Burlesque - same as stripping, or an art form?

[OldLadyKnowsNothing]

Sorry if I'm a bit late with this one, but a quick MN search didn't suggest it's already been covered. Just seen this article saying that Camden Council have decided that burlesque is on a par with lapdancing etc. I would disagree, but I'd be interested in the response of others.

dragonbutter !!

you are needed here luv

hello

Ooooh. Have I said something tabboo?

It's like a middle class guardian version visit to a scrubby dirty mac adult cinema

no oldlady, this girl is a seasoned stripper burlesquer

Ah, db, I had no idea!

Whatever happened to kittylette?

Dragonbutter - you're not kittylette are you?

Message withdrawn

The Camden club is actually Burlesque strip club, rather than a dance act place...

It's still women getting their tops off, innit?

I've never actually been to a burlesque club [naive emoticon] so I know only what I've seen on the telly, but it doesn't look too sleazy to me. Not to say it's suitable for children, mind, but then not everything has to be suitable for children, does it?

found it!

PMSL, just read your OP in that linked thread: "that's for old women with self esteem issues"; must seek out classes!

goes to read rest of thread

ok, so as much as I quite like that you all think i'm the resident burlesque expert I'm going to have to disappoint.
I never went to the class. In the end the reasons were purely financial and of those who really do know me, you'll know i do have a lot of hobbies already. Some fairly expensive.

So really I don't know any moves or anything.

What is sad about my thread is that I was judged to be a stupid tart on the basis of showing an interest in something out of the ordinary. Such a shame.

As far as whether burlesque is an art form or not. Well i guess it depends on how, where and who you're doing it for.

For me it was a private issue (well apart from you lot ) and i'm not sure why i should care what camden council think of what i do or don't do at home in devon with my husband?

Will it affect my council tax?

oh and ...
I HAVE A FUCKING WARM COAT, I LIVE ON FUCKING DARTMOOR YOU COMPLETE TWUNTS! I HAVE A DEGREE AND A PROFESSIONAL CAREER, I AM A HAPPILY MARRIED MOTHER OF TWO WITH VARIED INTERESTS, I AM NEITHER OLD, NOR FAT, OR HAVE SELF ESTEEM ISSUES.

ahem,

not that the thread bothered me or anything

gosh do you really live on Dartmoor?

yes, but not for long

I'm sorry I started this thread now.

I really do think that there is a difference between stripping and burlesque, and that's coming from a perspective of having known burlesque performers.

To them it is an art form, and they spend a lot of time practising their acts (which can include trapeze acts etc) and hand making all the outfits.

That to me seems a world away from your run of the mill strip club.

Same as stripping.

I've had a burlesque lesson - it was fun and not at all sleazey. Had a good chat with the ex-stripper, now teacher, about early female empowerment.

Have been to a few burlesque shows and like the way the performers are a real celebration of females in all shapes and sizes. Droopy, stretch marked, boney, chubby - all with sassy attitude. Most English burlesque has a bit of saucy humour - seaside postcard style - with moves like indicating your massive boobs when they are in fact teeny - jokey confidence kind of thing.

Also doesn't have to involve any removal of clothing at all - more teasing with props like fans, feather boas, stethoscopes (!) etc. It does need some cheek and some performance. There are lots of London clubs - often lots of women in the audience - straight and gay - and also attracts a load of the crowd who like to dress in retro style - Prohibition, Weimar, Forces Sweethearts etc. Camden Council are twats. Nothing like lapdancing. No contact for a start. Next time I am taking DH for a little birthday treat.

I have seen some dismal strippers in East End pubs - sad, sad girls with needle tracks up their arms swaying on a little podium in the corner in an old grey pair of pants while all the old men ignored them and silently drank their beer. (Didn't go to this intentionally - went into wrong pub on Brick Lane by mistake - appalling.) Burlesque is NOTHING like it. And not all plastic tits and fake hair like the American pole dancer thing. I can't see why anyone would have a problem with it. I did work next door to a brothel though so maybe I would also get fed up with living next door to a burlesque club. People get muddled up with the doorbells.

It's a regular & well-supported event at goth festivals.

Very different from pub stripping (which I've seen & like LeninGrad found thoroughly awful).

There is an erotic vibe but it's more about the act & the costume than that the performer ends up nude, iyswim.

There's considerably more of a distance, both physically & in terms of audience attitude, between performer & audience.