By: Rhiannon Johnston
Photos: THT
Long Beach, CA (The Hollywood Times) 04/17/2023 – The Dirty Little Secrets Burlesque dancers put on a sexy and sultry Britney Spears-themed Burlesque show on Friday, April 14th in a basement bar called Havelle’s downtown Long Beach. Upon arriving we were graciously greeted and shown to our seats in the middle of the dance floor. I highly recommend arriving early for the best seating or reserving a VIP table in advance through Eventbrite. We were delighted to see an extensive menu with a plethora of adult beverages and food items to choose from but be aware there was a two-drink minimum which is standard for all shows at Havelle’s.
Baby One More Time produced by Caitlin Litzinger was a series of solos performed to songs by Britney Spears handsomely threaded together by the charming master of ceremonies Barnaby Jones with two large group routines at the end of the show. Each performer had their very own unique dance solo with stunning costumes, perfectly timed reveals showing off their bedazzled lingerie and cheeky pasties. The stage is small, but the dancers worked the room engaging with audience members, strutted down the center of the dance floor taking a moment to dance next to our table and climbed the staircase to the bar to entertain the audience from the back of the room.
The show started off with “Hit me baby one more time” performed by Scarlett Shandelier who had the best shimmies, high kicks and splits of the night. Haylee Holiday then seduced the crowd and tossed her hair like a shampoo commercial to “Baby ooh Lala.” Speeding things up with technical articulated choreography to “Me against the music” was Dahlia Darling with her dynamite stage presence. The dancer who best embodied Britney Spears youthful energy was Sarmielle who spiced things up with her red cat mask and whip to “Oops I did it again.” Best reveal and hip rolls of the night goes to Fannie Sinclair who started off strutting her stuff in a trench coat to “Kill the Lights” and wrapped it up with some sultry moves using a silk scarf seducing the audience to “Breathe on Me.” After a short intermission Desert Rose treated us with a snake charmer belly dance burlesque fusion routine to “I’m a slave for you” which had me fooled for a moment until she danced past me and I realized it was just a stuffed prop. Commending the stage in “Circus” with the best costume of the night dressed as a ringleader was Yvonne Lux who also incorporated a Lyra on stage. Giving us Janet Jackson vibes with her dynamic and erotic choreography was Miss Bon Bon who spiced things up Coyote Ugly style dancing on the bar while she splashed water down her brassiere to “Boys.” Saving the most classic burlesque style number with a somewhat of a comic relief and naughty sex appeal for last was Z Fannie. Wearing a costume with “Toxic” words draped over their body was a creative way to display social commentary. While interacting with audience members they delivered the handwritten messages to them making it the most unique performance of the night.
The finally was a special treat with a large group show girls showcase to “Gimme More” led by stage kitten Holly Hawk and concluded with a dominatrix performance ironically done to “Womenizer” with two men picked from the audience.
Dirty Little Secrets Burlesque has more exciting, themed shows coming up at Havelle’s that are sure to be sold out. Check out their website for tickets for their next shoe ‘Seduced by the dark side’ a Star Wars parody on May 4th and a tribute to ‘Postmodern Jukebox’ on May 12th.
https://www.dirtylittlesecretsburlesque.com/
