Local dancer to represent the Sault in world festival

What does one aspiring Sault girl have in common with lovely ladies from New York City, Rome, Amsterdam, Paris and Lisbon?

She was selected from 392 international applicants to take part in the World Burlesque Games in London, England this coming May.

Simone Mitchell, also known locally as Tallulah Gin, will compete along side 13 other burlesque performers for the World New Comer Crown during the 6th annual London Burlesque Festival on May 11, 2012.

Mitchell began performing with the Salty Mollies a year and a half ago.

Although she's no longer an official member of the group, she'll continue to present the Annual Burlesque Revue and hopes to work with other performers on future events and projects in the Sault and abroad.

Inspired by the classic style of Sally Rand, Mitchell was drawn to the unique creativity of burlesque that allows her to utilize her background in dance.

Following the success of the first Annual Sault Ste. Marie Burlesque Revue this past December, Mitchell was incouraged to apply to the London Burlesque Festival by show participants Coco Framboise and Armitage Shanks.

"They told me the London Burlesque Festival has a new comer category and told me to go for it," she told SooToday.com. "They really thought I had a chance of being accepted. To see Sault Ste. Marie represented on a list of women from larger centres like Rome, Paris and Amsterdam is pretty shocking. It's exciting to be able to represent the Sault on a world stage like that."

While burlesque might be considered taboo by some, the married mother of two sees a growing interest in the Sault and wants to continue to cultivate that support.

"Whenever something new begins anywhere, there will always be people who will challenge it," she said. "Burlesque isn't something that's been represented here much at all, so it was scary at first. It makes people uncomfortabel when women express their sexuality. It can be unsettling to some. But I'm really doing this for myself and I've gained a lot of satisfaction from it."

Mitchell and her husband will travel together to London for the Burlesque Festival, using the oportunity to finally have a honeymoon.

"My husband has grown to appreciate the artistic side of burlesque and has come to understand that this is something I'm very dedicated to. He's very excited for me," she said.

Those interested in learning more about burlesque are invited to register for Mitchell's upcoming four-week intro to burlesque class at Jade Yoga beginning January 23 from 7 to 8 p.m.

For more information, contact Jade Yoga at 705-257-7707.