seedling. We also have special biodegradable cups (to use instead of the normal plastic ones that the bar uses).
How do you personally help in being eco-friendly? You mentioned something about a worm compost… I do have a worm compost at home! I bike to work every day and try to use my bike as much as possible, or I am lucky enough to use NYC’s public transit. I do power my home by wind power renewable energy credits. I did make my energy use “carbon netural†by purchasing carbon offsets. I just try to reduce waste and to conserve electricity and water. I really want to be more mindful of my personal supply-chain - as a consumer, where am I putting my dollars? I am starting a tool with some partners to evaluate the sustainability of products, vendors and manufacturers.
I read the comment regarding your efforts over at the Step It Up blog. Have you encountered any other type of negative feedback, and what do you say to naysayers?
Naysaying is easier to do online rather than face-to-face. I’ve only encountered two types of naysaying so far - the Step It Up blog naysaying seemed to focus on the event not being “active†enough - but as I said before - the event is meant to be a celebration anyway. And I think the comments of those on the Step It Up blog in defense of the show say exactly what I feel. The show is designed to compliment and encourage those who are being fully active. I also hope we are creating something beautiful to watch. And, like art has that tendency to do, it will affect different people in different ways. And I hope it will be engaging.
The other type of naysaying is about the artform of burlesque itself - some people just dislike burlesque as a form of performance. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and I think burlesque is a very controversial art-form, so it does stir up some haters. Although, I have to say that I think some of this type of naysaying borders on sexism and bodyism - the idea that women shouldn’t be so proud of themselves or their bodies. Those types of comments I don’t really like to reply anything to, because I think you can’t change such a person’s mind and shouldn’t waste time or negative energy. Some of this naysaying also probably stems from the fact that some think it’s “cool†to put down burlesque because since there is a resurgence, a lot of people are doing it, and there will always be people who hate things that aren’t “underground†or “cool,†as in only known by a few people in the “in crowd†and not the masses. That type of attitude combined with a general apathy for environmentalism leads to some harsh naysaying. But nothing is immune to criticism!
I can only say: my partners and I feel passionate about both burlesque and the environment. We are environmentalists - and we are dancers who love glitter! We want to put together an event that celebrates both, and that delights and shocks the audience. There will be opportunities to support the call for climate leadership, and there will be a rowdy show and dance party that is fun, energizing and encouraging. Share the love, share the environment, and share the nudity!