NEW YORK, NY — For an organization that bills itself as “America’s Leader in Education since 1980,” the Learning Annex sure has a few things to – well — learn about the adult entertainment industry. That’s certainly the opinion of at least one burlesque dancer, who plans to give the school a hefty lesson in adult industry job titles courtesy of a court room. Brooklyn burlesque dancer Tara Lee Heffner was shocked to find herself billed as a “Young Sexy Porn Star Stripper” and “Big T – Sexy Teen Girl” in video clips she had recorded for the company.
Heffner, who goes by Veronica Varlow when she’s decked out in her pasties, feathers and ruffled panties, has never performed in pornographic materials. Further, she’s not very happy about the fact that students and prospective students may think otherwise.
Last year Heffner led a Learning Annex seminar on burlesque dancing. One might think that would provide the hiring organization an opportunity to – well – learn a few things about what burlesque is and is not.
Whether the copywriters skipped class that day or simply don’t care is a matter to be investigated, but the end result was videos featuring Heffner popping up on the company’s affiliate site OneMinuteU.com with titles that misrepresent her professional work. Before long the videos appeared on YouTube and the misinformation began to spread.
While many may consider serving up advice on erotic dance moves and applying glitter lipstick to be sexy, it’s hardly pornographic.
“She’s a burlesque performer and she takes it very seriously as an art form,” Ivan Saperstein, her attorney, explained, adding that She’s purposely avoided nudity her entire career to avoid being harmed this way.”
According to the lawsuit Heffner has filed with the Manhattan Supreme Court, the actions of the Learning Annex and its contractor, PHI Media, have damaged her reputation by leading people to believe that she does far more than explain “how to be sexy and flirty” or perfect one’s “sparkly, burlesque lips.”
“She was outraged,” Saperstein assured. “She views what she does as a burlesque performer as being no different than what the Victoria’s Secret models do.”
Among the suit’s claims are that “Defendants knew that the statements were false or otherwise failed to take the proper steps to ascertain their accuracy” and that their existence has caused Heffner “great mental pain and anguish.”
In addition to her burlesque performances and workshops, the 30-year-old Heffner operates the online clothing boutique Danger Dame, which specializes in 1940’s and 1950’s-inspired “Deadly Fashion for the Femme Fatale.”
