How did Cherry Blossom Start?
Cherry Blossom was founded by Meghan Mayhem who now resides in Portland, Oregon. CBC debuted in July 2006 at Ong King Art Center as a modest duo known as "Cherry Blossom Burlesque” with Mayhem and Lola Love. The group has since bloomed into a ten plus member troupe. Not wanting to be strictly regarded as a "burlesque" troupe, in 2007 the group changed it's name to "Cherry Blossom Cabaret" reflecting that the ladies do more than shimmy and shake out of their costumes; dance, act, sing and much more!
What is burlesque?
Burlesque means “in an upside down style,” turning social norms head over heels. It was a form of musical comedy popular from about 1840 through the 1960s. Performances in the early years were parodies performed primarily for the middle and lower classes of society in which actors would poke fun at the social habits of the upper class. In the late 1860s burlesque was brought to America, it focused on theatrical spoofs featuring women playing men’s roles wearing costumes considered revealing for the time. Vaudeville, cabaret, striptease, the follies of the twenties and thirties, and the girlie shows of the forties and fifties has their roots in burlesque
The Neo-burlesque revival exploded in the early 1990s in Los Angeles and New York City, and the art form is continuing to grow in different varieties from classy to raunchy, kitschy to political, gender bending to straight laced tease, and a whole lot more. CBC is bringing this revival to Honolulu by captivating, entertaining and enticing audiences island wide. Come to a show and see why Honolulu loves CBC.
What is cabaret?
Cabaret is a form of entertainment that incorporates comedy, song, dance and theater and generally is hosted by an Emcee.
What's the difference between burlesque and stripping?
Like stripping, burlesque includes the art of strip tease in many of the acts, however, burlesque focuses on the tease element and often incorporates theatrical components as well.
Do you guys get naked?
No, we do not get naked. The least amount of clothing a performer will strip down to is pasties (nipple covers) and panties, but other times we do not strip at all. Our acts range from modest to risqué!
What kinds of performances do you do?
Members in our troupe have very diverse backgrounds that include, ballet, butoh, aerial, theater, singing, hip hop, hula, Brazilian Samba and jazz dance just to name a few.
Can I perform with CBC?
If you have never been to one of our shows, please check out a show before inquiring.
If you are an experienced performer shoot us an email, we love having guests.
If you are interested in auditioning to perform regularly, we hold auditions every January. Please check out our Internships/Auditions page for more info.
If you are not an experienced performer we recommend that you sign up for our classes which will help you prepare. Check out our class on our Academy of Tease page for more info.
What does it cost to hire CBC for performances?
Please see our booking area for info on pricing.