High Society Cabaret - The Art of Vintage Tease - Burlesque and Dance Theatre Company
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    • The Directors
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      • Event Entertainment
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      • Performance History
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White Light Follies Artist Profile: Belle Epoque

9/5/2017

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Number of years performing? Specialties? 
Thirty-four years with specialties in contemporary dance and burlesque.

Number of shows with High Society Cabaret?
I have been involved with every show since founding the company in 2012 and I have appeared in 13 HSC shows.

Favourite High Society Cabaret Show to date? 
Portrait of a Scandal!!  This show was my creative "baby".  It was a long time dream of mine to bring a burlesque-baroque show to the stage.  I've also always been obsessed with Greek and Roman mythology, which inspired my Aphrodite act.  I was fascinated by the relationship Baroque high society had with classical art, so it seemed to be the perfect fit.  After developing the act for about 8 months and to see it come together it was so exciting and rewarding!!!

What are your vintage inspirations?
I would have to go with Marylin Monroe, Sophia Loren, Brigitte Bardot, Anita Eckberg, and Jean Harlow (who my daughter Harlow is named after). I also adore Sally Rand and Lilly St. Cyr.  I admire these icons because of their ability to captivate beyond just being beautiful. As to why, I would have to generalize it bit:  they are/were intelligent, fearless, powerful and strong in their own unique ways, and way ahead of their time!  
What is your favourite thing about performing?
Simply put:  I can't get enough of it!  The excitement of it, the joy that fills my soul when I'm on stage, feeling the connection with the audience, and sharing my love for the art, and how a cast can bond through months of pre-production - feeling that sense of reward for all the blood, sweat and tears keeps me going!  I live for performing and always will.  
What is your dream role? 
To travel back in time to the Moulin Rouge and be a turn of the century showgirl!!  Champagne flowing free and a party that never stops!  The ultimate expression of "joie de vivre".  
What is your favourite era?
SO many vintage eras inspire me which is why I created HSC.  I think my favourite era would have to be Italy in the 50's and 60's.  I'm obsessed with Cinema Italiano and the glamour of the Amalfi Coast during that time. I love the films of Federico Fellini, which are a constant source of inspiration.  I love the style and effortless glamour of the film stars of that time, and the decadent lifestyles they portrayed.  There's also always an element of quirkiness which reminds us that they are human and unique like us! 
What is your most proud performance moment?
It was definitely when I did my first burlesque tease as a VERY pregnant expectant mom in 2013 in our first run of "Down in New Orleans".  It was a proud moment because I realized that you don't have to be supermodel skinny or conform to the confines of society that constitutes "what is beautiful", and how freeing it was to feel to sexy and sensual as a pregnant lady.  It broke down so many personal walls in my mind and I have enjoyed performing pregnant many times through both pregnancies.
What is your favourite musical?  
Hands down, Les Misérables.  I adore the story and the music is so unbelievable beautiful. I still weep every time I see it!!  CATS would be a close second.  As a child, I always wanted to be a cat.


See Belle make a special appearance in White Light Follies September 6th and 7th at Revival Bar! Buy tickets NOW!
#highsocietycabaret #vintagetease #whitelightfollies #torontotalent #torontoentertainment #torontonightlife #Broadway #showgirls #musicals #cabaret


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White Light Follies Artist Profile: Knox Harter

9/3/2017

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​Number of years performing? 
10 years professionally, specialties in burlesque, jazz, ballet and contemporary
List your most notable credits: 
BFA in Dance from Ryerson, Artistic Director of High Society Cabaret, Iphigenia in Tauris with the Canadian Opera Company, casino show with Second City Toronto, shows with Love Letters Cabaret, touring with Motus O Dance Theatre, more corporate gigs than I care to list, and last May I did my first couple of European performances!
Number of shows with High Society Cabaret? 
This will be my 16th show!
What's your favourite High Society Cabaret show to date? 
The second time we did Down in Old New Orleans. Something clicked in me about doing bigger shows on that one, and the cast was just so on point. Portrait of a Scandal comes in a very close second.
What are your vintage inspirations? 
Lucille Ball, Syd Cherrise, Marlene Dietrich, but my all time favourite is Gene Kelly! His charm, his skill, you can't catch a bad photo of the man! The definitely don't make 'em like they used to.
What is your favourite thing about performing?
I like pretending to be other people and telling their stories. I firmly believe theatre displays truth about people, who they are and why they do things. I like it when someone resonates with something I've done on stage.
What is your dream role?
I've always secretly wanted to be an action movie star - fight scenes, doing my own stunts, being super dramatic in high-stakes scenes, having witty one-liners... that kind of stuff
What is your favourite era and why?
I've been told I fit perfectly into the 20s and the 50s, but my favourite is the 70s! It's the only place I could be the glittery disco flower child I am!
What is your most proud performance moment?
I recently did my "One Night Only" act at the Toronto Burlesque Festival and I can't remember a time where I had such a visceral emotional reaction to being on stage. I was really proud of that performance, and I got a standing ovation!
What is your favourite musical and why?
Ah! So many! Ragtime and Titanic The Musical have gorgeous scores, Songs for a New World feels timeless for a contemporary musical, I'll always a a soft spot for The Last Five Years and A Chorus Line, I would die to play Oola in The Producers or Sally Bowls in Cabaret, but I have a special place in my heart for Gypsy. Not only is it about one of the greatest burlesque dancers of all time, but it's a musical that will always remind me of singing the show in the car with my mom.
Any hidden talents?
I do a pretty solid velociraptor impersonation. 

See Knox as "Peggy Kendall" in White Light Follies September 6th and 7th at Revival Bar! Buy tickets NOW!
#highsocietycabaret #vintagetease #whitelightfollies #torontotalent #torontoentertainment #torontonightlife #Broadway #showgirls #musicals #cabaret

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