Burlesque

[CharleyH]

Went to see the babes of Crazy Horse (Paris) perform in Lisbon this past weekend and we were both wowed and disappointed, yet mostly wowed. We left listening to other people's comments (mainly from the seniors crowd - dirty old bastards and hoes - lol) articulating that the girls did not take 'enough' off. I thought I'd get a thread going about what we all expect from a "burlesque" show before Lauren and I give our review of this particular one (sorry, Dita von Teese was not there ).

 

[buxxxom]

I want to see talent and tassels. Feathers and boas. Not so much a perfect body as a perfect attitude.

At the only strip club I've ever been to, I went in expecting burlesque, or at least something close. I don't know why they called it a strip club, there was nothing for the ladies to take off. I was disappointed. They were beautiful, and flexible, but there was no "show." Hope that makes sense.

 

[CharleyH]

I want to see talent and tassels. Feathers and boas. Not so much a perfect body as a perfect attitude.

At the only strip club I've ever been to, I went in expecting burlesque, or at least something close. I don't know why they called it a strip club, there was nothing for the ladies to take off. I was disappointed. They were beautiful, and flexible, but there was no "show." Hope that makes sense.

Perfect sense, and I suppose that's why Dita von Teese is called von Teese and it's probably why I'd pay at least a hundred to see her. We went to Crazy Horse knowing Burlesque is a certain art (some people may disagree) and there was a show, but I don't want to give too much away, yet.

I think the only 'strippers' who come close to burlesque in NA are in Vancouver, Canada. They actually do a show and the last time I was there they were pretty damn competitive about it.

If you don't mind the ask ... what do you expect from a strip tease/ burlesque?

 

[buxxxom]

With a tease, I don't espect to be shown the entire body at all. Parts of it, certainly, but not all of it at one time. I think the mind works in a way that can take all the parts and put them together to make a whole that is better than what's in front of you in real life.

With burlesque, I want raunch. Jokes, tits, flashes of things. This will probably sound sexist, but I don't think there's a place in burlesque for chivalry. I want to see a slap on the ass, and a mouth in a perfect o shape in surprise. The only thing I have to compare it to is the Bette Midler show on HBO (I think) some years ago. I want it to be almost xxxrated vaudeville.

 

[Vermilion]

Perfect sense, and I suppose that's why Dita von Teese is called von Teese and it's probably why I'd pay at least a hundred to see her. We went to Crazy Horse knowing Burlesque is a certain art (some people may disagree) and there was a show, but I don't want to give too much away, yet.

I think the only 'strippers' who come close to burlesque in NA are in Vancouver, Canada. They actually do a show and the last time I was there they were pretty damn competitive about it.

If you don't mind the ask ... what do you expect from a strip tease/ burlesque?

I want to be a Burlesque artist.
If I had the time and energy I'd at least do a class and see if I was any good.

When watching Burlesque I want to *want* them to take their clothes off, but to remain a little bit tantalised, even if they do. I want glamour and glitz and sexiness and amazing costumes and a little bit of kitsch.

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[CharleyH]

With a tease, I don't espect to be shown the entire body at all. Parts of it, certainly, but not all of it at one time. I think the mind works in a way that can take all the parts and put them together to make a whole that is better than what's in front of you in real life.

With burlesque, I want raunch. Jokes, tits, flashes of things. This will probably sound sexist, but I don't think there's a place in burlesque for chivalry. I want to see a slap on the ass, and a mouth in a perfect o shape in surprise. The only thing I have to compare it to is the Bette Midler show on HBO (I think) some years ago. I want it to be almost xxxrated vaudeville.

LOL Bette Midler. Never saw her live, but my mother did back in the day and she LOVE LOVED LOVED her. I recall that "raunchy" was a word my mom used. Thanks buxxxom ... definitely I think burlesque has a bite (edit to add ... slap) of humour to it.

 

[CharleyH]

I want to be a Burlesque artist.
If I had the time and energy I'd at least do a class and see if I was any good.

When watching Burlesque I want to *want* them to take their clothes off, but to remain a little bit tantalised, even if they do. I want glamour and glitz and sexiness and amazing costumes and a little bit of kitsch.

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Indeed.

Kitsch is a word that almost seem lost these days, no? I love the word, though, and love when artists use and abuse it.

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

Ummm... Burlesque is a variety show, not a strip show. Burlesque often has an adult thread, choras girls and so one. But, what the hell? If these people want to see naked bodies they should go to a strip joint where they will miss the artistic side of the show, but see plenty of tits and ass.

 

[Vermilion]

Indeed.

Kitsch is a word that almost seem lost these days, no? I love the word, though, and love when artists use and abuse it.

I use the word kitsch a lot - it so perfectly describes certain things I love.

What do you think of Jeff Koons? </threadjack>

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ps- I like the complicated underwear of Burlesque. Straps and bows and wires and laces, grrrrrrrrrrrr.

 

[Salvor-Hardon]

For me burlesque is stage entertainment in various acts. Yes there are the chorus girls who are scantily clad or topless, and the peelers, which I personally love Sally Rand and Gypsy Rose Lee's way of dancing, not just gyrating but dancing and moving gracefully and elegantly.

I would also expect to see a few comedians, not stand up but Abbott and Costello types, and a magician or two, and an act that you wouldn't see anywhere else, say hand shadows or contact juggling or something more than busking but not long enough to get its own stage show on broadway.

I expect the humor to be bawdy but not dirty. Double entendres not vulgarities.

One sketch I would LOVE to see again was done by Jon Byner on a show called Bizarre long long ago. She is standing at a bus stop wearing a plain dark t-shirt, and a good looking woman comes up next to him wearing a shirt that reads "ask me about my t-shirt"

He peels off his shirt and the one beneath reads "Nice shirt" to whcih she pulls her off and the one beneath says "thank you". they go back and forth for 20 shirts each until she gets to one that says 'I hope the bus comes soon" his shirt says 'Why?" Hers "this is my last shrt". He grins at the camera and winks then pulls off his and it says "what time is it?" She takes hers off, to reveal a small bikini top with 12 on one breast and :30 on the other.

that is what I want from a burlesque.

 

[Vermilion]

For me burlesque is stage entertainment in various acts. Yes there are the chorus girls who are scantily clad or topless, and the peelers, which I personally love Sally Rand and Gypsy Rose Lee's way of dancing, not just gyrating but dancing and moving gracefully and elegantly.

I would also expect to see a few comedians, not stand up but Abbott and Costello types, and a magician or two, and an act that you wouldn't see anywhere else, say hand shadows or contact juggling or something more than busking but not long enough to get its own stage show on broadway.

I expect the humor to be bawdy but not dirty. Double entendres not vulgarities.

One sketch I would LOVE to see again was done by Jon Byner on a show called Bizarre long long ago. She is standing at a bus stop wearing a plain dark t-shirt, and a good looking woman comes up next to him wearing a shirt that reads "ask me about my t-shirt"

He peels off his shirt and the one beneath reads "Nice shirt" to whcih she pulls her off and the one beneath says "thank you". they go back and forth for 20 shirts each until she gets to one that says 'I hope the bus comes soon" his shirt says 'Why?" Hers "this is my last shrt". He grins at the camera and winks then pulls off his and it says "what time is it?" She takes hers off, to reveal a small bikini top with 12 on one breast and :30 on the other.

that is what I want from a burlesque.

hee hee - that just gave me a giggle - what a great idea
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[CharleyH]

For me burlesque is stage entertainment in various acts. Yes there are the chorus girls who are scantily clad or topless, and the peelers, which I personally love Sally Rand and Gypsy Rose Lee's way of dancing, not just gyrating but dancing and moving gracefully and elegantly.

I would also expect to see a few comedians, not stand up but Abbott and Costello types, and a magician or two, and an act that you wouldn't see anywhere else, say hand shadows or contact juggling or something more than busking but not long enough to get its own stage show on broadway.

I expect the humor to be bawdy but not dirty. Double entendres not vulgarities.

One sketch I would LOVE to see again was done by Jon Byner on a show called Bizarre long long ago. She is standing at a bus stop wearing a plain dark t-shirt, and a good looking woman comes up next to him wearing a shirt that reads "ask me about my t-shirt"

He peels off his shirt and the one beneath reads "Nice shirt" to whcih she pulls her off and the one beneath says "thank you". they go back and forth for 20 shirts each until she gets to one that says 'I hope the bus comes soon" his shirt says 'Why?" Hers "this is my last shrt". He grins at the camera and winks then pulls off his and it says "what time is it?" She takes hers off, to reveal a small bikini top with 12 on one breast and :30 on the other.

that is what I want from a burlesque.

Cool, Crazy Horse DID have a magician - it was hilarious and modern. I did expect a bit more camp and kitsch from Crazy Horse ladies. There was an "AMOUNT" of it ... yet sometimes I felt the show lapsed into the typical striptease we know today. (EDIT TO ADD: but without the payoff) Although I was never expecting payoff. I just never wanted to see chicks dancing to Michael Jackson. WTF? LOL Michael Jackson music is NOT SEXY no matter what the girl does.

(edit to add: so ok it was Prince and not a sexy song)

 

[Lord DragonsWing]

I use to bartend in a local bar here on the bay that tried to bring back burlesque. I don't think I ever laughed so hard as I did at the comedians. I was never a fan of slap stick comedy, but these guys had me rolling. They did the skits and short slap-stick sketches.
Burlesques is truly an art form I learned to appreciate at that time. It'd be great to see it brought back.

 

[R. Richard]

Burlesque is a lost art. If you read the history of burlesque there were the strippers and the comedians. The strippers danced and performed the difficult task of teasing off their costumes in a graceful and sexy manner while dancing. The comedians came into a stage that was blank except for a background. The background determined the comedy routine. The comedians had to know a large number of comedy routines, each of which was triggered by the background.

There are a lot of nude dancing shows around today, but very few striptease shows. Even if the dancer 'strips.' the strip is mainly just pausing the dance to shed an item if costume. If you want to know what real striptease is all about read my stories "Amateur Stripper." [Shamless plug.]

 

[CharleyH]

I use to bartend in a local bar here on the bay that tried to bring back burlesque. I don't think I ever laughed so hard as I did at the comedians. I was never a fan of slap stick comedy, but these guys had me rolling. They did the skits and short slap-stick sketches.
Burlesques is truly an art form I learned to appreciate at that time. It'd be great to see it brought back.

In one way I get you. I LOVED the magician/comedy break ... but it got more claps and hoo haws than the girls and some of the girls really put on an amazing show which deserved standing WOO HOO'S! Lets talk SEXAY! I would love to see a burlesque comeback ... but since most clubs are filled with drug addicted hoes who strip when not hooking? It'd be a long time coming to get back to burlesque.

 

[CharleyH]

bump for burlesque!

 

[Vermilion]

bump for burlesque!

is that like a specialised dance move...?
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[CharleyH]

is that like a specialised dance move...?
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Maybe LOL

 

[Rumple Foreskin]

As i understand it, in burlesque/stripping, the BUMP must be followed by a GRIND. But I'm always willing to consider new techniques.

I never attended a burlesque show. Did hit a few clubs on Bourbon Street back in my undergrad days. On stripper, Rita Alexander, called herself the "Champagne Girl." The highlight of her act was balancing a champagne glass on each of her very generous breasts, then filling each glass and drinking the contents. Highly educational.

Just for old time sake, here's the Queen of Burlesque, Gypsy Rose Lee

http://www.dottyparker.com/blog/images/gypsy.jpg​

Rumple Foreskin

 

[CharleyH]

As i understand it, in burlesque/stripping, the BUMP must be followed by the GRIND. I never attended a burlesque show. Did hit a few clubs on Bourbon Street by in my undergrad days. On stripper, Rita Alexander, called herself the "Champagne Girl." The highlight of her act was balancing a champagne glass on each of her very generous breasts, then filling each glass and drinking the contents. Highly educational.

Just for old time sakes, here's the Queen of Burlesque, Gypsy Rose Lee

http://www.operagloves.com/Classicstars/GypsyRoseLee/gypsyroselee02.jpg​

Rumple Foreskin

I love the concept of Gypsy Rose Lee. Thanks Rump.

PS: Link?

 

[Stella_Omega]

I saw the Crazy Horse show back in the late 70's and I was pretty disappointed in it. I think it was the nadir, really- nothing but air-brushed showgirls and no point to the numbers. I hope it's gotten better again, but from what you say, Charley, it's only a little bit better!
There were drag shows that were fabulous, and far more in the spirit of the original thing. I saw Les Trocadaros for instance. One number was so very simple- a queen in a simple, long-sleeved, high-necked black gown walked out under a single spotlight and began some Nina Simone number. You expected her to start taking it off, but she only sang, this lovely, moving melody, with her hands sweeping expressively...
all the way across the stage. She was holding extension forearms, which put her "elbows" at her wrists. That was the only gag. It was... amazing.
Googling for "new Burlesque' will find some great links,
Ministry Of Burlesque is a current Burlesque troupe in the U.K
Bad Ass Burlesque in NYC, and so is Pinchbottom
Jo Weldon's blog has a lot of great stuff, and if you check her user's info page, there are more links.

 

[Rumple Foreskin]

I love the concept of Gypsy Rose Lee. Thanks Rump.

PS: Link?

I just HATE IT when the link works in the preview but then goes sour. With luck, this new one will work. To make us for my affront, here's one more of GRL.

http://nylon.net/covergirls/pix/covergirl06.jpg​

Rumple Foreskin

 

[Stella_Omega]

Okay, one last link; Jo's flickr gallery

Fabulous!

 

[Rumple Foreskin]

Okay, one last link; Jo's flickr gallery

Fabulous!

Looks like she enjoys putting on a show.

Here's a guy-type question. Is there an "ouch factor" involved with taking off pasties? I'd think the ones with tassels would require a fairly strong adhesive.

Rumple Foreskin