The Dawn of EROTICA (uh, not the genre)

I might as well lay it out there: I bought this. The Carmen Electra Aerobic Striptease DVD. Actually, I bought the whole series. The day it came out in Canada.

More accurately, I stalked its release.

Back then I *might* have had a bit of a girl crush on Carmen Electra, or maybe it was her then girly-yet-hot husband, Dave Navarro. Regardless, I had a resolve - to play and replay Carmen's DVDs until I, too, could slither like a stripper, in the comfort of my living room, of course.

(I love myself, I want you to love me. When I feel down, I want you above me)


Wait! Not yet, E.

So anyway, Carmen's DVDs just didn't do it for me - and I promptly forgot all illusions of dirty-ish dancing.

Until Jessica introduced me to her Naughty Hotties.

(I search myself, I want you to find me. I forget myself, I want you to remind me)


E! Shhh... We're not ready yet.

Carmen Electra has nothing on Jessica. With her new red-hot hair, the gorgeous Juicy J led a room full of women in several degrees of comfort through a series of sultry, sexy moves. Naughty Hotties is all about confidence, and Juicy J is certainly not lacking there. It was all I could do not to gasp during even the warm up - no WAY my hips could move like that, right?

Maybe. But my alter ego is considerably more liberal.

(I close my eyes, and see you before me. Think I would die if you were to ignore me)


Sigh. Alright, Erotica, come on out.

(I don't want anybody else. When I think about you I touch myself)


Apparently.

Erotica is my Naughty Hotties alter ego - or, my stripper name. The name generators on the Internet spit out several options in various shades of ridiculous (sorry, Megs, I simply could not go with Mimi Glitzy-Thighs and Double D was taken). I consulted with my friend Rita, who suggested I look for a literary connect. How awesome is Erotica? (Well, some, like Tielle St. Clare's work, is, but I've read some choppy stuff. Heck, I've written some questionable erotica...But I digress.)

So, who is Erotica?

Right now she's a rough character sketch, a blank page of mystery. Last night she wore a long, black t-shirt - which she won't be wearing again. Too hot - and not in a naughty way. Erotica took tentative first steps from the shadows of the back row, but by the end of the night, had hip checked a little more sexy into her dance (I use the term loosely as a whole lot of Dawn remains prominent) and, um, "performed" for her peers. She hung out with hotties like Dangerous D, and *almost* memorized a short routine to a Britney Spears song.

(I don't want anybody else. When I think about you I touch myself)

And yeah. She touches herself. *cough* Not in a crotch-grabbing hip hop way, but more of a seductive S-curve kind of motion. 

No whiskey required!

Erotica and I laughed last night. A lot. But we also got our first taste of something truly special Jessica's studio embodies. Naughty Hotties is not about exploitation, but rather empowerment, and discovering how amazing a woman's body can be - and how it CAN move. Jessica has created a safe environment where me and Erotica can learn about each other - and have fun.

Last night wasn't about the steps, because clearly Erotica has the same directional challenges I mentioned yesterday. Instead, "we" focussed on letting go of some fear.

How amazing to have found a place within J'Adore Dance to do that. I can hardly wait for the Lady Marmalade chair routine.

The Book In My Bag Today: Kindred in Death, J.D. Robb