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On the first Saturday of each month, Cafe Van Kleef, a great and funky hangout at 1621 Telegraph in downtown Oakland, features a dance group called The Hot Pink Feathers. It's a San Francisco-based group of women who claim to be the world's premiere samba burlesque dance troupe.
I'm not arguing with them.
These San Francisco-based dancers are...
"spreading the glitter gospel across the globe with their exuberant extravangzas. From family friendly to all-out risque revues, the Feathers entertainment themes range from Brazilian Carnaval, New Orleans Mardi Gras, French Can Can, Gypsy Cabaret, Tropical Sambafest, to Bawdy Bollywood and beyond."
They dance to the music of an Oakland-based band called "Blue Bone Express" and in the hottest outfits anyone's ever seen. Peter Van Kleef himself raves about them to anyone who will listen; I should know.
They do pack the house.
The first time I saw them in action, I told Van Kleef, my friend and the establishment's owner who's become something of an Oakland legend, than I'd film the event -- that's what it is, really -- the next time they performed. And that's exactly what I did. I've made several videos to help promote "The Feathers" and Kellita Maloof, their director, choreographer, and "2008 Queen of Carnival", has become my friend. She's worked with tireless focus and energy to build her organization to where it is today: a popular must-see group in the Bay Area and a teacher of dance and choreography to aspiring showgirls.
"The Feathers" as Maloof calls them is also scheduled to perform June 18th for the event "Meet Downtown Oakland", a planned outdoor party in the Uptown District. There, the Hot Pink Feathers Parade Corps & All-Star Marching Band members will perform their east bay debut of "I Dream of Feathers" in a procession through downtown Oakland, much as they did at this year's Carnival.
Given this group's performances in the past, that's something to see. And you can see them this Saturday night at Cafe Van Kleef starting at 9:30 PM. Get there an hour before then because it fills up to standing room only fast!
For more info on The Hot Pink Feathers, go to there website at http://www.hotpinkfeathers.com and they have music downloads at their MySpace page, too. for more info on Cafe Van Kleef and it's location, visit its website at http:/www.cafevankleef.com
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