This Weekend in Nerdlesque: May 3, 2013
Nerdlesque does not need to reference popular culture. Pop culture is not inherent in the description of nerdlesque. It’s not all Princess Leia bikinis and Tardis bras here, kids. While “nerd culture” is a significant influence on the developing genre of nerdlesque, it is not the essential ingredient. Take, for example, the act I saw last night by Nikola Tease-la, a performer whose name already screams “love me, Jo Jo.”
Nikola was the opening act for the deceptively simple and innovative (aka, not entirely relying on movie references) Indiana Bones and The Lips of Destiny burlesque play. This was my actual inner monologue during her act, “’What the fuck is she doing? Oh, she’s matter forming the universe forming the earth forming into cells forming life turning into an ape turning into a homo erectus…and fire and hunting…and then cave drawings and art and…now I can’t stop thinking of shadows on a cave wall and what does this all mean?” Also, it was beautiful. Also, I had just had a root canal and was maybe on drugs.
Regardless of my addled state, her act still made me remember the first day of Anth 340: Fundamentals of Archaeology back in college at the University of Oregon (which, by chance, professor Jon Erlandson starts with a long diatribe about how this is not the Indiana Jones class). Her ingenious act made me THINK. Damn, it was sexy. Thinking = sexy.
Back to the point of these posts:
Here are a few shows you can check out this weekend and put on your sexy thinking cap (or, pop culture cap…or even some sort of cape if you want).
Tonight in Washington, DC the Evil League of Ecdysiasts bring
Whedonism II: The 2nd Annual Joss Whedon Tribute Burlesque Show
Saturday in Anaheim, California, retrace your nerdlesque roots and check out the show that really, truly, kicked these geek shows into overdrive by garnering a huge internet freak out a few years ago.
LIVE EVENTS AND DEVILS PLAYGROUND
PRESENT ” STAR GIRLS ” THE ORIGINAL BURLESQUE SHOW
And, don’t forget that tomorrow actually IS a nerd holiday. In New York you can check out Epic Win Burlesque and their show May The FOURTH Be With You! Plus, NELSON LUGO is returning to the stage to host. It’s a Star Wars Miracle! 
