Angie Potani of The Potani Sisters revives the art of Burlesque this Valentine's

By Ashley Bryant
Photo by Josh Gosfield

Save the chocolates and candlelight dinner for later; put the Champagne on ice; and release all your inner voyeuristic and comedic sensibilities this Valentine’s Day with the World Famous Pontani Sisters, a trio of burlesque performers. Sit back and watch as they romance the crowd with an erotic ensemble of entertainment and timeless striptease techniques. A night at the Birchmere with the Pontani Sisters and friends is sure to spice things up. 

“The show is everything that Valentine’s Day is — it’s sexy, it’s surprising, it’s a really good time, and it’s something that everyone can enjoy,” said Angie Pontani, Reigning Queen of Burlesque, Miss Exotic World 2008 and the youngest of the Pontani Sisters. “It gets you in the mood for love, and the mood for admiring fabulous performances that are a little titillating.”

The Pontani sisters — Helen, Angie and Peekaboo Pointe, an honorary sister, are innate entertainers: Helen specializes in tap, Angie is a master of striptease, and Peekaboo Pointe is a talented tassel twirler. The Pontani Sisters have performed on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” in venues like the Venetian hotel in Las Vegas, and throughout the country, but according to Helen Pontani, the eldest sister, the Birchmere is one of their favorite venues.

This year’s show will be centered on a love theme, and features a fashion show with the latest Mode Merr designs by Angela Zampell. But with the supporting cast of Albert Cadabra, Lefty Lucy, Little Brooklyn, Corn Mo, and live music from Breadbasket and the Chili Boys, the show will be chock-filled with surprises and comedic relief.

A love duet between Little Brooklyn and King Kong, for example, is the ultimate love story according to Angie. “Little Brooklyn is equal part sexy, equal part Lucille Ball and wildly innovative,” she said. “It’s a great skill to have to mix comedy into the burlesque art form. It’s very sexy, but you add that comedy and it really makes it palatable for everyone.”

According to Helen, “It’s about the roll of the shoulder and the wink of the eye to let everyone know that there’s a sense of parody to it.”

For Eric Farber, drummer for Breadbasket and The Chili Boys, the excitement comes through his improvisational interactions with the emcee and dancers during performances. “I love the challenge of having to predict the dancers’ movements…reading their hips — reading where they’re headed in their choreography and being able to provide that punctuation,” he said.

The show pays homage to classic burlesque, but with added glamour and a contemporary feel. “You’re going to see a burlesque show that reflects burlesque as if it would had evolved today without dead stopping in the ‘60s,” said Angie.

The World Famous Pontani Sisters perform at The Birchmere Sunday, February 14 at 7 p.m. and tickets are $29.50. For more information, visit www.pontanisisters.com and www.angiepontani.com.

The Birchmere: 3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria, VA; 703-549-7500; www.birchmere.com