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No men allowed at this full monty show
By Sandra Thomas-Staff writer
Plenty of bump and grind will be on display this Sunday at the Penthouse nightclub.
But while the evening promises sexy strippers, raunchy performances and outrageous audience behaviour, there is one catch-no men allowed.
Rebecca Shields, who founded the Diva's Den event eight years ago, organized the annual evening to give lesbian women an opportunity to celebrate their sexuality, and each other, in the confines of a women-only venue.
"When I came out 13 years ago there used to be lots of events for queer women to attend," she said. "But each year there's fewer and fewer. We want to reclaim that part of ourselves and express our own sexuality."
Diva's Den also offers humour. Shields recalls an incident a few years ago when a number of topless audience members got onstage to perform an impromptu dance.
"They formed a butch cancan line," she said. "Imagine these bare-breasted butches dancing in their boots. It was hilarious."
Other moments of note during the past years include a dance performance by a local jazz singer, ballerinas and the burlesque troupe 30 Helens. One year a large woman in her mid-50s performed. Part of the charm for Shields of Diva's Den is the audience never knows what's going to happen next.
"It's a group diverse in size, age and ethnicity. We've had women perform with fire, and with whipped cream," she said. "When men go to strip clubs they just sit there. These women get crazy and do things like throw their keys onstage."
Shields has also taken part in the show several times on stage.
During the first six years of the event Shields donated partial proceeds to a number of local charities and organizations, but last year she decided 100 per cent of the profits would go to the newly formed Vancouver Dyke March and Festival Society. The society organized its first Dyke March last year to coincide with Pride Week celebrations. This year the event is along Commercial Drive on July 30, the day before the annual Pride Parade.
Society treasurer Karen Ayotte is the driving force behind this year's Diva's Den. Ayotte believes the event is such a success each year because with no men present, women attending leave their inhibitions at the door.
This year's line-up includes 18 acts, half of which are professional, including dancers Amber Dawn, Miss Kitty and Sarah K. The two owners and four instructors of Aradia Fitness, a business that teaches women how to pole dance as part of an exercise routine, will perform.
"The women go crazy for anyone who can do pole work," said Ayotte. "We've also added a couple of cages so we'll have dancing go-go girls. It will be even hotter than usual."
Ayotte recommends getting to the Penthouse early Sunday evening.
"Last year there were 100 women waiting for the doors to open," she said. "The ones who have been before know to get there early to get a seat."
Ayotte expects a sold-out house of more than 300.
posted on 05/18/2005
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