Thread: To Reveal or Not Reveal?

Firstly apologies all round if I’m digging up a subject that has probably already been on here, but I would like to ask the community learned member exactly where we stand on the issue of the ‘reveal’.

It’s just that as far as I knew it wasn’t always necessary for a performer to reveal at the end of their act. It’s just that lately I’m seeing what appears to be a growing trend in not revealing, although in a specific area.

I’ve seen three separate performers who do not reveal at the end of any of their performances, all their routines are similar is so far as being very much dance orientated and after watching one such set the other night, I began to wonder if in fact my previous convictions where correct. It seems to me that if you don’t do the reveal, then basically you’ve just done a cabaret style dance, surely?

Given that Burlesque is open to so many styles an genres, is not possible that these dancer will at some point drop the cabaret element as well and before long we’ll have the same person doing street dance complete with the relevant attire?!

Now please let make it clear as a man who has seen a great deal of nakedness in my time, I’m not particularly interested in seeing partial nudity when I view a performance these days, Burlesque has never been an area of some sexual gratification to me. However the tease element is pretty much essential to the act is it not?

I mention a specific area earlier in my rambling which I’d like to clarify now; all of these three performers I have seen doing the non-reveal style act have a common denominator; they all run Burlesque Schools. By that I don’t mean the seasoned performers mixing their performing careers with a little teaching here and there, but the type of ‘schools’ that have often featured on these forums.

These are the type of schools that are popping up all over the place, whereby an often trained dancer in another discipline (Pole, Latin, Belly Dance etc) has set up a school teaching Burlesque. Now I’ve not made a terrible fuss of these schools in the past as in many cases they are a fun thing for people to partake in, however I have also stated that they don’t really do a lot for the aspiring newcomer with genuine ambitions to get onto the circuit.

It there now a real possibility that with this type of schooling going on, we will see more and more non-revealers actually breaking into the scene and possibly start to erode some of the true identity of Burlesque??

Sorry to drone on, but I would appreciate the views of the members on this.

Skinny Pete

WARNING

Warning: This is an Old Thread This discussion is older than 60 days. information contained in it may no longer be current

I think it is up to the performer whether they reveal or not... And on a personal level I like it when the performer doesn't feel they have to reveal everytime - it changes the dynamic... Basically, the way I see it, burlesque isn't just about peeling, there are all forms - and even Charlie Chaplain could be considered one of the first burlesque artists as he is a direct interpretation of what the word 'burlesque' means ("A literary or dramatic work that ridicules a subject either by presenting a solemn subject in an undignified style or an inconsequential subject in a dignified style" or
"A ludicrous or mocking imitation" or "a theatrical entertainment of broad and earthy humor; consists of comic skits and short turns")

Personally I love all forms of burlesque, from the charactures like Red Sarah's Victorian strongman to Missy Malone's classic fan dancing, and in a way I am glad that these teachers you refer to aren't just showing their pupils how to strip as that is only one side of it...
x

I'm pretty bad for rambling on and on when replying to interesting threads like this but I'll attempt to keep my opinion short (for once),

I think a lot of acts go down to pasties, or even strip at all because that is what's considered to be burlesque, rather than because the strip is relevant to narrative or entertaining to watch. Whenever people do something simply because it's 'burlesquey' or 'what you're supposed to do for it to be burlesque' I find it a huge turn off. Often acts end up being really boring and unimaginative because the performer has worried too much about fitting the conventions of the genre above their own creativity.

If an act without a big reveal holds my attention and entertains me I don't give a hoot whether it fits the standard conventions of the genre. I just want to see acts that are a pleasure to watch. I would prefer to see something that maybe wouldn't fully fit into the accepted notion of what burlesque is but have it be original, different, funny, moving or whatever than see another boring 'Cherry Generic' act where all the burlesque boxes are ticked but where the performer isn't entertaining me due to lack of imagination in the creative process or lack of skill in the execution.

Don't get me wrong, I think it's best to end on a high, with something interesting happening so that you go out with a bang but in my book that doesn't have to be a reveal. Just something that makes me feel like I got that payoff at the end. And in a way, everyone is expecting pasties now so if someone finishes their act in a different or exciting way, that will make them stand out.

Look at acts such as the Chantilly Belles, they don't strip at all and the first time I saw them perform I didn't even realise the lack of nudity 'til I was half way home because they were so funny and kept me immersed and entertained.

I think, much more important than whether a performer goes down to pasties or not, should be whether or not a performer has interesting, original ideas (or an interesting, different take on traditional ideas) and good skills to execute those ideas with. That will keep my bum in a seat a lot longer than the promise of keeping to the traditional burlesque format at all costs.

D'oh! I did try to keep it short - I'm such a waffler!

What about the opposite - strips that go to a full reveal with very little focus on being sultry or titilating whatsoever...? Think Ursula Martinez, who plays upon post-feminism and contemporary media culture in order to reclaim female nudity and the naked form from the clutches of traditional striptease dictatorship.

Ursula Martinez - Hanky Panty
Ursula Martinez - Light My Fire

Look at Glorian Grey. I love her routines because she doesn'ts trip down to pasties. It looks amazing and it makes you laugh. I've done routines personally where i don't strip completly, but still had my big BANG (Literally with my police women where I pull a cap gun which makes a loud bang)

Like Emerald I'm a bit prone to rambling, so I'll try to keep it brief. It appears to me that 'burlesque' as it stands at the moment in contemporary western culture can be seen as a kind of nexus point between many other more established genres such as 'striptease' 'cabaret' 'showgirl' 'performance art' and many more.

I do see a lot of acts that have elements of striptease and often a reveal cramed into them when, on balance, they don't seem to need them, and I suspect this is because the artiste is desperatley trying to create a 'burlesque' act, and they feel that these elements will make it definable (bookable?) as one.

Listen to you girls using all your big fancy words.

Just get 'em out and be done with it !!

... I'll get me coat ...

x

PS - sorry, ive had too much diet coke tonight ...

Originally Posted by Warren

Listen to you girls using all your big fancy words.

Just get 'em out and be done with it !!

... I'll get me coat ...

x

PS - sorry, ive had too much diet coke tonight ...

Mr Speed.... PMSL

I could cover my bits with a dictionary for you Warren

hhahahahahaha! I agree...i think...with the above, i don't care if the is a big reveal as long as the performance keeps me entertained. I think most people in recent times expect a striptease, so the is nothing wrong with that either-especially if its a good one. The fact that everybody does a different thing eg, cabaret, striptease, or a fancy fan dance, is what keeps the diversity in burlesque. If everybody did a striptease every single time- then what is there to go and see?
so to summarise- as long as its entertaining i don't mind if there is no big reveal!xx