IN Burlesque

With sultry pseudonyms like Ruby DeLure and tantalising performances that make removing a glove feel simply provocative, you might think burlesque was just for the blokes. But according to Melanie Bruyer of Perth Burlesque troupe Sugar Blue Burlesque, the reality could not be further from the truth.

“Women love burlesque because of its romantic element of illusion, not to mention the glamour and gorgeous costumes,” she said.

Ms Bruyer, AKA A’dora Derriere, is Sugar Blue’s sole business director. She is also a performer, costume designer and mentor to Western Australia’s most renowned burlesque troupe.

The troupe brings the art of tease to the Perth Fringe Festival this month with The Chronicles of Burlesque, a show which pays homage to burlesque dancers through the ages.

“Watching burlesque is particularly romantic, especially when watching the classic acts, as you can be taken into another world for a moment or two,” said Ms Derriere.

The always-controversial Dita Von Teese and infamous Betty Page are just some of the burlesque performers that inspire the show. While Sally Rand, famous for her ostrich feather fan dance, is an icon from earlier days.

According to Ms Derriere, burlesque began as a social commentary or parody. The working classes would mock the upper classes by spoofing operas, plays and other aristocratic forms of entertainment.

Eventually, burlesque became a spectacular stage show featuring wondrous costumes, props and chorus lines. It was in the 40’s and 50’s that burlesque changed.

“Burlesque became all about men’s entertainment and eventually it had to go into underground nightclubs as some states in the US outlawed it”, said Ms Derriere.

Thanks to performers like Dita Von Teese, burlesque experienced a revival in the 1990’s.

“It was a feminist revival, with a feeling of empowerment,” muses Ms Derriere.

“Any woman could be a burlesque dancer, no matter what size or shape they were, and still, a lot of the performances were based on comedy.”

The bombshell vintage glamour of the past remains a strong element of contemporary burlesque performances. But many modern performers like to add their own creative flair.

“Some take on a more ‘Neo’ approach, going as far as ‘gorelesque’ with very dark and gothic themes like vampires,” explains Ms Derriere.

“There is an audience for all styles performed today.”

So what can audiences expect from The Chronicles of Burlesque? According to Ms Derriere, the show is very beautiful, with gorgeous performers, costumes and choreography. And of course, a touch of comedy.

If that isn’t enough, Sugar Blue Burlesque also hold burlesque classes for beginners and seasoned performers. Classes give women the opportunity to express themselves with no boundaries.

“The feedback we get off a lot of women who attend our classes is that it gives them a new found confidence,” she said.

“They find it truly liberating.”

For those of us content with sitting back and enjoying the timeless glamour of burlesque, check out the The Chronicles of Burlesque at the Perth Fringe Festival.

The show runs from Wednesday 20th to Saturday 23rd February. Tickets cost $30 and are available through www.fringeworld.com.au.

IN 2013

The talk in real estate circles recently has predicted a year of strong growth for the Perth property market in 2013.

Some are tipping average house prices to rise by as much as seven per cent over the next 12 months, far outweighing potential gains in most other State capitals.

It follows a strong end to 2012, with median prices growing by 0.8 per cent, after getting off to a slow start.

While the figures bode well for another strong year, predicting what the market is likely to do can be a perilous business.

So let’s leave the number crunching aside for the moment, and focus on the basics.

For home owners, the upswing is undoubtedly good news because property prices will once again continue on an upward trajectory.

Buyers certainly won’t be in short supply either.

Population growth on the back of the mining boom shows no signs of slowing down meaning more and more people seeking property in Western Australia, and more specifically, Perth.

Combine this with record rental prices, low vacancy rates and low unemployment and conditions are ripe for a very strong year, indeed.

But what does this growth mean for those looking to enter the property market? Have they missed the boat?  The short answer is: No.

The window of opportunity is well and truly open for first homebuyers, especially with interest rates at historic lows - and tipped to fall further this year. However, you need to make your move soon.

Some analysts have forecast growth of close to 20 per cent over the next three years, meaning the median house price could rise from $470,000 at the end of last financial year to $580,000 by the same time in 2015.

With this in mind, I would encourage people thinking of buying their first home - or re-entering the property market - to take the plunge in 2013.

IN Kids Cooking

Cooking is fun for the whole family and is an activity kids can easily take part in too over the summer.


The Mirmikidis children will probably remember their time in the kitchen as some of their fondest memories. At least their dad hopes so.


Dad Athan says the up-coming holidays are a perfect time to spend some time in the kitchen with your kids, teaching them basic recipes which they’ll always be able to cook.


The father of three has been cooking for as long as he can remember. His grandfather was a chef and his mum taught him to cook when he was little, something Athan started passing onto his own three from the moment they could put on an apron.


The first dish Athan learnt was a classic spaghetti bolognaise, a perfect one to use with summer beef. He says that beef offers plenty of easy recipes for parents to try with their kids including favourites in his house like gourmet burgers, chilli con carne, nachos and a Greek dish called keftethes, which are savoury meatballs made with mince, garlic, onion and parsley.


“Keftethes are perfect for kids to be able to mix and roll into balls. It’s like playing with play dough,” says Athan. “You can eat them as a meal or have them cold as a picking dish.”


Athan’s Greek heritage means that dishes like keftethes are staples amongst all his family but cultural exploration also plays a big part of life in the Mirmikidis home. What better way to do it than with food from around the world. It’s a perfect way to teach Jasper, 9, Amelie, 7 and three-year-old Rosie about different countries.


Athan is the managing director of catering company Heyder & Shears and says it’s a Saturday morning ritual to take his children to the commercial kitchen to watch others cooking as well as going to the butcher.


“They learn about cooking, get more familiar with a kitchen and get to know other people who know how to cook. Jasper can deliver a dinner for the family. Of course his first dish was spaghetti bolognaise. I think it’s all the kids’ favourite meal.


“The older ones already appreciate a good cut of beef which we’ll serve with some kind of relish rather than tomato sauce.”


Being able to help in the kitchen can do wonders for a child’s confidence, says Athan. That sense of accomplishment and pride as well as being a little creative is great for them.


“Kids will try and mimic their parents and I think learning to cook is a fantastic habit for them to have as well as a great pleasure.


“My kids have never eaten from a fast food outlet. They know that the food from home is healthy and developing good eating habits in them is important.


“When we’re in the kitchen together the kids ask why we do something and it forces us to get back to basics too and think about what we are doing step-by-step. We see it through new eyes because of that.”


For information on Heyder & Shears Catering, visit www.heydershears.com.au

IN Rent vs Buy

 
"Rent or Buy – that is the question"


We’re hearing of reports about increased first home buyer activity  in the market again due to a shift in market conditions.


The median house price has no doubt fallen and remained relatively flat for a protracted period, providing a window of opportunity for renters wanting to move to property ownership.


Recent statistical data suggests that currently  there is little difference between monthly mortgage repayments and rental payments providing that much-needed incentive for first home buyers.


The October RP Data Buy vs Rent report found it was cheaper to pay a mortgage than it was to rent in 388 suburbs across the country, with 44 of those in Western Australia.


These statistics can be exciting news for people who’ve been renting but aspire to own their own property, and up until now haven’t been able to afford it. Initial purchase and ongoing affordability is the key issue in this consideration.


However, before you jump into a mortgage of your own there are a few important aspects to take into account.


The first, and the most important is knowing what stage of your life you’re at and what style of life you’re after.


Owning a home is both an investment and a lifestyle choice and comes with a certain amount of responsibilities. Home buyers must take into account their own personal situation and assess each and every aspect of home ownership because both renting and buying property has its perks.


For those thinking of buying for the first time remember to consider other costs such as capital gains if you are an investor plus stamp duty, finance establishment costs, statutory  outgoings plus strata title fees for apartments and villas.


There are other costs of home ownership such as upkeep and maintenance which all add to the cost of buying - as opposed to renting, where none of these costs are a direct issue.


The suggestion that buying is cheaper than renting is somewhat true but in reality not everyone wants to own a property.


Renting has its fair share of benefits and these include its limitations. Increasingly people are choosing renting as a long-term option and approaching renting with a different attitude , for example taking long-term lease periods and set rent reviews to provide security and certainty.


Not being tied down to a mortgage for say 25 years can be what makes renting so attractive because it can facilitate more flexible lifestyle choices which is what many people are after.


Putting all the data and academic debate to one side, it  is a choice between the heart and the mind, and the right choice is what suits the individual depending on their aspirations and life stage. Notwithstanding seeking the advice of an informed property professional can assist in making the right choices.

IN Starling

She’s a nurse, a mum, a wife, an excellent cook and a businesswoman who is determined to bring nature back into all aspects of life.


Nadine Lee Morris is a perfect example of someone who walks their walk and talks it too.


Having things handmade inspires her, which is why she’d rather support an individual who has put love and substance into their products, hence the creation of her own range of bed, bath and home products called Starling.


“Starling is my stand against mass-produced, chemically-laden products,” says Nadine. Starling’s products are natural, organic, chemical free, have not been tested on animals and are handmade by the Perth mum.


Her Perth home is her warehouse, the kitchen her workspace and family her willing guinea pigs. Right out of her suburban kitchen Starling produces organic aromatherapy soy candles, massage oils, room/linen/body sprays, herbal teas, bath salts and body care for health and well-being.


While she trained as a nurse and once worked as a welder, Nadine has always dabbled creatively and been secretly jealous of artistic friends and family.


“I became interested in natural remedies when I learnt how regular products are laden with chemicals,” she explains. “I read an article recently that spoke about this issue and how everything we put on our skin can end up in our bloodstream. That’s scary! So to control this to a certain extent I bought some books on essential oils and aromatherapy and began to experiment. Not long after family and friends were getting plied with samples and being happy guinea pigs for my products.


“When my boys were born I also started thinking about all the chemicals I slathered on their skin when it came to things like creams,” Nadine says. “So I started experimenting with making my own body products.”


Starling was born and is gaining a dedicated following around Perth as Nadine sells her products at local markets and online through Etsy.


While her products may be all about being natural, this attitude also extends into her personal life. Nadine and her husband, musician and author Adam Morris are vegetarians, eat organic where they can and otherwise eat as unrefined as possible.


“We just got really conscious about where our food came from, what had been done to it and what we were doing to it. The boys, Finn who is five-and-half and two-year-old Atticus, have been brought up this way, which I think is important.”


Nadine says while the shift was easy because they wanted to do it, eating and living this way takes more preparation time. Equally though, it’s a lot of fun because she feels like she is always being creative and exploring new products or how to create new dishes.


The Morris family are now in the middle of planning a move to Albany, which will allow Nadine to extend her range thanks to the eventual construction of a larger kitchen in their next home.

IN Snow

Though he discovered the snow as an adult, Perth’s Matt Robinson is proving he’s a force to be reckoned with on a board.

It was less than a handful of years ago that Matt Robinson took his first steps in the snow. When he got on a snowboard he flat out fell in love.

It started an affair which he hopes will take him all the way to Russia and the Winter Paralympics in 2014.

Born and raised in the Perth suburb of Forrestfield but now living in Melbourne because it’s closer to the snow, Matt is a para-snowboarder with arthrogryposis. He has only been riding for a few years but has been tagged as one of the country’s up-and-coming adaptive snowboarders.

Arthrogryposis is a rare congenital disorder which is characterised by joint contractions and muscle weakness.

“I’ve always lived by not having a disability,” says the 27-year-old who also keeps himself fit by running and skating to work and going to the gym. “I grew up playing footy and I’m really good with my feet.

“I don’t know any different, I might take a little longer to do something or look a bit weird but I’ve always just adapted. When I first went snowboarding I couldn’t do up my boots but then I figured out how to do it – swap the straps.

Being in the snow is good for my soul. I’ve never felt so much freedom. Amongst the trees, it’s such a beautiful place and I get to ride on it. There’s something so unique about it. The first time I saw the snow it was the prettiest thing I had ever seen.

That is until he met girlfriend Gecel, who has proved to be a tower of strength alongside a hugely supportive family and group of friends.

Coach Peter Higgins met Matt at a talent identification camp a few years ago and says he immediately stood out as a talented prospect. When the announcement came through that the Russian city of Sochi would be including the sport of snowboard cross (SBX) as part of the 2014 games, Matt was up the top of the list of prospective athletes. Matt and a couple of other athletes have been instrumental in helping pioneer Australia’s first SBX program.

“Matt has the mental prowess to understand what needs to be achieved and the drive within him to persevere until he succeeds,” Peter says. “These traits combined with a natural ability to ride a snowboard have and will take him far within the sport. He dedicated his full time and attention to training over this past winter and the effort he put in resulted in an exceptional rate of development. We look forward to the years ahead of Matt leading the charge toward SBX competition glory.”

Unlike himself, many of the athletes Matt has now come in contact with weren’t born with their disabilities and he says it has been eye-opening and rewarding to work with these athletes. Working and training with them has taught Matt to embrace his own disability that little more completely.

“For the first 25 years I didn’t want to have anything to do with disability stuff because it felt like it was labelling me. In the past year-and-a-half I have come to the realisation that I have a responsibility to be a bit of an ambassador for people with physical disabilities. I used to shut up about it, now I realise I have the character and the personality to be able to help.
"I talk quite a lot to other athletes, some of whom only inherited their disability a year ago. I know I’ve been given an amazing opportunity so I want to use that to inspire people. I figure if they look at me and think ‘if this bloke can do it, why can’t I’? then that’s good."

Matt works for the City of Melbourne as an information management officer and as there’s no government funding or subsidy for this alpine sport, he’s also been busy raising money and securing sponsorships to get overseas to compete in the pre-Olympic trials.

Disabled WinterSport Australia is the country’s peak body which promotes and fosters the advancement of participation by people with a disability in winter sport both in Australia and overseas.

To sponsor Matt or make a donation, go to the DWA website at www.disabledwintersport.org.au

IN Perth Property Market

 
Destination unknown – or is it?

There’s a lot of talk at the moment about the direction of Perth’s property prices. Forget the noise (and there’s a lot of it) and look at the signs. They’re there for all to see and they’re pretty clear.

The ingredients are ripening for a positive shift.

Figures released recently show over the past five years Perth property prices have stabilised, rising by less than three or four percent in most Perth suburbs. In fact, some areas have experienced negative median price corrections. Another important indicator is a sharp drop in the amount of for sale stock available on the market.

This indicates relative affordability has improved in the metropolitan area and Perth is on the threshold of a resurgence in buyer activity once a buying trigger is introduced.

That trigger could be a number of things – I anticipate it will be further cuts to the interest rate.

Economists are predicting it could fall by up to 2.5% by next March, with the Reserve Bank warning at its October board meeting that the outlook for growth in Australia has weakened as the mining sector had slowed down sharply. A great example of that locally is Fortescue Metals Group with FMG announcing it was pulling back on expansion plans and cutting hundreds of jobs. Balanced however by the recent reports that the WA economy is the strongest wealth generator State in Australia.

So what does all of this mean for you?

Three words: surf the curve.

When the property market moves, it can happen very quickly so being ahead of the curve and riding with it can be a potential game changer for you.

As I’ve said before, money will always follow value. Regardless of your budget, you must always look for an advantage – in other words, an area offering positive amenities such as transport, good schools and lifestyle. These features bring security and growth.

If you’re looking to benefit financially from anticipated improvements in property values, I would avoid any area which tends to be a bit bland in character or appeal as they will probably always be sluggish in the market. And, be wary of anything that has experienced rapid price gains in recent times. When investment buying stay close to the median price point in the market.

The signs are definitely indicating a swell in activity  ahead of the next property price wave so to avoid being left behind in the wash up, astute property investors will be preparing now to dive back into the Perth market.