Reykjavík Grapevine - nov. 2020, Síða 11

Bedroom
Burlesque
Get stunned on your sofa by the
Couch Cabaret
“So it was just her in a beautiful red
dress with red curtains behind her.
She had a bathtub and her only mis-
sion was to get into the bathtub and
it was just so graceful and beautiful,”
Carmen gushes. “That just really sits in
my memory. I just love it.”
While you might think this is a de-
scription of some sort of romantic
painting or art film, it’s actually the
most recent burlesque performance
by Reykjavík sensation Maria Callista,
which premiered at burlesque troupe
Túttífrútturnar’s last Couch Cabaret
online show. The Couch Cabaret is the
troupe’s COVID-friendly solution to
keeping entertainment alive during
the pandemic. The virtual extravagan-
za is streamed online and features the
best and brightest of local performers
and some stars from abroad; the next
occurring on December 18th.
A true cabaret
Carmen—whose full artist name is
Carmen Dea Untamed—also partici-
pated in the virtual showcase, both as
a performer and organiser. The pole
dancer/burlesque extraordinaire is
known for her high-energy and sen-
sual acts, which—luckily for socially
distanced audiences—translate well to
the small screen.
“The Couch Cabaret is a virtual
show. We have pre-recorded acts that
performers make,” Carmen explains.
While it’s run by a burlesque group,
Carmen emphasises that the show
is not only strip-tease. “It’s a variety
show—a cabaret. Some acts will be
burlesque, others circus, drag, pole
dancing, acrobatics,” she trails off. “We
could have jugglers if they apply! Or
magicians, comedians, singers—it’s a
true cabaret.”
The essence of Carmen
While many are lamenting the loss
of in-person entertainment, Carmen
encourages people to think positively.
There are, according to the dancer,
some unusual benefits to performing
only online.
“I see a lot of opportunities for us
here in tiny Iceland to expand. The pos-
itive thing about COVID—of course,
it’s not positive and I’m very sad about
COVID—but I’ve gotten to know a lot
of artists around the world, artists that
I don’t think I would have met [were it
not for the pandemic],” she explains.
“Virtually, we can expand our connec-
tions and work together without hav-
ing to meet in person, without them
having to come here and perform.”
“We’ve even gotten a few applica-
tions [for the Couch Cabaret] from art-
ists who are not [in] Iceland. And that’s
like—ok, this is an opportunity!”
Carmen is mum on what we can
expect from her future acts, but if her
performance at the last show is any-
thing indication it’s safe to say we can
expect the unexpected. Carmen filmed
her November routine with a COVID-
safe production team at local pole stu-
dio Eríal Pole—which you can see in
the pictures. “It [was] a little bit differ-
ent than my usual acts. I’m going out
of my comfort zone,” she smiles. “It’s
the essence of Carmen.”
Give ‘em the ol’ razzle-
dazzle!
But how should one best view the caba-
ret? Carmen recommends giving your
house a bit of the ol’ razzle-dazzle.
“I didn’t expect this but it gave me
a bit of warmth in my heart when our
lovely audience used it as an opportu-
nity to dress up at home,” Carmen re-
calls of the Couch Cabaret’s last online
audience. “They put on makeup, hair,
beautiful dresses and were just in full
Cabaret style at their house in a chair
with a wine glass,” she explains. “So, of
course you can watch the show anyway
you want. You can be in your pyjamas
in your bed with a laptop, but if you
want to make the most of your ticket,
dress up and make a night of it.”
She smiles. “Then you can bring the
cabaret home.”
Words:
Hannah Jane
Cohen
Photo:
Art Bicnick
CULTURE
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Were we not a magazine, we'd dress like Carmen Dea Untamed
Info
The next Couch
Cabaret (18+) will
be on December
18th at 21:00.
Tickets are 1,200
ISK. Get more
information on
the Túttífrútturnar
Facebook page.
LET THERE BE VIRTUAL LIGHT!
N!LÓ Light Bazaar 2020
Until December 30th - Online & Living
Art Museum
As is the trend in 2020, the Living Art
Museum’s annual Light Bazaar is
moving online. Brighten the dark
winter nights with some beautiful
art. View and buy the works of over
40 contemporary artists on
ljosabasar.nylo.is and help raise
funds to support the Living Art
Museum. The Marshall House will
also be hosting an open storage
and pop up home for the Bazaar
during opening hours (Wed - Sun
from 12:00-18:00). JD
XMas Consumers Yahoo!
Hei"mörk Christmas Market
Weekends until Christmas – 12:00-
17:00 – Hei"mörk – Free!
Nearly every Icelandic venue/store
has its own version of a holiday
market, but the one in the old
hunting lodge at Elli"avatn is a
not-to-miss experience. On a frozen
lake in a gorgeous forest, sit the
kids into a beautiful grove for some
Christmas stories—most in
Icelandic. Afterwards, cut down
your own Christmas tree, enjoy
some hot chocolate and just be
merry. Oh, and don’t forget to buy a
ton of handmade stuff. What more
is Christmas than capitalism
wrapped in a bow? HJC
We, Tonya
Ice Skating at Ingólfstorg
November 28th-January 2nd –
Ingólfstorg – 12:00-21:00 – 1,290 ISK
The next Winter Olympics might not
be until 2022 but that doesn’t mean
you can’t start practising now. Get
on the path to win Iceland’s first
figure skating medal with a spin
around Reykjavík’s beloved annual
Ingólfstorg skating rink. Bring your
kids, lover, or adrenaline-junkie
Grandma (in a mask) and take over
the city’s central square on some
razor-sharp shoes. Grab a Hlölli
afterwards for a true Reykjavík
afternoon. HJC
Now that's showbiz