New Burlesque

Long live the rebirth of fabulous

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The female form has obviously always been displayed in some way for entertainment and profit whether be painting, sculpture or dance, but since the 1960s it seems to many of us that everything about female sexuality has been cheapened. Sounds odd does it? that the age that brought us feminism and political correctness, social acceptance of stripping and liberal attitudes to sex, could have spoiled female sexuality for us..? well it did, trust me.

Those of us who love vintage pinups do not just love them for their curves, we can see them (and more of them) anywhere these days. It is the subtle charms, the tease and a sense of artistry and mystery that keep us coming back for more. The same is true of burlesque fans Vs modern day stripping. They were determined to bring the old ways back to the spotlight where they belong.

The big players in the early revival were coming out of the party scene in New York. Like Billie Madley's "cinema" and then Ami Goodheart in Madley and Marando's "Dutch Weismann's Follies". As the scene grew it became an urban phenomenon across the country. Over in LA there was Michelle Carr's great troupe "the Velvet Hammer" while at the viper room Catherine D'Lish and Dita Von Teese were working together creating sheer fantastical glamour, and down in New Orleans were the Shim-Shamettes. At the same time all over the place were performers working the strip club scene who were incorperating burlesque elements into their acts. And it was not just in the USA but right across Europe as well as Japan and Australia

It was these performances, inspired by the likes of Tempest Storm, Gypsy Rose Lee, Sally Rand and Lilli St Cyr, which in turn inspired a new generation of burlesque performers and fans. It also provided a new vehicle for political satire and more unusual performance art. The likes of Cabaret Red light and Julie Atlas Muz used this new outlet to its fullest.
Another factor that may be connected to the rise of New Burlesque, as well as rockabilly, fetish, drag, and any other subculture with it's own music and style aesthetic, is the revival of Roller Derby, which it can be said features elements of burlesque. So while new Burlesque shows a deep love for the past, there were many more new influences on their style too.

Since 2000 Neo Burlesque has been defined by a certain performance sensibility and also by it's community.

The new burlesque community of today is more inclusive and interactive than that of the past. This is due to both new attitudes and also because of the internet, which has allowed huge conventions such as 'Tease-O-Rama' to spring into life.
This is a community that, while it loves and honours burlesque of the past, it aims for a higher level of freedom and creative expression, and greater inclusiveness than would ever have been accepted in years past.

In the scene there is a high level of respect for those who create their own shows and characters (without a producer or choreographer) and perform their own visions. So often those audiences who are looking for a purist tribute to the queens of the past are shocked and sometimes complain that it is not 'authentic'. These people can be quite aggressive about it. But I would say "well how else would you define being authentic other than being yourself?"
If burlesque is an art, and as an artist I believe it is, then it should be about breaking boundaries and preconceptions, while creating something beautiful and thrilling.

Do not think though that the old guard are gone or have hung up their sequins and fringe...oh no no no... Many are still performing, going strong and showing the young-uns' how to 'bump and grind'. Take the magnificent Tempest Storm! we can all hope to be half that sexy at half her age!!. One of the most wonderful things about neo burlesque is it's respect for its elders, for the divas who came before. This is rare in any scene and is something to be proud of.
So if you have not yet, go out and get involved with the wild side of the pinup girl coin, you will love it kittens!

To get you in the mood here are two preformances from a lady who really knows how to work those gloves, fans and corsets...Miss Orchid Mei...



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