THE GLITTER KITTENS 

     MANCHESTER’S FIRST EVER BURLESQUE TROUPE!    

The Glitter Kittens are a modern-day female rock burlesque act. Their style blends the two very different worlds of cabaret and rock to give them a distinctive edge in burlesque’s world of glamour and decadence. The show is a glamorous event with an array of numbers ranging from 1940s-inspired cabaret to modern rock routines. All are different and entertaining in their own right with a tongue-in-cheek raunchiness that makes the show fun and unique.

Music ranges from favourites of days gone by such as ‘Big Spender’ and ‘Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy’ to songs by Queens of the Stone Age, Muse, Prince and Marilyn Manson, to name but a few. There is something for everyone, whether they are performing a full half-hour set or just two numbers. All of the kittens are highly trained and experienced performers with a range of backgrounds from ballet, contemporary and break dancing to singing, circus and gymnastics. The show is about pure entertainment with the emphasis on tease. There is no full nudity, despite misconceptions of the word burlesque.

The Glitter Kittens are lead by creator Zelda Saint-Wilde, who takes on the role of artistic director, choreographer and lead performer. Zelda began her career as a solo artist performing burlesque as well as other forms of dance, and has stage acting roles and a film under her belt. The troupe formed in 2004 and a year of rehearsing ensued, giving rise to Manchester’s very first burlesque troupe. The Glitter Kittens made their debut in the summer of 2005 and a whirlwind tour of shows on home soil and abroad followed. Things are definitely on the up with new kittens in the 2009 line-up, bringing with them a host of exhilarating new numbers.

EXPERIENCE; THE STORY SO FAR... 

In their rich history to date, The Glitter Kittens have performed at a number of well-known burlesque clubs alongside some of the most talented and respected acts. The kittens supported Miss Indigo Blue from Seattle at Il Bordello, appeared at The Tassel Club in Dublin with Miss Lily White and Dusty Limits, with Delilah at Diamond Rendezvous in Birmingham, Hollywood Showbar in Manchester with drag act Kitty Lashes, and Peek-A-Boo in Sheffield with Fancy Chance and Red Sarah. 

In addition to the burlesque scene, their rock edge has made them popular in rock clubs and on the band scene where they have performed at renowned venues around the UK and Ireland, returning to local favourites such as Monster-Monster Manchester, The Castle, Oldham for their NME nights, and Ska Burlesque, London.

In addition to being the official dancers for Kid Ego, with whom they embarked on a UK tour to great success, The Glitter Kittens also supported metal band I-Def-I in 2006 at Manchester’s Roadhouse for their Bloodlust Casualty album launch and have supported other bands such as Newbreed, Orphan Boy and The Dangerfields. In 2007 the girls supported Reverend and the Makers, danced for all-girl trio The Smears at the Nottingham Summer Party festival and performed with Gilby Clarke from Guns N’ Roses in Los Angeles. Zelda performed on the 42-date tour of UK theatres of Steve Steinman’s stage show ‘Vampires Rock,’ alongside Eddie Ojeda of Twisted Sister fame. 2008 included residencies at Camden’s trendy Proud Galleries and Manchester’s Tiger Lounge, festivals such as MAPS Fest, Paisley Music Fest, London Burlesque Festival and the Download Festival. 

Highlights for the girls during 2006 and again twice in 2007/08 had to be their trips to Los Angeles, where the kittens performed at venues such as The Cat Club, Lava Lounge, Mr. Ts Bowl and The Viper Room. They were dancers for the Cruefest with Motley Crue at The Whiskey-A-Go-Go in Hollywood and collaborated with Madame Sunset and Her Hollywood Kittens for her show on the Sunset Strip. Set to perform in L.A. again this summer, they are repeatedly invited to grace venues. The Glitter Kittens can also be seen in the Teenage Casket Company’s music video for ‘Don’t Look at Me Like That’ and ‘Cyanide’ by US band The Kreeps. Several of the kittens can also be seen in the forthcoming horror short Mark Macready and the Archangel Murders, which premiers at film festivals this summer. 

In recent months, The Glitter Kittens have performed at the Bloodstock Open Air festival and a full half hour set at Manchester Pride. This summer’s highlight saw the kittens perform their first Edinburgh Fringe festival show – an hour long revue with guest acts and comperes each day, proving hugely successful.

Recent additions to the line-up include classical burlesque with traditional fan dancing, confetti and glitter; extravagant costumes, crowd thrilling angle grinding, stilt walking, fire stunts and cutting-edge group spectaculars. The Glitter Kittens are also available for promotions, photographic work, specially commissioned pieces and can perform live songs with their own jazz quartet.   

www.myspace.com/theglitterkittens