A burlesque show is a variety show with an emphasis on comedy and risqué or at least somewhat risqué performance styles. Basically various performers will come out and perform everything from songs to dances to comedy to magic to acrobatics and pretty much everything inbetween. It’s all presented in a very tongue-in-cheek manner and the humor is usually naughty by nature. It can be sort of more modern humor but there is also in a lot of burlesques a dedication to the tone and aesthetics of the 1920s and 1930s. And the most iconic image associated with burlesque is female performers, like myself, coming out in tiny outfits and dancing while gradually losing clothing. Again, all in a very tongue-in-cheek way. But it’s pretty much the most fun live show you can go see and an even more fun show to perform in.
As someone who’s never been to a show, walk me through what the show entails. Is it just a bunch of ladies in frilly skirts doing the can-can?
You got a big part of it.
A burlesque show is a variety show with an emphasis on comedy and risqué or at least somewhat risqué performance styles. Basically various performers will come out and perform everything from songs to dances to comedy to magic to acrobatics and pretty much everything inbetween. It’s all presented in a very tongue-in-cheek manner and the humor is usually naughty by nature. It can be sort of more modern humor but there is also in a lot of burlesques a dedication to the tone and aesthetics of the 1920s and 1930s. And the most iconic image associated with burlesque is female performers, like myself, coming out in tiny outfits and dancing while gradually losing clothing. Again, all in a very tongue-in-cheek way. But it’s pretty much the most fun live show you can go see and an even more fun show to perform in.