Escaped from the Circus: Monkey Zuma

An Atlanta staple and former founding member of Greasepaint -- Atlanta's bizarro circus extraordinaire -- Monkey Zuma has been delighting audiences with her "Amazing Finger of Stink" and her Rudy Huxtable-inspired dance, "The Rudy," since 1999.

Monkey Zuma is now a part of the local burlesque troupe Dames A'Flame and "neo-superhero lit-rock group" the Fantastic.

Turn-ons: monocles, champagne, 'tater chips and dingle-berries.

Turn-offs: pack mentality, curfews and FeBreze.

How old is Monkey Zuma? "25 years older than you think."

Monkey Zuma has been linked to several local celebrities. But she ditches them all when Peter Gabriel comes through town.

Among the scenesters linked to Monkey Zuma is Big Mike Geier of Kingsized. She co-hosts the periodically held "Gusto Show" -- a circus/variety rock show -- with Geier. And you know those co-hosts are always getting it on.

Favorite thing to do when she's not performing: driving. She drives any chance she gets. If there's nowhere to go, she'll just drive in circles around the Piggly Wiggly parking lot.

What has she learned from her colleagues in Dames A'Flame? "They show me makeup tips and teach me how to twirl tassels. But I pride myself on being the hairiest Dame in the bunch."

Favorite song: "We Like Bananas" as sung by the dashing dandy Rory McRake.

Favorite food: "Anything, as long as there's champagne to wash it down with. When champagne isn't available, I'll settle for homemade hooch in a bread bag."

If you see Monkey Zuma and she holds out her hand and says, "Huele mi dedo," she wants you to smell her finger. It's a perfectly hospitable salutation where she comes from. So just smell it.

Catch Monkey Zuma and Kingsized in the "Gusto Show" Wed., Dec. 17, at Eddie's Attic.