San Antonio burlesque performer S.T. Shimi dies at 49
- Julian P. Ledezma
- S.T. Shimi at the 2016 San Antonio Burlesque Festival.
San Antonio theater artist and burlesque performer S.T. Shimi has died.
Shimi’s husband, artist Oscar Alvarado, confirmed to the Express-News that she was struck by a vehicle while crossing Blanco Road on Wednesday night. She was 49.
A longtime member of San Antonio’s Stars and Garters burlesque troupe, Shimi performed under the stage name Black Orchid. She often incorporated specialty skills including fire-eating, pole dance, aerial silks and hooping in her award-winning routines.
“Our hearts break with yours over the loss of our beloved Black Orchid,” Stars and Garters said in a statement on Facebook.
“We ask for space for the family as we transition to a life without our All Star performer and co-producer.”
Shimi, who also had a long association with Jump-Start Performance Co., recently appeared hula-hooping in the video for San Antonio-born pop band Hyperbubble’s cover of “Rhinestone Cowboy.”
Shimi is survived by Alvarado, her father and her brother.
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