Thread: Burlesque and Motherhood

Hey Ladies!

First of all I would like to introduce myself- I am Lina, a media arts student with a great interest in the world of performance.

Currently I am working on a project about different roles of femininity and how these roles are combined creating a real face of a woman. Burlesque to me expresses one of the basic roles- the seductive, teasing and sexual one, a woman as a desire and dreams object. What I am interested in is how this role combines with another very important woman's role- being a mother. There're many common stereotypes about women and their roles and how certain type of women behaves and who they are.I would like to break them showing that woman's nature is very multiple and versatile, it always combines more then one role and that these roles are not conflicting with each other.


Therefore, I would like to meet a burlesque dancer, who is also a mother. If you are one, or you know somebody who is and might be willing to help me, please let me know. Even if you can meet me only for a cup of coffee, that would be really helpful.


Thank you girls in advance!

Lots of love

Lina
xxx

Telephone: 07849041502
E- mail: linazilinskaite@yahoo.com
Imagined Pictures

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Hi sweetie,
I'm a mother and a burlesque performer and there are lots of other yummy mummies on this forum too who I'm sure would be happy to talk about it. I'd love to meet for a cuppa and talk about it (I could talk about it for days!) but I think I'm situated too far away, but I'm sure you'll be able to find a more local burly mum.
Sometimes I feel the two roles work really well together and at other times conflict terribly and not just in a practical sense. I'll add some more to this thread later as I find this subject very interesting but I have to go now (pick kid up from school -see what I mean). xxx

Hi Lena,

I have a son and perform (not a pro though, just hobbiest). Would love to help out if I can, wher are you based?

Mama X

Originally Posted by Miss B Poppin

Hi sweetie,
I'm a mother and a burlesque performer and there are lots of other yummy mummies on this forum too who I'm sure would be happy to talk about it. I'd love to meet for a cuppa and talk about it (I could talk about it for days!) but I think I'm situated too far away, but I'm sure you'll be able to find a more local burly mum.
Sometimes I feel the two roles work really well together and at other times conflict terribly and not just in a practical sense. I'll add some more to this thread later as I find this subject very interesting but I have to go now (pick kid up from school -see what I mean). xxx

Thanks for answer! share any thought you have about it when you have a minute! for example, what your kids think about burlesque? or they are to young to understand?
and if you come to London, let me know, I would love to meet you!

xxx

Originally Posted by mama

Hi Lena,

I have a son and perform (not a pro though, just hobbiest). Would love to help out if I can, wher are you based?

Mama X

Hey Mama!

thanks for replaying!
I'm based in London, how about you? I really hope you are somewhere nearby so that we can meet for a girlie chat!

Saw your website- absolutely loved you pics! you are fabulous!

xxx

hi hun

im another mummy performer. but up near manchester, though!!

email me on susievongarter@yahoo.co.uk if you need advice. x

Originally Posted by Blue Angel

Hey Mama!

thanks for replaying!
I'm based in London, how about you? I really hope you are somewhere nearby so that we can meet for a girlie chat!

Saw your website- absolutely loved you pics! you are fabulous!

xxx

Aww thats sweet, I guess thats the magic of make-up, girdles and photoshop. I'm about 30 mins out of Euston Station, or feel free to email me...will PM you! XX

Originally Posted by Blue Angel

Thanks for answer! share any thought you have about it when you have a minute! for example, what your kids think about burlesque? or they are to young to understand?
and if you come to London, let me know, I would love to meet you!

xxx

Hey Sweetie,
My daughter is 9 and very inquisitive so I'm afraid here's no hiding what I do anymore. I've always tried to keep the more sexual elements hidden but kids aren't stupid and they pick up on a lot more than one realises. In the earlier days I think she just thought I was like a dancer who dressed up in crazy costumes but then she started to ask more and more awkward questions like
"mummy why do you have to have jewels on your bra and knickers? No'ones going to see them are they?"
"what are these for?" when inspecting my pastie collection.
These questions all coincided with her going through a really censorious stage where any nudity anywhere was 'yuk' or 'gross' which she was getting from her friends.
I did feel very worried for a bit that she would feel funny and ashamed of what I do when she realised the full implications. I kept most of it hidden from her but this was very difficult and I felt sad not being able to share so much stuff with her.

Then things took a bit of a turn due to an episode of the simpsons, I don't know if you've seen the Maison Derriere episode (we put the spring in springfeild) ;

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bs0Vr6pnOdU"]YouTube - The Spring in Springfield[/ame]

My daughter watches the Simpsons religiously, in many ways it's a great episode because it deals with the hypocricy of moralistic atttitudes and I think Bart Simpson giving burlesque the thumbs up made it cool and acceptable in her mind.

After that she seemed quite proud of what I do which brings me to the next problem. I want her to feel comfortable with what I do but not too comfortable.

I have caught her imitating some cheesecakey poses, which I didn't like much, but not as much the times I've seen her copying Britney , or Lady Gaga ( some of her lady Gaga moves are pretty wicked though, I have to admit!)


Also one of her friend's mums was chatting to me in the playground and said out of nowhere that her daughter had told her that 'I wear sparkly bras and dance for men'. She said it in good humour not dissapprovingly but I was still taken a back by this.
I have explained profousely to my daughter that I don't dance for men and that it's though there are boys there are also lots of girls watching and having fun and that she will understand when she's older. That there is nothing wrong with what we do, that the body is nothing to be ashamed of, etc but it's for grown ups!


The trouble is, though it goes against my nature, mostly as a mother I want to be purer than the driven snow and I find it really hard to stomach the idea of her being anything other than my innocent little princess.
But when you look at TV and Pop music so much more dubious sexuality is marketed at children and they are going to learn about being a woman one way or another, I think personally burlesque is far healthier in that respect than the other influences out there.


Things seem to have settled down nicely for the time being, she seems very comfortable with everything but not overly interested, that seems to have been a phase which has passed (touch wood). We sew together, share the costumes and she often helps comes up with ideas for me, one which actually transpired into an act so on the whole it's really positive, but I still keep the really sexy stuff to a minimum and she never actually sees the full acts just the PG version.

It's a really difficult thing to know how to handle, she seems pretty cool with it, but I've got a feeling the problems gonna raise it's head again when she's a teenager !!!
xxxx

my daughter is 3, and she seems to think im a ballet dancer!! i think its because i have a few fancy tutus and bustles for my acts. im not gonna correct her, though.... x

Thank You girls so much for replays!

I was thinking what your husbands/boyfriends (if you have one) think about what you do? are they supportive or they would prefer you doing something else?

xxx