What Burlesque Means to Me

Yesterday, I was doing a photoshoot and the photographer had never worked with a burlesque dancer before.

He asked me about it and I went into my usual history class about the Victorian music hall, the Golden Age of Burlesque in America, neo-burlesque and queer performers, etc etc.

Then I said, "you can think of it like striptease for the female gaze", and he said "ohhhhh, that makes so much sense now". I guess not everyone likes history lessons 😞.

Striptease for the female gaze!

💖 It's my new favourite catchphrase 💖

Burlesque isn't actually about trying to turn someone on. The word burlesque means 'parody' and some performers will even make fun of 'being sexy' in their movements.

I won't speak on behalf of all burlesque performers because it's a highly individual artform, but to me, it's about celebrating the beauty of the body, getting back in touch with sensuality and reconnecting with your own skin.

Using props like opera gloves for the 'tease' is a nod to our Victorian roots but it reminds us of the sensuality of the hands and the wrists, which we very easily forget about now.

We are so disconnected from our bodies!

And it's easy to think being sexy just means showing everything (male gaze? Did you know the reason women give birth on their backs is because a male doctor wanted to watch???).

Anyway, I can easily say burlesque is one of the most inclusive styles of performance art. Body shape, age, dance ability, background, ethnicity, appearance... None of that matters!

I've performed with such a diversity of people and have considered them all to be beautiful and inspiring. Because they're all so different, I've never felt so confident in my own skin (even on bad days) because it's been proven to me time and time again that beauty, confidence, sensuality and silliness looks different on everyone.

Love burlesque and love burlesque dancers. They make me feel amazing.