London burlesque artiste Slinky Sparkles knows a thing or two about corsets. Here she shows you the correct way to put on an underbust corset, and then get out of it again!
Miss Indigo Blue
Miss Indigo Blue is the reigning Miss Exotic World 2011. Miss Indigo Blue is irreverent and comical and her act harks back to the old theatrical side of burlesque. Watch her perform her funny, sassy routine Toronto International Burlesque Festival 2011.
Las Vegas Burlesque Clubs
Burlesque is a big part of what made Vegas, Vegas.
The risque entertainment of burlesque striptease and Sin City were always going to be perfect partners.
Post war, the Vegas showgirl became an emblem of Vegas spectacle, of how far Sin City would go to dazzle America. While the rest of the nation was hell-bent on women’s rights and equal opportunity, Las Vegas was convincing them to take off their tops.
By the late sixties many of the major Strip hotels had topless shows. And then in 1969 The Palomino Club, opened and became the first Vegas strip clubs, is that it is allowed to have both a liquor license, and totally nude dancers. Hot blooded males were soon jumping on planes to Vegas just to catch the show and return home on the red-eye.
Nowadays in Las Vegas there are plenty of pole dancing clubs and strippers but you can still also find the more glamorous artful side of the striptease.
Pussycat Dolls Burlesque Saloon @ Planet Hollywood is part nightclub, part bar and, of course, home of the burlesque performances that the Pussycats were originally known for.
Forty Deuce is one of the most popular nightclubs featuring racy Las Vegas burlesque each night of the week. Ivan Kane is the man behind the successful venue and the one who keeps the talent fresh and the lights low. Situated inside Mandalay Bay the soulful and steamy shows exhibit the old-world glam of Hollywood.
The Treasure Island Hotel and Casino showcases Las Vegas burlesque talent sure to please crowds. The cabaret-style burlesque of the 1920s is sweetened by a number of sensual sirens performing in the club. This is old burlesque with a new Vegas twist.
Quite possibly the hottest show in town is X Burlesque at The Flamingo. A sultry sexy show that features innovative props, fiery choreography and six stunning dancers.
And if you are in Vegas don’t forget to visit The Burlesque Hall of Fame a non-profit organization whose mission is to inspire, educate and entertain the public, fostering an appreciation for and understanding of the unique history and heritage of vintage American Burlesque. The Burlesque Hall of Fame is located inside Emeregency Arts at the corner of Fremont & 6th Streets in historic Downtown Las Vegas.
What is burlesque style?
Burlesque style is all about attitude. Its about sassiness and seduction about being comfortable with your sexuality. Its about accentuating your curves and celebrating the female form.
One of the best examples of burlesque style is Dita von Teese.
Dita von Teese
There isn’t one distinct burlesque way to dress. Burlesque performers at the turn of the 20th century wore layers of petticoats, skirts and corsets with a myriad assortment of lace trim. Nowadays there tend to be less petticoats but corsets , hats, gloves and stockings are all popular.
When dressing burlesque you can go for a raunchy look with a corsets and nipple tassles
or you can for a more demure 1940s pin up look that accentuates the curves but leaves more to the imagination.
Or why not wear a hat?
Burlesque is many things – sexiness, vintage, curves, pin up girls, striptease – but above all its fun!
Lili St Cyr
Lili St Cyr was one of the original queens of burlesque. Born Willis Marie Van Schaack, throughout the 40s and 50 she was one of the most recognised striptease artist in the world. One of her routines was the “The Flying G” – at the end of the dance, a stagehand would pull a fishing rod attached to St. Cyr’s G-string. It would fly into the balcony and the lights would go dim. It was this creativity that made her name.
Song: Fever by The Cramps
The Delectable Miss Orchid Mei
10 year anniversary show for Burlesque As It Was at the Blue Bird Theater
www.BurlesqueAsItWas.com
The fabulous Miss Evie Lovell
Miss Evie Lovell at the New Orleans Burlesque Fest
Song: Herb Alpert – Love Potion Nr. 9
more
Learning burlesque
If you want to learn how to dance burlesque we recommend these how to DVDs.
Teach yourself burlesque.
Burlesque craze sweeping Britain
Britain has caught the burlesque bug.
The mainstream tabloid newspaper The Daily Mail is running weekly burlesque articles, thousands of otherwise ordinary, middle-class women are putting on feather boas, flame-red lipstick and high heels to shimmy, bump and grind their afternoons away at burlesque classes and it is even helping drive High Street sales. Marks & Spencer sells ‘burlesque’ influenced basques and lingerie, while chains including Debenhams are reporting a huge increase in sales of suspenders.
‘There was a craze for pole-dancing at one time, but this is nothing like that,’ says Amber Topaz, a burlesque dancer at the Volupte lounge in London. ‘It’s comedic and a little bit provocative. There’s very little nudity. There are elements of theatre, dance, comedy and singing. It’s tongue-in-cheek. It’s a very British kind of entertainment. I’ve taught burlesque in Italy but none of the Italians understood the idea of being cheeky.
‘It’s a Carry On, stick-of-rock, ooh Matron kind of sauciness. It’s “Oops, I’ve accidentally shown you my knickers!” It’s striptease, not stripping.’
Lola Van Ella cake burlesque
A naughty but nice comical striptease involving creamy cakes form the delightful Lola Van Ella. Filmed at the New Orleans Burlesque Festival.
