Burlesque lover or just burlesque curious?
This is my first ever blog so be gentle with me people. Maybe you are a burlesque fan (like me), someone who is burlesque curious (like I used to be) or perhaps some bloke looking for semi naked pictures of women which you won’t find on here. Why not you ask? Because burlesque is about tease not strip and many other things besides and to understand that you need to go and see a show.
Burlesque has been around in London for a good few years now starting at querky scruffy arthouse venues like the Bethnal Green Working Mens Club and has built in popularity so much so that Time Out has had to introduce a new section the Social Club to cover all the alternative burlesque, cabaret, performance nights, bingo, clothes swaparamas, costume balls, afternoon tea dances and all things silly and dress up that are happening all over the city.
Way back when I was burlesque curious I knew very little about it but I knew it was sexy and cool and going to be a big thing. I talked about setting up a burlesque event before I’d even seen a show. My friend Bridget who I host speeddating events with went on a burlesque course and after that we got together with her burlesque teacher around my kitchen table and setup what was to become the Cabaret and Burlesque meetup.
That was 10 months ago and burlesque has really taken over my life in many ways. And I’m not the only one to say that. The first time I went to see a show I didn’t know quite how to react. Is it sexy? Is it art? Am I meant to laugh? My answer is yes to all but it’s confusing at first and it’s definately an acquired taste like olives and marmite and all good things.
Now we run a monthly community event where we do a taster dance class so far burlesque, charleston, performance improvisation and can-can with blues and bellydance soon. We also have a 5/8 act show and through helping to put that together I’ve met many performers and wannabee performers.
This world has totally captivated me since for so many reasons. One of the things that surprised me is that the people are so nice and it’s not fake nice, it’s really genuine friendly nice.
Since setting our myspace site for example (www.myspace.com/velvetlondon) we have been thanked kindly, asked how we are and been told we just need to whistle if we need help. We have been told that it sounds fabulous, that we should have a fabulous day and that we should stay fabulous. We have been sent love, lipstick kisses, smooches and have been told we are wondrous. We have been called sweetpea and dollface. We have people trying to sell their beautiful veiled hats, latex couture and nipple tastles. We have one request for pie, but that was my friend Jimmy from Wigan and it’s grim up north.
It’s a revival of romance and old fashioned values. Yes in burlesque performers take off clothes but it not about the tits it’s about the tease. Guys if you try to chat up or pull a burlesque performer after a show you’ll be given very short shift. These women (not girls) are feisty, educated, career women with proper day jobs from TV producers to teachers to children’s book writers. For them it’s about attention, which is nice to get, but more importantly about fun and self esteem. It doesn’t matter what your body size or shape: you can burlesque. And people will clap and cheer and anyone can be sexy, it’s all about confidence. It’s also not about men. Burlesque audience are predominantly made up of straight women. We love the corsets and feathers and stockings and fabulous shoes. We love the theatrics and ironic humour. We show solidarity to those real women on stage with real boobs and bums and imperfect bodies as we all have. We fancy doing one of the now many burlesque classes going on and getting up on stage ourselves. Create our own sexy alter ego and exotic performance names.
Seemingly strangely many burlesque performers are single. Where we have all wondered have gentlemen gone who want women not girls, who want to woo and court a beautiful intelligent woman and enjoy the chase knowing that the prize is so worthwhile.
As the world and our society progresses more people will embrace the new burlesque and cabaret scene as it becomes more obvious that backwards is the way forwards.
So what do you think?
Join us on our facebook groups: Cabaret and Burlesque, Cabaret and Burlesque 2, The Rubadub Social Club, Old Fashioned dating
Or on www.myspace.com/velvetlondon, www.myspace.com/rubadubsocialclub, www.myspace.com/theoldfashioneddatingco
