Hello!
I’m Halena (she/her), a professional dancer and burlesque performer based in Vancouver, BC. I have extensive training in ballet, jazz, tap, salsa, and other styles of dance, and have been doing burlesque for over 4 years. I have performed burlesque at festivals and shows across North America and beyond, notably including the Hollywood Burlesque Festival (Los Angeles), the Bagel Burlesque Expo (Montreal), the Atlantic Burlesque Festival (Halifax), and the Panama Burlesque Festival (Panama City).
I have also been a Hawksley Workman fan for over 15 years. I first became a fan in high school, growing up in Regina, Saskatchewan, where I went to several concerts, including at Darke Hall (the one with the kid’s drum set… you know!)
I am reaching out to offer to perform live during your Vancouver, BC show in November 2024, at no cost to you, and/or to collaborate further.
I have two current burlesque acts in my repertoire, and one more act in development, to Hawklsey Workman songs. I would be honoured to perform any or all of these acts live at your show in November. I am also open to creating and performing to other songs, depending on your set list. I create acts when I feel inspired by a song or musician, and to perform on stage while that artist sings the inspiration live is every performer’s dream.
I know that Hawksley shares my flare for the dramatic; I have seen shows with jumpsuits, with costume changes, with props for comedic effect, and with multiple varying guest performers and re-interpretations of Hawksley’s songs.
But as far as I can tell, burlesque would be something new for your shows; I see this as a value-add to your audience who clearly enjoys your continued creative evolution and loves to see how you will add new layers to their favourite songs with each show.
The Pearl in Vancouver is a 19+ venue, with a large stage and venue space. I believe burlesque could be appropriate and exciting as an addition to the show, depending of course on your planned set list and vision for this show.
A bit more about me:
I have performed on all kinds and sizes of stages, ranging from the Vancouver Playhouse to the Rio Theatre to floor shows in bars, and even in wrestling rings. I am comfortable with any stage and venue.
I am comfortable performing with a live band, and love to collaborate with artists in other disciplines.
I am also a weirdo with a soft, emotional heart.
Available Acts:
Act 1: All The Trees Are Hers
This is a lyrical and evocative act about embracing the change that comes with each new season.
I come onstage dressed as a tree in spring, with a barren trunk; I have a small stuffed bird as a prop, which I dance with and then hand off to a lucky audience member to hold.
Through a surprise dress transformation, I unveil a summer version of the dress, with lush green and brown.
“When the time comes to die” I reveal orange leaves in the form of hidden feather fans. I then do fan work, evoking the falling autumn leaves.
Behind the fans, I reveal a white and gold costume and I dance on the floor to suggest the rest and slowness of winter.
Finally, I end this act with pasties shaped like green buds, and I am reunited with my bird companion, celebrating the spring once again.
Act 2: Tarantulove
Like the song that inspired it, this act is a bit of a weird one!
Wearing a black one-piece costume that covers my whole body, and a spider web crown, I come out as a tarantula and dance with a dark and enticing demeanor.
As I remove pieces of the bodysuit - which comes apart in unexpected pieces - I am molting, shedding this outer layer to reveal the new exoskeleton underneath.
I strip down to reveal a black body harness and pasties that have gummy worms trapped in my web. I conclude the act by eating the gummy worms.
This act leans into the comedic yet sexy tones of this song.
Act 3: Smoke Baby
This act is currently in development; see sketches and references photos.
In this act, I envision dressing in a smoke-grey column dress, evoking a cigarette with a dark and mysterious air about me, with matching long gloves and a red wig styled with Old Hollywood glamour.
My performance style in this act would be very classic, dark, and sultry.
When I pull at the bottom of the dress, it will reveal that it begins to come apart and unwrap around me, as shown by my hand holding the corner of the dress in the reference sketch. This suggests the cigarette being burned down as the song progresses and increases in intensity.
As the final piece of the dress unravels, the fabric will pull away to reveal that it is a long veil, which I will then dance with; see reference photos of similar veils. This will evoke smoke blowing in the wind.
Finally, I will remove my underlayer, which will also be smoky grey and red, leaving behind only charred sparks and mirroring the impact of the end of the song.
