Feb
History of Burlesque
The art of burlesque is just as fascinating as cheesecake. Many people still aren’t aware that burlesque wasn’t a show featuring strippers walking around taking off their clothes. Burlesque provided music, entertainment and comedy. However, the focus was indeed women who were near nude!
Burlesque began as shows that used comedy and music to make fun of the upper classes, shows, or operas of the day. These evolved to include women who were barely clothed to add to the entertainment and draw in the crowds. Women would wear tights and take on men’s roles, and this was considered quite indecent at a time when women hid themselves under layers upon layers of clothing.
Everyone quite enjoyed the rowdy burlesque shows, and when they began to receive heavy criticism for their indecency, they only became more popular. In time, burlesque became less about the comedy, and more about getting away with showing as much flesh as possible. This is where burlesque began to get it’s reputation as a strip show and also led to its gradual demise due to crackdowns.
Burlesque has seen a modern revival, just as pinup and cheesecake has. There are plenty of modern burlesque troupes performing in clubes across North America today, and they feature music, comedy and dance, along with fantastic costumes and sexual tease. I’ve been to one and I must say that I was delightfully entertained. It’s pretty cool to see that there are people who enjoy keeping this particular art alive.
