Thread: The four styles of burlesque......?

Originally Posted by Fleur du Mal

To a certain extent, I agree with Heather.

Yes, if done well, burlesque can include the expression of sexuality and sensuality, and many performers capture this very well. I don't try to, personally - if someone finds my act sexy, it's a nice bonus - it's not what I was intending to do.

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Top stuff Fleur, Im the same. I can see the lure of more glamourous striptease, and I do like that side of things even if its not what comes naturally to me, I just wish the emphasis was not so firmly there, so often. There's room for so much in burly, I dare say even for US dance style pussycat dolls stuff, but if only it was generally known that burly is all sorts, theatre and variety, song, dance, magic, circus, tease, random pancake-making-splits-doing men...not just a one or two dimensional view. Not really related to the video but there you go.

I'm sure I've said it before and I'll probably say it again - I much prefer the comic stuff or story based acts. I find straighter or glamorous acts have a harder time pleasing me. When booking a show with Angel LaVey we try to put something in for everyone but I realise that my biais can come into play. Personally, having seen Vicky Butterfly perform I imagine I will have an even harder time booking those kind of acts because she is so good and sets the bar very very high.

Give me comedy, make me laugh is how I live most of my burlesque life.

Originally Posted by Glorian Gray

Top stuff Fleur, Im the same. I can see the lure of more glamourous striptease, and I do like that side of things even if its not what comes naturally to me, I just wish the emphasis was not so firmly there, so often.

I have to say that recently, the more glamorous acts have been appealing to me more and more and now the straighter, dance based acts that I have outnumber the comedy. I think it's because, although I think I'm probably better at performing the comedy, I find it very difficult to come up with concepts that I could work into acts. A lot of my more technical, dance based routines are aimed at being visually interesting, and their concepts are often more obscure (meaning very few, if any, other performers use similar themes). And I'm getting a lot better at the sexier stuff. I feel like I can actually vamp it up now - I still feel a little awkward, but I don't shy away from playing a more sultry character now. But my comedy acts are still my favourites to perform ...

Sometimes I wish I could just pick a style and stick to it - I might get really good at one style then, instead of chopping and changing all the time!

Originally Posted by Fleur du Mal

Sometimes I wish I could just pick a style and stick to it - I might get really good at one style then, instead of chopping and changing all the time!

Ah, there's nought wrong with being a versatile performer - if nothing else it keeps the audience on their toes if they're never sure what you're going to come up with next! :winkgrin:

Originally Posted by steveb

I thought 'Chicago' was vaudeville. Isn't 'burlesque' and 'vaudeville' different?

Originally Posted by Happia

New to this site, as well as newbie to Burlesque.
I love 'Chicago', I never think too much, but steveb gave us the question above.
I am puzzled!!!!

Classical (theatrical) burlesque has links with vaudeville - have a look at this from the MoB FAQs http://www.ministryofburlesque.com/f...s-history.html

Originally Posted by Fleur du Mal

Sometimes I wish I could just pick a style and stick to it - I might get really good at one style then, instead of chopping and changing all the time!

Ha ha, top! Am looking forward to meeting you on Wednesday, I feel exactly the same. SOmetimes I think that people like to be able to identify their style or someone else's style, maybe it makes it easier to know what you are getting. And if one thing comes naturally or you love it the best, then why not! Me, Ive tried sexy and it was ok but didnt feel right, I know I do comedy best, but still yearn to be graceful and ethereal!

I do wonder though, if I had a better body image, would I feel better playing on the sexy side? Do I do comedy because I feel more the fool than the siren? Interesting.

Originally Posted by Glorian Gray

Ha ha, top! Am looking forward to meeting you on Wednesday

Right back at ya ;-)

Originally Posted by Glorian Gray

I feel exactly the same. SOmetimes I think that people like to be able to identify their style or someone else's style, maybe it makes it easier to know what you are getting.

I know what you mean here. Also, I like being eclectic, but I feel like I'm not giving myself enough time to really develop one style because I'm rushing from one to another

Originally Posted by Glorian Gray

And if one thing comes naturally or you love it the best, then why not! Me, Ive tried sexy and it was ok but didnt feel right, I know I do comedy best, but still yearn to be graceful and ethereal!

Maybe you should try again? There's no reason why you can't keep experimenting with different routine styles. Just don't put them on stage while you don't feel comfortable with those styles, but keep working on them in your spare time. Maybe you'll have an epiphany one day or discover that if you do something a certain way, you can be graceful and ethereal? It worked for me. I firmly believe you can be graceful and ethereal if you want to be - you just have to learn your own body's strengths and weaknesses, and then play to your strengths

Originally Posted by Glorian Gray

I do wonder though, if I had a better body image, would I feel better playing on the sexy side? Do I do comedy because I feel more the fool than the siren? Interesting.

It's possible. I know I felt much better playing the vamp after I had a really successful photoshoot that buoyed my confidence. Once you do something successfully, it becomes easier every time afterwards. I still feel my facial expressions let me down - I'm much better at foolish expressions than come-to-bed eyes - but I want to work on them because I'm enjoying the vampier routines, finally. Essentially, if you want to play the siren, practise; if you don't want to, don't bow to any perceived pressure.

Oh I'd love to see what you could do with a steampunk routine Fleur. I've found myself getting into it the last couple of months and I'm amazed at what some artists can do.

Originally Posted by blitzgrrl

Oh I'd love to see what you could do with a steampunk routine Fleur. I've found myself getting into it the last couple of months and I'm amazed at what some artists can do.

Oh not a routine - I don't know enough of the genre to go for a full routine. But I fancy creating a look, a character, almost a second side to my persona ... it's an idea which has been going round in my head for some time now, and the Steampunk look seems to have merged with it somehow to create something rather bizarre!