The Observer, March 2, 2007
Volume XXXIX, Issue 19
Sex workers bring naughty entertainment to Case
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Why would anyone go to The Sex Workers' Art Show? To see naked ladies, of course!
On Monday, the nationwide Sex Workers' Art Show tour came to Case's own Thwing Ballroom. Co-sponsored by Spectrum and UPB, the show an exploration of the $12 billion sex workers' industry, as well as the multi-talented people that comprise it.
The show's aim is to dispel popular myths about sex workers. The lineup included performers from all different areas of the sex industry, including prostitutes, strippers, and film stars, among others. They presented themselves in forms such as burlesque, multimedia performance art, spoken word, and music. Through these different facets, a broad perspective of the lives of sex workers was revealed.
Annie Oakley is the tour founder and host of the show. With her strong stage presence and sense of humor, she energetically presented each performer while sharing her thoughts on important social issues such as gender equality, federal minimum wage, and sex workers' rights. Though these topics can be serious, she presented them in a light-hearted way that allowed the audience to understand the issues and enjoy the show.
With a visually stunning opening to the show, Miss Exotic World 2006 Julia Atlas Muz freed herself from bounded rope. She reappeared later in the show with another dramatic performance that included enclosing herself inside of a giant balloon. Her performances brought emotion to the show that signified the workers' ability to break free of stereotypes and maintain integrity.
Film star Amber Dunn came to the stage as a recently retired prostitute. With 12 years under her belt, she has learned a lot of things. She shared a bit of her background and the beginnings of her work in the industry by reading aloud from her autobiography. Her performance was unique, offering personal insight into what it means to be a prostitute.
A crowd favorite, Miss Dirty Martini, provided two performances. The first was a burlesque show that featured the dancer covered in balloons. The second was Martini's personal version of the USA Patriot Act, during which she danced to Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA." Both times on stage proved Miss Dirty Martini to be wildly entertaining.
A highlight of the show was stripper historian and activist Jo Weldon. She has an impressive résumé, from winning the New York Burlesque Festival awards for "Best Bump'N'Grinder" and "Best Burlesque Teacher and Mentor" for speaking to the United Nations. She narrated stories of how she stripped her way through college, amassing over 12,000 table dances in a six year period.
In her time spent dancing on tables, she constantly heard repetitive comments from men. To demonstrate this, she asked an audience member to come on stage. Junior Tony Vesco was the lucky candidate. He read aloud comments that she often heard from men at the club, including, "Are those real?" and "Can you sit on my face?" To these questions, Weldon gave comical answers. Afterwards, she taught Vesco how to do a strip tease. Of his experience, Vesco said, "the time that I spent on stage was rather liberating. It was fun being the token a------ and being able to say such crude things (not something I do every day). It was my first encounter with a stripper and with wearing nipple tassels. I am proud that I was able to twirl them. I think the show overall was amazing and I am glad that I went."
All of the other performers added their own unique experiences to the show. One in particular, author of How I Learned to Snap, Kirk Read, read aloud his letter to Rick Hilton, owner of the Hilton Hotel chain, expressing his feelings on the Hilton's recent renovations. This hilarious skit uncovered the importance of dimmer switches, and the important notion that "Everyone looks good in a slightly pink light."
Overall, the show was a success. It brought together Case students as well as members from the surrounding community to learn about a world with which many people are unfamiliar. The sexy, energetic, and vastly entertaining show brought a little bit of naughtiness but a lot of heart to the Case campus.
