Va Va Voom: All Hail The New Burlesque
Most of us enjoy the spectacle of a beautiful woman taking off her
clothes. The New Burlesque goes further than that, offering an attractive
alternative to modern-day striptease. Annie Bowles reports on this
sexy new phenomenon, and meets some of the key people responsible
for this return to true glamour.
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Most people think that
burlesque means female strippers performing risqué routines
to a bump and grind beat. Well, they're right up to a point,
and almost certainly the origins of striptease are in burlesque
performance, but there's a lot more to it than that.
Originally, burlesque was the name given to a bawdy show of
music and comedy, enjoyed mostly by the lower classes in the
Nineteenth Century United States. The striptease element was
only introduced at the beginning of the following century, as
a desperate bid to offer something that film, radio and vaudeville
did not. And in time-honoured tradition, its condemnation as
indecent only made burlesque more popular.
The 1930's to the 1950's are considered by many to be the golden
years of burlesque, with legendary ladies such as the divine
Bettie Page, Blaze Starr, Gypsy Rose Lee and Tempest
Storm (amongst many others with equally exotic and kitsch stage
names), strutting the boards. But in the 1960s, with the liberalisation
of many |
laws relating to adult entertainment, an increasing emphasis
began to be placed on the strip element at the expense of the tease.
Routines became increasingly explicit, rendering the old style artistry
of burlesque immediately anachronistic.
In recent years however, there has been a resurgence of interest
in all things burlesque. In the USA, clubs such as the Velvet Hammer
in Los Angeles and the Slipper Room, and Suite 16 in New York, have
led the way in the new burlesque revival, whilst performer Dita Von
Teese has practically become a household name. In the UK, the flag
has been flown for some time by Stella Starr and her renowned Va Va
Voom club in Brighton, and now in London, there's the Whoopee Club
and the Flash Monkey. Another Brit-based burlesque pioneer is Sparkle
Moore of The Girl Can't Help It (see panel), who began introducing
old-style striptease to modern audiences in the early-90s, at her
club More Than Vegas.
So why all the interest now?
Stella Starr explains that, 'Burlesque
represents a delightfully enticing and innocent approach to sexuality
which is rapidly becoming lost in these very knowing times.'
And this is the key to much of burlesque's appeal. It is very
sexual, but in a playful way. And because it's as much about the performance
and the tease as the nudity, it's a form of striptease that appeals
to women as well as men, both to watch and to perform.
| Burlesque Style Hussy
Miss Hussy has just launched her Hussy range of clothing,
which is hugely influenced by burlesque and showgirl styles,
although she is eager to point out that she doesn't fit solely
into any one genre. Her clothes are beautiful, and very showy.
Tiny dresses with matching knickers, tops and skirts and sequins
and ribbons. She also likes photography as it gives her an
opportunity to be in complete control of styling.
Miss Katie
Miss Katie studied theatrical design, has honed her
skill at fetish company House of Harlot and now creates burlesque
inspired outfits including some beautiful corsets. She is currently
overwhelmed by demand for her nipple tassels (or pasties
to use the correct American terminology.
Walter
It's certainly true that when you think about burlesque,
a sequinned femme twirling nipple-tassles springs to mind.That
is, until you see Walter who performs male burlesque and (he
insists) not drag. A natural performer, Walter always attempts
to tailor his music and performance to the theme of the night, 'On
one recent occasion I performed as what I can only describe
as a mad transvestite Mexican greengrocer.'
Immodesty Blaize
This voluptuous beauty started out as a performance
artist in the fine art sense, exploring sexuality and notions
of attractiveness. When she saw that her act was well received,
she expanded it and is now one of the nation's leading burlesque
performers.
'to the best of my knowledge I'm the only person in Britain
who can twirl them in opposite directions, though it took me
months to work out how to do it,' she admits.
The Girl Can't Help it
This huge retro clothes and accessories
emporium inside Alfie's Antique Market is run by Sparkle Moore
(see main article) and Cad Van Swankster, and specialises in
vintage lingerie, showgirl, pin-up and burlesque ephemera. Key
items on sale when I went along, were an outfit worn by the
photography girl at Churchill's club, 60's go-go girl outfits
and cigarette-girl attire.
The Girl Can't Help it, Alfies Antique Market |
The clubs are an essential part of the burlesque revival, providing
an escapist place for people to both dress up and perform. The weekly
Lady Luck club now at the Millennium Club, Drury Lane, London, regularly
features burlesque performance in a plush decadent velvet setting.
The Whoopee Club meanwhile, focuses primarily on burlesque. Club
doyennes Tamara and Lara call what they do at Whoopee, 'a burlesque
circus', and try to be true to the original spirit of burlesque
with variety, satire and comedy, as well as well as striptease.
They are deeply enthusiastic and brimming with ideas, for tours
and bigger productions and smaller 'try-out' evenings. Also check
out the Flash Monkey club which take place on a regularish basis
at Madame JoJo's and other venues in London.
Extracted from a longer illustrated article which appeared in issue
2 of Nude (Dec 03/ Jan 04). |
