The End of the World Averted by a Burlesque Show at Exit Theatre in San Francisco

By Emma Krasov

Old news by now, but the world didn’t come to its end on December 21, 2012, as predicted by multiple misinterpretations of a Mayan calendar set in stone.
However, in case the possibility has been lurking out there, many people and even organizations felt compelled to go in style.
DIVAfest, an organization that combines theater, dance, burlesque, music, visual art & crafts, empowerment workshops, lectures, demonstrations, and symposiums inspired by women, presented a special performance on its presumed last day on Earth, DIVA or Die Burlesque’s All Holiday Show.
 
The boisterous Em Cee Odessa Lil announced from the stage of the EXIT Theatre in San Francisco that the show would celebrate all holidays at once, just to be on the safe side should out planet blow up before midnight.
And then it started and went on, featuring Red Delicious (Christmas Day) with “I’ll Be Your Santa Baby;” Red Velvet & CoCo Jewelle (New Years) with “Auld Lang Syne” ; Dangerous Delilah (Valentine’s Day) with a pink vinyl S&M number; Elyse Elaine (Carnivale) with Brazilian capoeira; IfNWendy  in St. Patrick’s Day; three members of the troupe in Easter Bunny Hop; Laura Borealis in 4^th of July; Sgt. Die Weiss in Talk Like a Pirate Day; Rosey Bottycelli in Halloween; Red Velvet in Veteran’s Day, and Tasty Temptress in The new Thanksgiving. 
 
For a grand finale,IfNWendy and others performed a Mayan Ritual of virgin sacrifice to avert the Apocalypse, which they actually did.  
Cheered by their apparent friends, family members, and random audience members in a small Tenderloin theatre, the courageous DIVA or Die Burlesque women of all body shapes, weight categories, and ages (besides underage, of course) heroically struggled through pesky wardrobe malfunctions and obvious lack of rehearsal time, delivering a one-night show that might have been a one-in-a-lifetime event should those Mayan interpreters have done their job with a little more professionalism, diligence, and dedication. The good thing is that following its 10^th annual 2012 festival, DIVAfest is now programming events and performances year-round. More info at: www.divafest.com or www.theexit.org.
Images: courtesy of DIVAfest.