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

Can anyone point me in the direction of 'military style' burlesque performers?

Apparently it's one of the four styles you can learn about on a new burlesque course in Birmingham (look, I'm saying nothing, this despairing sighing noise I'm making isn't supposed to influence you at all whilst reading this article in the Birmingham Mail):

Burlesque keep-fit sessions are a hit

I think it's the fact that even the naive reporter notes that the instructor, 19, works in a tanning salon as well as being a burlesque instructor...

And we were wrong, the correct phrase should be "If Nicole Kidman doesn't do it, it isn't burlesque"

Oh my goodness there's a video too, oh deary me, don't anyone let Kittie watch the 'how burlesque came about' bit....

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Don't get me wrong - I totally think there's a marketplace for keep fit type classes that have a burlesque-flair to them...what bothers me is the outside world thinking that this IS what a burlesque class should be and that they will come out the other end ready to step onto a stage....

And I'm sure the lovely instructor here will give the ladies in her class a good time...

But I worry that it's not even reporters misquoting her here, this is from the horses mouth and fuels the misinformation about burlesque:

Burlesque originated when erm, um, the women used to dress up and perform to men, erm, but now erm, Dita Von Teese has brought it into the 21st Century and films like erm, Chicago and Moulin Rouge, erm um, we're seeing glimpses of burlesque in these......"

I do wonder whether the lovely Steph has ever seen a burlesque performance in her life....

Nooooooo! That video was awful ops:

oh dear ... slightly cringe worthy, the video that is ... poor luv ...

So let me get this right- "burlesque orginated when women danced for the men" and this girl's classes can help you "dance for a partner".

There I was, thinking burlesque was about empowerment and doing things for yourself and building your self esteem. Clearly I was wrong- it's all for men!

She really doesn't seem like she has a clue what she is talking about in that video. The erms and ums, and all those vague answers looking away from the camera... She's making it up on the spot!!

Here was me thinking that burlesque was all about parody and satire ... Guess I learned that wrong eh?

GRRRRR I hate this idea that burlesque is just a classy equivalent of a lap dance or something, something done to titillate the menfolk and keep them happy at the sight of boobs - but it's not stripping, so it's OK for good girls to do >_< Really winds me up - they'd be so disappointed if they ever saw me onstage, I tell you!

I refuse to read or watch this as I know it'll just make me angry and I don't need another headache ...

Originally Posted by December Charm

So let me get this right- "burlesque orginated when women danced for the men"

No no no no no (she says trying to do her best Churchill the dog impression)

Burlesque originated when erm the women used to DRESS UP and perform to men, you big silly, surely you knew that!

Half of me wants to say 'ah bless' when she drops her tiny fan on the floor "oh dear how did that happen, I must now bend over and show my bum" and half of me wants to leave the house, drive across to Birmingham, taking my laptop and spending 5 intensive days on youtube and myspace showing her how its actually done....but I wouldn't want to cut into her tanning salon slots....bless

I guess it more concerned me that she only 'learned burlesque' to teach it. It's not as though she was someone who loved the art form (in whatever interpretation of it that was) and then decided to share that love by teaching. It more seems like the company went... 'oh we need someone to teach the class... you do it! Come on it's easy to pick up'
If i were a punter and i found out my teacher had only just learned it herself i would probably feel like, 'if it's that easy to pick up then why am i paying you money to teach me when i could just pick it up myself'.
I mean no disrespect to the lady, eveyone's got to make a living somehow i just don't feel that teaching something that someone else demonstrated to you in an afternoon is really very ethical.

It annoys me that some people get in touch the first time with what this girl thinks is Burlesque and get the wrong idea of it (especially if it puts them off)

If it's to dance for men I wonder why there is such a high attendance of women at Burlesque events.