Vivid Soda │ Burlesque Revue, in association with Burldoir.com, are pleased to announce an exciting competition for all you burlesque performers out there!

This really is a once in a lifetime opportunity for you to win a complete made-to-measure burlesque performance costume, exclusively designed by Lucy Sherman-Clark of Burldoir.com. The costume is a based upon a Tulip and is inspired by the origins of the classic fan-dance.
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Beautifully adorned petals cover your body from your waist to the top of your head. Pulling away the petals you will reveal adorned nipple tassels. Long green leaves fall from your waist and sparkle with crystal beads. The leaves can be left on or removed to see knickers that match the tassels. (Your choice of matching knickers worn underneath - thong, French knicker or pant).

You will also win a private professional photo shoot of you in the costume with James Thorpe of James Thorpe Photography at a venue of your choice.

Finally, you will get a guest slot to perform to up to 300 people in your wonderful new costume at the next Vivid Soda │ Burlesque Revue show at The Picturedrome in Northampton on 3rd August. This performance will be professionally videoed by our partners at Powderdust.com who will also provide you with a show reel of your performance!

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE AN ESTABLISHED BURLESQUE PERFORMER FOR THIS COMPETITION! Please do not be put off if you consider yourself a little inexperienced – as long as you're able to perform your act on stage you are welcome to enter.

How do you win this marvellous prize? We want you to come up with a routine of 3-6 minutes that will show off both the outfit and your talent to the max, video it and email it to us at info@vividsoda.com – The video doesn't have to be professional quality, we just need to see you demonstrate the routine that you are proposing. The video that the judging panel collectively like the best will win.

Obviously, there must be some terms and conditions, and these are;
1.The closing date for entries is 30th June 2008.
2.All entrants must be over 18 at the time the competition entry video is recorded.
3.Your date of birth must be included with your submission and must be verified by birth certificate, photo driving licence or passport, if requested.
4.Your real name, performance name, address and telephone number must be included with your submission.
5.You must be free to perform in Northampton on Sunday 3rd August 2008.
6.You must be available to attend a fitting, (at your own cost), with Lucy Sherman-Clark in London at a mutually agreeable time between the winner being announced and 18th July 2008.
7.The photo shoot will take place at an agreed time/location within a 50 mile radius of Northampton. You will receive five professionally edited photographs at any size requested up to 8"x10" and also web-ready copies of the same for your online promotion.
8.The video show reel will be edited into a web-ready format for your online promotion within 6 weeks of the show.
9.The design remains the property of Burldoir.com and cannot be duplicated.
10.Vivid Soda, Burldoir.com and their partners mentioned above reserve the right to use imagery and interviews featuring the winner from the competition for advertising purposes.
11.The judging panel will be made up of members of Vivid Soda and their partners mentioned. The judges' decision is final. No correspondence will be entered into.
12.There is no cash alternative to the prize offered.
13.Failure to comply with any of the rules will result in disqualification from the competition.

What a fantastic competition! I almost wish I could perform, alas I have rubbish timing etc.
Good luck girls!

Hmmm, the costume sounds interesting, but I can't actually see how it would work. If the petals cover you to the top of your head, how do you see?? And be seen? I'm sure there's mileage for a really pretty routine in there, I just can't get my head around how it works. Any chance of a more detailed description, or even some preliminary sketches? No point entering a competition if you're not sure what the prize actually is ...

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Ohhh - am already working on an idea :-) Any rules on music?

Ooh this sounds interesting, and actually quite like an idea I had for a performance. Sadly, as I'm up North don't reckon I could make it down there on those dates. Dammit Janet!

Hey Fleur du Mal, Thank you for posting you Q's, it really helps to iron out any creases. I have just this minute posted two designs to the boys at vivid soda, so they will appear shortly on line for all you gals to see.

The Tulip costume is my new take on the classic fan dance. Where the history was to conceal the dancer till the very end, than in a flash reveal all. I wanted to create a version in which you can peel large soft ( very light) petals away to reveal the beauty within. The petals join just above you head. the starting position with your arms would be 5th in ballet terms. This starting position gives you great scope for movement, whether you let all the petals fall at once, than individual pull them off from your waist one by one, or you let them drop one by one........
The skirt is shaped like long leaves, which the winner can decide whether it stays on or can be removed similar to the petals, or another way to suit the performance.

Vision will not be a problem. the petals do not join fully together so there are gaps, also vision panels can be added.

Music can be what ever you want.

I hope you enter.

hugs

Lucy

Hi Lucy,

Thanks for posting. I still think a sketch would be in order because I'm having trouble visualising it still. My main concern with the costume idea is that if the petals are above your head then the audience would not be able to see your face properly. That, for me, is a major part of any act, so having my head covered at the start would make it very difficult to interact. That said, the idea of the costume is a lovely one, with the slow gradual reveals, and it could make for a beautiful and balletic routine. I do think that maybe having the petals just come up to shoulder height might be better, because then your head isn't covered and you can still do all the pretty arm movements. But please don't take that as rubbishing your idea! ^_^ I am very interested in seeing your initial designs, because I'd very much like to enter the competition - but right now I have no ideas because I can't see how the costume would work clearly in my head.

Thanks again for replying doll ^_^

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Lucy's initial sketches are lovely, and here they are for you all - I hope this gets your creative juices fully flowing!

No rules other than stated really - as far as music is concerned anything goes. Not sure System Of A Down would fit though...

wow!
that is gorgeous!!!

Wowwwweeeeeee fantastic outfit!!

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