Burlesque star Angie Pontani earned the go-getter label
early on. As a youngster she persevered through 5 nights of dance school every
week. She was only 17 when she began making Carmen Miranda fruit headdresses and
mambo costumes, putting them on her sisters, and wearing them when they
did their act on Coney Island. Then they came up with a name: The World Famous Pontani Sisters. After realizing
she might have a future in the entertainment business, Pontani set out to find a local
burlesque scene in NYC. However the burlesque style which Pontani most related to fell on hard times 50 years ago.
“In the 1960s more people had televisions and strip clubs became more popular,”
Pontani said. “I like to say burlesque stepped out for a while.” Whether she
knew it or not, Pontani was about to become a major player in the burlesque revival
of the 1990s. “There really wasn’t anything going on when we started. We decided
we'd better get something going,” Pontani said. “I was definitely a member of the group of people that helped bring
this back simultaneously.” The scene really started swinging for Pontani and
others when they started creating more staged performances. “We took
influence from the golden era of entertainment in the 1940s and 50s.” A
reviewer from Village Voice caught the Sisters act on
the boardwalk. The rest, as they say, is
history. “The recognition happened pretty quickly for us,” Pontani said. “No one
else was really doing it like we were. We were contacted by many different venues
to bring our show to various nightclubs and restaurants. Fairly early on in
our career we had regular shows at places like Windows on the World in the
World Trade Center.” Audiences are treated to a 90 minutes of fast moving versatile revue. If you're naughty and not nice, Pontani promises stockings filled with sexy fun. “While we’re not directly taking scenes from the movie Holiday Inn, the inspiration is there,”
Pontani said. “Particularly in the form of the over-the-top 1950s style entertainment featured in the film. We’ve got big dance numbers and group production
elements. Everything revolves around the theme of the holidays. You can expect fabulous guest stars, solos, and duets.” Pontani points
out that the show is also very classic burlesque. “We incorporate slight skit
elements as a tip of the hat to the burlesque of mid-century.” Angie
Pontani may have found businesswoman success as an adult but in her heart there is still a little
girl in tap shoes. “I’m just doing what I’ve always loved,” Pontani said. “And
that is dressing up as fabulously as I can and dancing around.”
The World Famous Pontani Sisters Burlesque-A-Pades Holiday Inn, 8pm, Dec 12, Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill.
The Dram House Rounders String Band plays live music afterwards.
$10 Advance, $15 Day Of
Tickets:
http://www.ticketweb.com/
The Dram House Rounders String Band plays live music afterwards.
$10 Advance, $15 Day Of
Tickets:
http://www.ticketweb.com/
More information on the Pontani Sisters website.
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