Win, Wink

Are you curious about the current burlesque renaissance and the women who are learning to take it off? If so, you won’t want to miss A Wink and a Smile, a documentary opening tonight at Starz FilmCenter in the Tivoli, complete with an appearance by Denver’s own burlesque queen (and teacher!), Michelle Baldwin, aka Vivienne VaVoom.

“The film actually follows a class from Miss Indigo Blue’s Academy of Burlesque, which is similar to the kind of classes that I do here,” explains Baldwin. The participants comprise a homemaker, a doctor, a reporter, an opera singer, a taxidermist and a college student, all looking to learn a little bit about letting go.

“It’s something I see every month in my classes,” Baldwin continues. “I get people from all walks of life, and it’s funny to see. There are people who are ready to jump in — they already have a name and everything — and there are some people who do it because it’s something totally out of their world.”

Catch A Wink and a Smile through May 21 at Starz; Ms. VaVoom will perform a fan dance and answer post-film questions at tonight and tomorrow night’s 7:30 p.m. screenings. Tickets are $6 to $7.50; call 303-595-3456 or visit www.denverfilm.org for more
May 15-21, 2009