Thread: What do you do after taking classes?

Ive found some burlesque classes near enough to me, but looking more to the future..how do you REALLY become a professional performing burlesque artist?

Is it better to go to somewhere like the "London Academy of Burlesque" and take classes there? or do any classes count..if so how do you go from taking classes, to performing on a stage and classing yourself as a Burlesque dancer?

To be fair, ive not given it a try yet, i might absolutely hate it, but im very eager to give it a try..

I was looking at "Burlesque Baby-school of burlesque" as if you go up to level 4 they enroll you into the "graduation show"? and you devise your own routines ect, To me this seems the more professional route to go? Or are classes okay to get the ball rolling too?

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Hi,

I believe that big, well established classes can be really usefull in getting a leg-up towards getting gigs ane becomming known, but I also believe that it's probably not essential to pay lots of cash for classes in order to get a show.

See the thread about how to get your first shows which is in learning burlesque forum.

A local class will be fine, especially when you are starting out, and like you say, not sure if you are going to like it! You can always take the other ones later. Good artists in any genre never stop learning and take opportunities to develop skills throughout their career.

I'm a teacher, and would never want to under-value good teaching but would also like to point out that some people perform having done no burlesque classes at all.

Some people have come from other performance backgrounds, and others have no background in performance. I am by no means a professional performer, we gig about 3 times a month usually. The people in the shows I do are from mixed backgrounds of people who did classes, people who were dancers first, people who just put together an act and took to it really well!

I would imagine the same is true at the top, but I hope someone will enlighten us. I'd be interested to know if there was an accepted route to becomming a professional performer.

I have been performing on the burlesque scene for just over a year now, and it's at this point I'm looking to do more training as I have a clearer idea of what skills I want to develop than I did when I started. It's only now that I would be thinking about having private lessons and workshop time with performers I admire.

Try it out at a local class, ty several if you can as the quality probably varies! Go to loads of shows and think about what you want to do (I'm sure you do this anyway!) See how you feel after you've been up there a couple of times at a local night. You'll then know a bit more what you want to focus on learning. x

I'd agree with Twiggy... a lot of classes start with the basics and some offer the opportunity to perform for friends/family as a local charity event. It should give you a feel for things and if you decide you want to go further or not.

It's coming up to a year since I started burlesque, and I'm currently exploring other dance classes, acting and stage skills classes, or returning to things I started when younger like hula hooping. I still attend burlesque classes which have moved from beginner to intermediate level, and I find them beneficial for choreography tips and working as a group, as well as the social side of it!
I'm also taking tips from my beloved mother on sewing and costume making, something she's brilliant at but I never enjoyed until I started stitching marabou trim and sequins onto my costumes!!!

I see burlesque as I see my business - there's always room for improvement, new skills to learn, new knowledge to find and new people to see and talk to!
x

Thankyou ladies

Great advice and answers

I was at a Saturday stageschool for 5 years and took ballet and jazz lessons when younger, I also did a college course for dressmaking but Burlesque seems like such a jump from anything else ive done before..Its not something they would teach you at school or college now is it I cant wait to have a go at it!

x

I have been around the burlesque seen a far bit now and still take the odd class. Currently learning some more traditional striptease routines after seeing some truly inspired performances in Oz.

Classes are good to attend but also go to shows to learn some skills, see what works/doesnt work etc. Plus meet others in the scene to network with and help each other out.