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CHRIS CHARLES: I have with me Tatiana, Sophia, and Sarah of The Women Next Door burlesque and they just performed at Konocti Vista Casino up in Clearlake, California. This is the first time these ladies have been up here. Not too often does a burlesque troupe come up to this area and I’ve taken this opportunity to introduce three of the four ladies who performed here this evening. So where are you all from?
TATIANA: Colombia.
SOPHIA: I’m from Mexico.
SARA: I’m from Ecuador.
CHRIS: Okay, so all you ladies are from Latin America. That’s very interesting. Is this your first time up to Lake County in Northern California?
TATIANA: Yes, first time.
SARA: Yes, it’s my first time here.
SOPHIA: Yes, our first time, but we live in L.A. (Southern California) actually.
CHRIS: Okay. Now, one thing I’ve noticed about you ladies is that you don’t have a lot of tattoos. These days, many ladies, especially those in the performing arts, have tattoos all over their bodies and you ladies just have some small tattoos here and there, so I wanted to know, why are you free of large tattoos?
SOPHIA: Well, I’m actually the wrong person to answer this, but it’s fun. I have a few, they seem small, but they’re like 20 on my whole body. Well, they’re very small, yeah, but it’s like aesthetic. I don’t like huge (tattoos). It’s like the way I want them to be in my body. I don’t want them to be big or realistic. It’s like some kind of art that I like on my body and I like lines and I like small tattoos.
CHRIS: So Sarah, how about you? You have only a few small ones, as well.
SARA: My first tattoo is for the name of my son, Santiago. I like the tattoos, but not bigger ones. My biggest tattoo, the only one is the espada on the lower back, On my body. What is espada?
CHRIS: Ahh, sword.
SARA: Yes, espada, sword on my back. It’s a long tattoo on my back, but it’s my family. It’s my true love in Arabic. I like the tattoos. For me, it’s very sensual and sexy and the woman is stronger.
TATIANA: I like my skin natural.
CHRIS: I see. So, you said earlier that you all live in the Los Angeles area?
SARA: Yes in LA, in Hollywood.
SOPHIA: Actually, we’re living together in LA, Hollywood. We’re from different countries, Latin America, you know? But I’m living in LA, I’m a professional dancer in LA, and I’m working in LA. My friend is a teacher at the Millennium (Dance Complex) and it’s a big high school dance school for students. This work is very important for meeting people and meeting people in different cities, you know? It’s very fun and very professional for me and my friends. And the teamwork.
SARA: Yes, teamwork.
CHRIS: Where are you ladies going to perform after this? (All the ladies refer to their schedule on their cell phones.)
SARA: We’re going to Wyoming …I think we’re going to Orlando (Florida) …and Alaska.
CHRIS: Alaska?
SARA: Yes, we travel to (many) different states, really. Alaska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming. And the next (show is) tomorrow. Four shows, yes.
SOPHIA: And 22 days for traveling to different cities, actually. Tomorrow is maybe Seattle, I think. I’m not sure. Okay, yeah. I have it right here, actually. (This is after Clearlake tonight, which is near the San Francisco area.) It’s going to be Seattle, Washington tomorrow, and then Weiser, Idaho; Laramie, Wyoming; Wright, Wyoming; Cody, Wyoming; Lamar, Colorado; and then Salem, Oregon; Shoreline, Washington; Tigart, Oregon; and Montesano, Washington.
CHRIS: Wow, so you ladies have a very busy schedule. Do you travel by bus?
SOPHIA: No, we travel by car and the van together for the group.
SARA: Actually, I feel more comfortable with my girlies.
CHRIS: Oh, really?
SARA: Uh-hun. I love my girlies. It’s better than most …. I mean, guys are fun, but girls ….do you know, they got your vibe.
CHRIS: Oh, okay, I see.
SARA: They got the vibe, and they’re fun, and they get to have this experience that they usually don’t have in their cities, so it’s a lot of fun.
CHRIS: Oh, that’s interesting. Okay Do you all feel the same?
SOPHIA: Yeah, for me, it’s very important that woman are in the show. The woman is stronger, and for my feeling, it’s okay. I’m here for the husbands and wives. If the woman is stronger for me. I’m not married, but I like women for the shows. It’s very important. Actually, we met a couple tonight that were very cool and she was very cool about him getting a dance, and both getting a dance together. So that means and shows she’s comfortable and there is confidence from her. So I think we all three agree that we need to push women to support each other.
SARA: I really like women (in the show). It’s no problem for the team. It’s very important. See, it’s supporting, you know? It’s very important. It really not very important is too much men, too much woman. And very important is the people here for the show, you know? Unlike different people, you know, it’s woman, men, trans, everything.
SOPHIA: Everything, you know. I live in L.A. In L.A., it’s trans, gay, lesbian people, hetero people, everything. I’m a dancer for different people. And very important is, you know, I like the show. I’m professional, I like people, I really like the show.
CHRIS: And Tatiana, do you feel the same?
TATIANA: Yes, I do.
SARA: She speaks Spanish mainly. Maybe she can give a message for fans who speak Spanish.
CHRIS: Of course. Well, that’s all I have for you ladies. Now, are you staying here for the night or are you going to travel on?
SARA: We’re staying here for the night and we’re getting up at 6:00 A.M.
SOPHIA: Yeah. And we’re traveling like nine hours.
CHRIS: When did you arrive in Clearlake?
SOPHIA: Today, but we were traveling since yesterday.
CHRIS: Okay, so you haven’t had a chance to enjoy the lake?
SARA: No, we have not had time.
CHRIS: That’s too bad. Do you plan on coming back again?
SOPHIA: Yeah, we would love to. Maybe just in the next year. We saw the lake that we would love to, like, get a boat.
CHRIS: Yeah. This lake is very beautiful and hopefully you will get to see more of it next time you are here. Well ladies, people loved the show and that’s all I have to ask you. In closing, do you ladies have anything you’d like to say to your fans and supporters?
SOPHIA: We love you so much. Thank you for supporting us and thank you for supporting the Women Next Door. We hope we see you again here and until the next time we stop here. We love you guys. Thank you.
SARA: Thank you for support. Thank you for everything. Thank you for coming tonight to the show. It’s very important support.
CHRIS: And Tatiana, do you have anything to say for your fans in Spanish?
TATIANA: Thank you. Claro. Para todas las personas que hablan español, gracias.
CHRIS: Okay, that was the ladies of Women Next Door burlesque troupe, and they just performed here at Konocti Vista Casino on Clearlake, California. Thank you, ladies.
Sara performing last October at the Thirsty Ax in Ukiah, California.
See more of The Women Next Door Burlesque Troupe, as well as when they will be performing at a town or city near you, at their official website.
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About the author
Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Chris flirted with the music business there and in Nashville before joining the U.S. Army and serving in South Korea. He remained in Asia for several years afterwards, teaching English, traveling, and covering the regional entertainment scenes. A former Xanga blogger ("Xangan"), Chris is still in a mindset between Seoul and San Francisco. Besides Idol Features, you can also catch his writings in the print edition of the monthly magazine, Effective.
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