Thread: Burlesque Aspirations - Too Late?!

I would love to start learning Burlesque though I'm worried for two reasons:

1. I've just turned 24. This might be ridiculous, though it might not - but is this too old to start learning Burlesque? I'm confident I can still pass for 20, but I guess staying power is the real gripe here?

2. Each time I try searching for Burlesque classes near me (Farnham), I mostly get pole dancing stuff come up. I dearly want quite old-fashioned Burlesque teaching, along with chair dancing!

I'm also curious as to how much a comedic duo (man & woman) would still hold up today as my partner is also interested in Burlesque, though I'm not sure just how popular a male & female double act are these days as stripping and pole dancing etc seem to be more and more intermingled with Burlesque. I would be joyful for linkage to any good videos!

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Hi chick,
welcome to the forum!
Firstly, from the title of your post I thought this was going to be written by a gal in her 50s or 60s! (Not that that age is too old either!) Twenty four is still a baby, especially in burlesque terms. It's not like going into ballet or something where you need to have trained through childhood and your career is over by thirty. I started when I was 23 and only really feel I am starting to hit my stride now, nearly five and a half years later.
In reality the majority of performers on the scene are somewhere between early twenties and mid thirties but there are still a fair amount of folks who perform (both newcomers and more established acts) who are in their forties or fifties and even some who perform older than that. Some of the old greats who were around in the 1940s can still be tempted to don their tassles too!

If your area is a little thin on the ground for classes you could always try a Ministry of Burlesque DVD to get you started. Some of those beginners burlesque classes aren't all they're cracked up to be so if you are going to take a class, make sure you do your research, you want to learn from a respected, experienced performer - not someone who has branched out from teaching aerobics or something but has no real experience.
Many performers who come from the burlesque lesson system can find it a little restrictive so be prepared to possibly end up needing to unlearn a lot of what you learn in a class. With a good teacher there should be room for individual expression and creativity but a less good teacher will just teach everyone by rote - leading to a whole class full of identikit performers. Also, some people find that it is a better use of their time and money to watch as much burlesque as possible but instead of a burlesque class, to take a class in another discipline (ballet, clowning, street dance, acting etc) as that way you learn real transferable skills that make you a better performer. I think part of the joy of burlesque is learning your own take on the genre and taking a beginners class (if not taught by the right person) can often slow down that process, while learning other disciplines will speed it up.

There are some great male and female duos but when it comes to comedy I don't think I can express enough adoration for Trixie Little and the Evil Hate Monkey. I had the good fortune to see them live a couple of years ago they reduced the whole room to horny tears of laughter!



Anyway, sorry for the long essay! I tend to be quite pants and writing short snappy forum posts!

you are NEVER too old to shake your bootie. At 24 you're practically a spring chicken. go for it. xx

Burlesque inspiration: Cabaret UK

One of my teachers (who taught for Burlesque Baby) in London worked with her partner when she was still performing. Her stage name was Tenacity Flux. It might be worth sending her an email for some insight (and if they knew of any other burly duo's). I'll inbox you with further info.

You're never too old to live your passion!

x

Burlesque is an older woman's sport, i always say this. You have to know your body and be able to put all inhibitions behind you. I didn't start til i was 27!

When you can stop asking if you're too old for burlesque, it's time to start burlesque.

Thank you SO much for everybody who has responded so far to my thread as well as the personal messages directing me to various wonderful things!
I am tracking down lessons in Aldershot (right next to Farnham) so hopefully I can start picking up some moves there! Also I am excited for connections as there is also a place which shows Burlesque shows there!

I realised earlier this week that this is something I have to do - I joined this forum in 2007 and too many years have passed for me to let this slide from my life. I don't want to wait anymore! The more I discover about Burlesque, the more I love it. It must have sounded so ignorant regarding things like age; the videos I've watched of older women and women of all different shapes and sizes are all as talented and sexy as the last. For me it truly knocks general stripping - and the cliches associated with conventional stripping - out of the water.

Does anyone know where I can get my hands on a MOB DVD?

Thank you SO much everyone!! xx

I started learning burlesque when I was 39...did my first performance when I was 40 this year....best thing I've ever done. Go for it!!!

Hey Schweetheart! I started when I was 32 - and have loved every minute of it. In my classes I regularly teach women over their 40's.

Here in Kansas City we have a fantastic Man/Woman duo. Home Page

Once my honey gets back and settled from his deployments we plan on performing as a duo.

If you want to do it - DO IT. If you work at your craft and love what you do - you'll find an audience!