What IS Burlesque?
I was faced with this question during a very challenging point of my Burlesque career in 2023. I was knee deep in trying to make my Medusa number work after having had excruciating failures with it, when a feedback comment was made. “Oh, this isn’t Burlesque. This is more along the lines of erotic performance art.”. That sent me into a not so healthy spiral that took a few weeks to unravel and come back from. But it also sent me deep into “Well if that’s not burlesque, then what IS Burlesque??????”. I realized that I had happened into a blooming Burlesque career without really understanding how to do it, where it comes from, and what differentiates it from other art forms. Since then I’ve done a lot of studying in the attempt to deepen my understanding of this art form, and it feels important to share what I’ve learned.
With out further ado: What IS Burlesque?
This is the most simple way that I have found to describe modern day Burlesque: It is a performance art that oscillates around the Strip Tease in a theatrical way.
“Burlesko” is the original Spanish/Italian word that was coined for this art form in the 1600’s. It meant “Sattire” or “To make fun of”. So it often includes some sort of comedic element.
Burlesque is a performance art, not a dance style. You will see some Burlesque performers dancing and you will see many who don’t dance at all.
Burlesque is influenced by a multitude of different art forms and cultures throughout history, so it is many things and it’s own thing at the same time.
Doing Burlesque is inherently political. Even when it is not directly meant to be. Burlesque is sex work adjacent and heavily intersects with art forms and people who have historically been ostracized.
There is SO MUCH MORE to Burlesque, what it is and where it comes from. But this is the simplest way I have found at this point to make my attempt at answering the great big question, “What IS Burlesque?”.
Are you interested in exploring this topic more? Do you want to actually learn the art of the Strip Tease? There are many options for how you can do that, and one of those options is Me! I offer private lessons, Individual Mentorship Programs, group classes, and workshops! Scroll up to the menu at the top of the page and hop over to the Classes and Workshops tab to learn more!
