Dita Von Teese: Neo-Burlesque Icon’s Cat, Aleister

Dita Von Teese is an American burlesque dancer who is well known for her image of being glamorous.  She is the one who revived the 1940s style glamour to the modern world with sophistication and powerful elegance. Beautiful fair skin, raven-black hair, striking red-lips are her style which is very significant and classy. Dita is an animal lover and an owner of three cats and two dogs.

Dita Von Teese

Born in Rochester, Michigan in 1972, she was classically trained as a ballet dancer from an early age and danced solo at age 13 for a local ballet company.

Dita is known for her fascination with 1940s cinema and classic vintage style. This began at a young age and was fostered by her mother, who would buy clothes for her daughter to dress up.

Her mother was a fan of old, Golden Age-era Hollywood films, and from her Dita developed a fascination with the actresses of that day, especially Betty Grable.

She worked in a lingerie store as a salesgirl when she was 15, eventually as a buyer.

Dita has been fond of wearing elaborate lingerie such as corsets and basques with fully fashioned stockings ever since.

In college, Dita studied historic costuming and aspired to work as a stylist for films. She is a trained costume designer, often designing (and copyrighting) her photo shoots herself.

I advocate glamour. Everyday. Every minute. Glamour above all things.

Dita Von Teese quotes (goodreads)

The Batty Aleister the Cat

One of Dita’s cats, Aleister, the Devonshire Rex kitten came into her life in 2003.

She already had two Dachshunds and three Devon Rexes, now counted four. She loves animals and life without them is not her option.

Why the bat? Dita says When I got him, his ears were huge and he didn’t have much hair, just gray leathery skin, like-bat-wings. He was very batty.

Aleister goes everywhere Dita goes in a Louis Vuitton carrier, which she had painted with her monogram.

According to Dita, Aleister is exceptionally social and brave, he’s even been backstage with her when she is doing burlesque shows.

He’s not afraid of anything, and he’s extremely lovable with everyone.

Aleister loves being picked up, cuddled, and kissed. He engages with children, plays fetch and loves to spoon with Dita under the covers.

He is a dog-like cat and even she have had a lot pets, Dita feels something special about Aleister. She admitted she’d been kind of a dog person until Aleister.

Queen of Burlesque

Dita began performing burlesque in 1992 as a proponent of Neo-Burlesque.

Her show is often inspired by 1930s and 1940s musicals and films have helped to popularize its revival. Dita’s signature show features a giant martini glass.

Her feather fan dance, inspired by burlesque dancer Sally Rand, featured the world’s largest feather fans, now on display in Hollywood’s Museum of Sex.

Being sexy isn’t bout one look any more than it is about one thing. For me, it can be about gorgeous lingerie, stockings and garters. But it’s not because I want men to approve. It’s what I like. Ultimately, it’s what makes you personally feel sexy and confident. Plus, a smile is always part of the equation.

25 Beauty Lessons We’ve Learned from Dita Von Teese (SC)

The history of Burlesque

Victorian burlesque, sometimes known as travesty or extravaganza as presented in London theaters during the Victorian era (around 1830- 1890).

It took the form of musical theatre parody. Burlesque overlaps in meaning with caricature, parody and travesty.

American burlesque shows were originally an offshoot of Victorian burlesque. The English genre had been successfully staged in New York from the 1840s. American burlesque has historic roots in America’s minstrel culture at that time.

Modern day’s burlesque is nothing short of an art.

Performers both male and female combine the most explosive aspects of costumery, dance, comedy and theater in a type of live entertainment that, places nudity on a pedestal.

CRAZY HORSE PARIS

In 2006, Dita became the first guest star at Paris’s Crazy Horse cabaret club with her appearance.

This club is legendary is cabaret known for its stage shows performed by nude female dancers and for the diverse range of magic and variety turns between each nude show and the next.

To perform on this stage was her dream. Dita has been a huge fan of Crazy Horse as she has watched the show more than 30 times.

She charmed the guests with her unique blend of 1950s taste and sensual seduction while she made her dream come true.

Ignore the critics… Only mediocrity is safe from ridicule. Dare to be different!

Dita Von Teese quotes (goodreads)

References

Burlesque (Wikipedia)
A Brief But Stunning Visual History Of Burlesque In The 1950s (The Huffington Post)
Crazy Horse (cabaret) (Wikipedia)

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