~ Alpha's Authors & Books Oh My ~: Blog Tour & Guide to Tease By Character Miss Scarlett Pearl from Made from Greater Stone.

Made from Greater Stone (Stone #1)

Author: R.J. Simpkin

Link to Tour Giveaway: http://www.rjsimpkin.com/#!giveaway/cnrg

Made from Greater Stone by RJ Simpkin is the first novel in the Stone Series. A story of passion, romance, glamour, and secrecy.

When graduate Olivia Bennett moves to Chicago she is thrust into a world sugar coated in feathers and crystals. This world is the world of Burlesque. It's during this time of discovery that she meets Nathan Stone, a handsome successful entrepreneur.

She finds herself drawn to him, in way she has never felt before. Convinced he is out of her league she tries to forget him. However Nathan has ideas of his own planned for the Burlesque starlet.

Olivia soon learns that her new life is not all rhinestones and sparkle. Nathan has skeletons in his closet; a dark past that threatens any future they may have together.

Today we are joined by the lovely Miss Scarlett Pearl, from Made from Greater Stone by RJ Simpkin. Scarlett is the headline act and lead performer of the Burlesque Troupe ‘The Pearly Girls’ who perform weekly at Oscar’s cabaret club in Chicago.

Miss Scarlett Pearl’s Guide to Stocking Removal!

Someone once asked me 'Is burlesque a spectacle or an art form?'

I replied 'both'. To me it is empowerment. It is about a woman's right and her ability to express herself through art. It is about sexuality and using that sexuality to manipulate, tease and enchant her audience. Of course you need to add a touch of glamour, pristine make up and beautiful costumes to the equation but that's what makes it a spectacle.

This is what I teach my girls. Burlesque isn't just something you do at weekends, it's your life. It's the way you dress, the way you act and the standards you set and girls, those standards should be as high as your stiletto heels.

Anyway, the theme of today's blog is stocking removal. Although it is part of most burlesque routines, a good stocking removal never fails to impress and performers are always coming up with create ways to excite and tease the audience. Take Felicia Noir for example, in the attached picture she is able to take her stocking off whilst in the splits and maintaining a cheeky facial expression.

I have seen performers take stockings off with their teeth and even with the other foot. There is no end to the creativity.

Let's start with the basics though. For a beginner it is probably best to use a slow tempo piece of music to give you more time to use the music, remove your stocking carefully and of course, tease the audience. Once you get this though you can experiment with music all you like.

After you've chosen your music you need to choose your prop. No one wants to watch you try and balance on one leg whilst you try and take a stocking off. The most obvious choice is a chair. You can balance one leg on it, sit on it or simply drape yourself over it.

Remember when place one leg on the chair to use your downstage leg. It will make it look longer and your modesty will be covered.

When sitting a chair, always sit on the edge. I would hope that your corset wouldn't let you slouch anyway but to maintain a good posture, perch on the edge.

Once you have mastered how to take the stocking off, this includes the clasps on your stocking, you will need to draw attention to the movement. Stroke up your leg to give the audience an idea of what you are about to do next. Admire your leg. If you look at it, the audience's attention will automatically be drawn to it. Take your time because a rushed stocking removal can look messy and therefore unattractive. A stocking removal can be very personal so make sure you look at the audience every so often to make sure they are paying attention and hanging off of your every move.

So now you have the basics, experiment as much as you like and remember practice makes perfect.

Love

Miss Scarlett Pearl