The Hot Toddies

The Hot Toddies are a Los Angeles based, Modern/Burlesque dance troop. The Toddies have recently performed at Playhouse, The Monday Night Tease, regularly at Supperclub LA, and in their very own holiday show. Combining the styles of cabaret revue, modern dance and traditional burlesque, the Hot Toddies never fail to surprise their audiences with something unique and unexpected. "One of the best performances we've had on our stage!" --Abdi Manavi owner, Supperclub LA "We are always excited to see the Toddies' take on our many themes. Their unique style and perspective enhances what we do here at Supperclub." --K.Lee Wright creative director, Supperclub LA TO PASTIE, OR NOT TO PASTIE? After meeting as performers in various LA shows, these women realized their shared goal: To express themselves creatively through movement without the confines of any one specific genre. "The wonderful thing about being a part of this troop is that we each have something different to offer in terms of style, movement, and character. If Kitty wants to sing, we work it in. A tap dancing striptease? No problem. It all helps create our collective personality," says Desi Dundr, assistant choreographer. "I'm so grateful to have found dancers that trust, support, and enhance any concept I offer," says Erika Jensen, co-founder, director, and choreographer. "Whether an idea works or not, we learn through the excercise of creating each piece. Working together, we become better performers while honing in on exactly who The Hot Toddies are. It's kind of magical!" "All of us studied dance, particularly ballet, at a very young age when MTV was still newly popular," says Kitty Kitty-Kitty. "I grew up wanting to be Baryshnikov, Gregory Hines AND Madonna. There is something satisfying about combining the facets of your personality, your influences, and inspirations to create something uniquely yours." The Toddies also enjoy the challenge of adapting their work to fit in a specific theme or venue. "We've performed on so many different stages in different contexts, and we always manage to present the LA dance scene with a unique style we are proud of," says Jessica Graves, Toddie since 2010. The Toddies are so grateful for their audience who allow their creative process to evolve year after year. Through so many performances, they have learned that if your work is passionate and honest, the audience responds. "The more of myself that I invest in each piece and the troop, the less I feel the need to 'please' the audience. A mature performer recognizes that an honest performance creates the most sympathetic response," says Jensen. "It's really refreshing to be in a group that celebrates creative diversity, especially in Hollywood where performers are so often forced into a box to be able to market themselves," says Kitty. "We don't have to reveal pasties...but we might."