MAYLANDS local Perrie Taylor aka Ruby Slippers, spends her days making costumes as a freelance stylist for TV ads and commercial photo shoots—and her nights taking them off.
She’s one of a number of burlesque artists blinging up for the month-long Perth International Burlesque Festival, which kicked off Monday.
Three years after it started the festival is bigger than the classic cami knickers many of the exponents of the art wear, including international acts from France, Italy, Germany and the US, performing at venues across Perth and in Fremantle.
“The Astor show is massive, we don’t have tickets left,” organiser Melanie Piantoni says.
Sugar Blue Burlesque kicked off a resurgence of burlesque in Perth in 2007.
Ruby Slippers was a fan from the first time she saw a performance, and in a short time went from avid watcher to performer.
The 27-year-old has toured WA’s far north and Kalgoorlie and performed at the Adelaide Fringe Festival and in Melbourne.
“From Karratha to the bright lights of Melbourne,” she jokes, shaking red dust from her trademark red shoes.
Burlesque hails from the Italian burla, a joke, or mockery, Ruby Slippers says, and isn’t just about getting your gear off.
“My drag act is inspired by Ursula the sea witch from the Little Mermaid.”
A seamstress since she was 15, Ruby Slippers makes or adapts most of her own costumes.
“I’m a dab hand with a needle and thread.”
Go online to Burlesque Festival for the details of the many and varied shows on until July 13.
by JENNY D’ANGER
Perth Voice Interactive 
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