101 ways to do Burlesque
Burlesque is a performance art that has undergone many evolutions and expansions through it’s lifetime. The current version of burlesque has many different shapes.
I’m not actually going to list out 101 ways to do Burlesque, that’s too much. But I am going to explain what makes burlesque unique to itself and describe some of the different ways you can do it.
Lets start with understanding some of the key things that differentiate burlesque from other performance art forms.
The Tease. We don’t give everything away right away, we make the crowd work for it. By the time we do give them a reveal, there is still always something more that can be left to the imagination. The tease ignites the imagination, the curiosity, and the mystery.
Pasties! We love glueing pretties to our titties and (in most cases) we don’t reveal our nipples. Similarly, we don’t reveal everything from the bottom half either. This is part of The Tease.
Burlesque is theatrical! Most burlesque shows are a sit down and pay attention kind of event in which an emcee entertains the crowd with comedy in between introducing each performers act. Whether the show is tightly themed or focused on variety, every act will have some sort of theatrical element to it. Props, story telling, clever usage of music.
Comedy. Satire. Parody. These are not required elements, but they are very common and very much part of this art form.
And now, the list of 11 ways that you can do burlesque!
Classic burlesque. Bump n grind moves to golden era music with glamorous boas and corsets galore.
Theatrical burlesque. Lines, acting, full visual representation of characters. It’s like seeing a play, but everyone takes off their clothes instead of bursting into song.
Comedic burlesque. Full send into your funny bone and make an entire act out of whatever tickles you.
Weirdlesque. Think comedy burelsque, but taken to a whole new level of just outright, weird.
Draglesque. Cross dressing has been part of burlesque for all of its history. However, this particular term describes the fusion of modern Drag Queen/King performance art including lipsyncing and burlesque tease/reveal.
Aerial burlesque. Fly through the air on your apparatus whilst removing your costuming!
Other circusy things. Stilts, hoola hoops, contortion, juggling, acrobatic tricks, etc.
You can apply varying dance styles and techniques to your burlesque. Hip hop, ballet, jazz, latin, ballroom, swing, tap, etc. Be *very* mindful with this if your dance background is in styles of cultures that may not appreciate the fusion of their culture and taking clothing off.
Political Statement Burlesque. You have something you want to say about rights, the current political landscape, or historical politics? This is your time to shine, and burn something down.
Clown Burlesque. Have a knack for clownin around and ticklin funny bones with jester like shenanigans and tomfoolery? Balloon animals AND pasties?! Oh my! (Probably not good for a childs birthday party)
Themes n things. There are many burlesque shows that are good ol do your thing variety shows. And then there are theme shows, and you can create an act special for that theme. For example: A Broadway themed show will have all Broadway themed acts. A Halloween show should consist of all spooky season flavored numbers.
This list could easily go to 101 bullet points, but I suspect you get the point, at this point, so whats the point in going on? See my point? *wink wink
Now that you know you have so many options, how do you choose know where to start? Well I can help you with that. I offer private lessons, personalized mentorship programs, weekly classes, and workshops! Click the link for more info! —> https://www.thestellaluna.com/classesandworkshops
