Heather Henderson
Heather Anne Henderson | |
|---|---|
 Henderson in 2015 | |
| Born | March 7, 1973 Camden, New Jersey U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Other names | Baby Heather |
| Occupation(s) | Burlesque artist, podcaster |
| Years active | 1974–present |
| Known for | co-host of Skeptically Yours and Ardent Atheist podcasts |
| Website | hhenderson.com |
Heather Henderson (born March 7, 1973) is a professional burlesque dancer and podcast host who uses the stage name Baby Heather. She is an advocate for skeptical inquiry and atheism and won the 2012 People's Choice Podcast Awards in the religion/inspiration category for her Ardent Atheist podcast. From 1989 to 1991, Henderson was a regular performer on the Dance Party USA television show.
Early life
[edit]Henderson was born on March 7, 1973, in Camden, New Jersey.[1] Her mother was a Hungarian Jew.[2] When Henderson was 10, in 1983, her father left the home.[2] She attended Camden City Public Schools.[3] She describes herself as a "shy and quiet girl" who did not talk back and believed everything her mother told her.[4]
At age fifteen, she appeared on a nationwide teen dance show called Dance Party USA. She appeared on the show regularly for three years and went by the nickname Baby Heather. When Henderson's mother became involved with Jews for Jesus, they started attending progressive Christian churches, making Henderson very uncomfortable. As soon as she was old enough, Henderson told her mother she would not attend church again.[4]
In 2011, Henderson moved to Los Angeles with friends.[5] In order to raise money to purchase a plane ticket, she organized a fundraiser for herself with burlesque friends who donated their talent for a one-night show.[4]
Film and television
[edit]Henderson was a regular dancer on the local television show Dancin' on Air and the nationally televised Dance Party USA from 1989 to 1991. In her last year, she became a co-host. Henderson has also appeared on Sesame Street, Nickelodeon's Double Dare,[3] in the film Mannequin Two: On the Move,[6] and on Disney's Annapolis.[7]
Music and recording career
[edit]In her teens, Henderson released a single called "Give It Up" using her Dance Party nickname “Baby Heather.”[4] Billboard gave the single a positive review.[8]
Henderson played with Penn Jillette's No God Band in 2011.[9]
Burlesque career
[edit]
Henderson worked from 1993 to 2010 in the erotica industry, doing stripping, burlesque, foot fetish parties, dominatrix work, and lap dancing.[10] Henderson got involved with burlesque after a friend who was doing a "variety" show asked her to sing background.[11]
She left burlesque in 2010.[10] In 2013, Henderson returned to perform at the first Hollywood Burlesque Festival.[12] Time Out Los Angeles listed her as one of the "Best Burlesque" performers and called her "the singing emcee with 'ferocious vocals.'"[13]
Film making
[edit]Henderson filmed several short fetish videos. Inspired by friend Norm Walker, her film PODONUTS features Walker eating cream-filled donuts off the feet of women (one of which is Henderson). Philadelphia Weekly states it "routinely wins over even the most squeamish spectators with its sex-positive message and thrillingly syncopated movement sequences.".[7]
Henderson's 2009 film Marcella and Sofia, a fetish film about a young couple being sexually corrupted by two female captors (one of which is Henderson), won a Claw Award for best cinematography from the Terror Film Festival.[14][15]
Podcasts
[edit]
Henderson is the co-host of two podcasts with Emery Emery, Ardent Atheist and Skeptically Yours. They started producing the Ardent Atheist podcast in February 2011.[16][4]
In 2012, Ardent Atheist won best podcast in the religion inspiration category for The People's Choice Podcast Awards.[17]
From November 2012 to April 2013 Henderson appeared as a featured segment on the Skepticality podcast. Her segment was called News in Religion.[18]
References
[edit]- ^ "Regular of the Month". Official Dance Party USA Newsletter. 1 (3). June–July 1990.
- ^ a b Gaudette, Bridget. "Shades of Black Atheism #9: Performer & Podcaster, Heather Henderson". Friendly Atheist. Patheos. Retrieved April 27, 2015.
- ^ a b "New Name, New Everything". Courier-Post. Jan 23, 1987.
- ^ a b c d e Brown, Christopher. "MTS: Meet Heather Henderson". Meet the Skeptics. Archived from the original on October 22, 2014. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
- ^ Rael, John (3 February 2012). "Heather Henderson interview (Be Skeptical episode 6)". IIG West. IIG. Retrieved April 27, 2015.
- ^ Ellingsworth, Jen. "Soulamite in Spotlight at The Frogg Pond Feb 28-29". Cape Gazette. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
- ^ a b McElhinney, Andrew Repasky. "The Short End of the Flick Anna Frangiosa and Heather Henderson define the new Philly avant-garde". Philadelphia Weekly. Archived from the original on April 23, 2015. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
- ^ Flick, Larry (May 1, 1993). "Dance Trax Single Reviews". Billboard.
- ^ Bowen, Justin (13 July 2011). "Is that Penn Jillette, rocking the bass guitar?!". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved April 27, 2015.
- ^ a b Murtha, Tara. "Sexy Issue: Erotica in Philly Exploring the other side of Philly's kinky side". Philadelphia Weekly. Archived from the original on March 17, 2015. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
- ^ "I Use my Mac for... Showbiz!". Apple. Apple Profile Mac Format.com. July 2014.
- ^ "Performers". Hollywood Burlesque Festival. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
- ^ Wertheimer, Kate. "Best burlesque performers in LA: Heather Henderson". Time Out Los Angeles. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
- ^ "Official 2009 Claw Award Winners & Nominees" (PDF). Terror Film Festival. Retrieved April 28, 2015.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "JEKYLL AND HYDE ANNOUNCE THE 2009 CLAW AWARDS!" (PDF). Terror Film Festival. Retrieved April 28, 2015.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Episode List". Ardent Atheist. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
- ^ "Podcast Awards". The People's Choice Podcast Awards. Archived from the original on December 10, 2013. Retrieved April 27, 2015.
- ^ "About the Show". Skeptically Yours. Retrieved April 27, 2015.
External links
[edit]- Official Audio Give it Up by Baby Heather
- Ardent Atheist podcast
- Skeptically Yours podcast
- 1973 births
- Living people
- Jewish American atheism activists
- American women podcasters
- American religion and spirituality podcasters
- Musicians from Camden, New Jersey
- African-American activists
- African-American atheists
- 20th-century African-American women singers
- 20th-century American women singers
- 20th-century American singers
- American people of Hungarian-Jewish descent
- 21st-century American singers
- 21st-century American women singers
- 21st-century African-American women singers