An audience with Princess Farhana

Last night was the 'Audience with Princess Farhana' at our local tiny burlesque theatre. We got there bright and early at 7pm for the demonstration of stage make-up by Farhana who freely admits that she learnt everything she knew from drag queens *lol* She talked us through the application of dramatic eye make-up, false eye-lashes and pouty mouth tricks including what she said was known in the trade as 'porn frost'. She made up a willing volunteer as she was talking and said that although her volunteer would look like a hooker or a drag queen close-up, on the stage, under stage lights, she would look amazing! I have to say, the difference was stunning. She's an amazing personality, has that bubbly New York sort of humour and was so funny. She had prepared a handout for everyone too, so I now have a sheet of stage make-up tips to remind me that false eyelashes should be cut and glued, then you can wander off, have a cocktail, choose your outfit, and then come back and stick them on :-)

Then she gave a talk about the history of belly dancing and burlesque, and a bit about her past and how she came to be a belly dancer. Can you believe she didn't take up belly dancing until she was 32! She's in the UK at the moment promoting her new DVD 'Underbelly', part of which was filmed in Northampton last year. She's had a pretty wild past, she ran away to New York at 17 to be part of the Seventies punk scene and has been a musician, a writer, a music promoter and manager, and a showgirl.

Some of the girls enjoying a liquid refreshment :-)

Then it was onto the dancing. Here's Tallulah Flame.

Then Fulya...

Princess Farhana (she has the most incredible stomach muscles - I have some film footage that I took with my camera, but it's sideways at the moment. When I find out how to turn it round, I'll post it.)

Fulya again (this is my teacher); I just love this outfit - it really went with the music which was a kind of Twenties Charleston sort of tribal track!

And the finale - Princess Farhana again.

The Playhouse Theatre is a really nice venue for this sort of thing. It's tiny and very intimate. Farhana spent some time at the end signing copies of her new DVD and just chatting and getting photos taken with people.

I made a hairpiece especially for the night. These beautiful purple flowers with fibre and ribbon falls.

They went with my top :-)