We give you your TOP 10!
Please feel free to leave comments below, and discuss the results on our TOP 50 Facebook page, or on Twitter with the tag #burlesquetop50
Jo Weldon
One of the great burlesque intellectuals of our time, and one of the best teachers you could ever hope to learn from; Jo Weldon is held in high respect and great affection by the global community, and you have voted her at NO.3 for a second year.
Headmistress of the New York School of Burlesque, Jo is one of the most gifted instructors we could possibly recommend. Every subtle gesture and sensual movement is described and explained, every detail of performance has a significance and effect.
In 2011, Jo’s appearances included a special performance at the New York Burlesque Festival, where she was also awarded a Golden Pastie as the performer “most likely to be caught in a sexting scandal”. Jo also appeared as a special guest at the Gypsy Rose Lee Centennial celebration in New York, where she performed a tribute to Gypsy. She continued in her role as Co-Director of Education at BHoF, and led sessions and panels at BurlyCon 2011.
Jo began a very important and moving project in 2011, called Pink Light Burlesque, which provides free classes for breast cancer patients and survivors. In December, Jo produced a special Pink Light showcase, which featured the students and instructors, and was dedicated to the late Diane Naegel, who hoped to be a part of this project, but lost her life to breast cancer complications in September. (Love and miss you Diane x)
Jo has worked with and supported this publication for a long time now, and we want to thank her again for everything she has contributed, and continues to contribute, to burlesque and our community.
Jo on Film, 2011
Jo at the New York Burlesque Festival 2011… (Click for video)