“Ladies and Gentlemen, our very own go-go dancing 4th grade teacher! This is the single best use of educational funds in the state of California!” – Daniel Handler
The Devil-Ettes are San Francisco’s very own all-girl, synchronized, 1960s dance troupe! I have been dancing with The Devil-Ettes since 2008 and it has been one fabulous fringe-shaking adventure! One of the first things a new Devil-Ette must do is choose a name for herself – something upbeat, beginning with “the,” and that reflects each dancerʻs personality. After much fraught debate with myself, I was at a loss for ideas until, out dancing with friends one night, it came to me in a flash: The Spitfire. I think it captures both my energy (as a dancer, teacher, friend, etc.) and my inability and unwillingness to stop dancing until I’m exhausted and overheated.
We have performed all over the country in all manner of venue – some of my favorites:
- The U.S. Conference of Mayors under the Bay Bridge
- Bimbo’s 365
- B.B. King’s in Times Square!
- The Tricycle Music Fest at the SF Public Library’s Main Branch
- our self-produced Go-Go Spectacular at the Brava Theater
- our semi-annual ’60s dance party for kids, Pipsqueak Au-Go-Go
- Tiki Oasis at the Crowne Plaza hotel in San Diego!
- I’d have to say that my all-time favorite was when we performed for my school’s fundraiser, DogFest in 2014. Sharing the Devil-Ettes with my school community was such a wonderful experience! In fact, Daniel Handler (a.k.a. Lemony Snicket) emceed the event and called me the “best use of public education funds” in the state (hopefully only partially in jest)!
Here’s an interview with me about what makes the Devil-Ettes so wonderful (filmed during our Beatnik Au-Go-Go class at Tiki Oasis in San Diego, 2014)
Here are videos of come of my favorite performances with The Devil-Ettes!
Bimbo’s 365 (Tease-O-Rama 2012):
At the SF Main Library for Tricycle Music Fest:
At the Herbst Theatre for “God Bless the USA V”:
At Peaches Christ’s Midnight Mass featuring Elvira!
We produce a semi-annual event called Pipsqueak A-Go-Go, a 1960’s daytime dance party for kids and their families. We perform dances as well as teach basic ’60s dance moves (like the Twist, the Pony, and the Mouse).
Our inspiration for Pipsqueak A-Go-Go:
Shona Mitchell 