What do male burlesque dancers wear

Corporate Entertainment Professionals. While the genre seems to be enjoying a resurgence at the moment, largely due to the popularity of Dita Von Teese she's pretty much the face of burlesque right now , we've already mentioned that the style was at the height of its popularity during the early s although there are records of burlesque dating back as far as the s.

But some argue that the styles roots go even deeper than that. It's been suggested that the first 'strip-tease' dates back to Biblical times, beginning with The Dance of The Seven Veil s. This was the scintillating dance that the temptress Salome performed for King Herod, and involved you guessed it , seductively removing seven veils, along with all of her clothes. Huffington Post. This is just one example, but there are others that appear in historical fiction and art.

The art of 'withholding' is a common motif. Take the historic play Lysistrata for example - an ancient comedy in which women actually use their flesh and sexuality or the 'withholding' of it and any gratification that can be derived from it , in an attempt to end the Peloponnesian War.

The premise of the play very basically is this; no peace, no nookie. The women in the play withhold sexual privileges from their husbands and lovers as a way of forcing them to negotiate peace. This could be regarded as an interesting example of how the art of withholding sex can be considered more powerful than gratification; just like burlesque. Remember, it's all about the clothes you leave ON. As touched upon, burlesque was big in the s.

Clubs and establishments popped up in prohibition America to provide variety and entertainment to a somewhat repressed culture. But of course, this didn't go down well with teetotal politicians and authority figures, who found issue with the provocative nudity and also with the establishments themselves.

But the genre hit back in the s with stars like Sally Rand and Gypsy Rose Lee taking centre-stage and pushing the boundaries of the style to make it new and relevant once more.

The s brought an even more exaggerated evolution of the style with the popularity of Hollywood movie glamour at its height, skyrocketing the 'pinup' style into popularity with stars such as Marilyn Monroe at the forefront. So popular was Marilyn that burlesque dancer, Dixie Evans even adapted her stage persona to become a parody of the rising star. Her act proved so popular that she was later billed as the 'Marilyn Monroe of Burlesque. Burlesque is all about richness and variety - and this is something that still shines through even today.

New York Daily News. Today, the burlesque style mixes elements of the different defining periods of its own popularity, combining Victorian corsets with vaudevillian influences and even pinup and rockabilly styles.

If you were to try to categorize burlesque style as one thing, you'd have difficulty. Vintage hollywood is a great place to draw inspiration from here - think Marilyn Monroe. Find out what styles your favorite actresses wear to events and draw inspiration from there.

Or choose your favorite decade and see what the stars were wearing during that time! If you choose to wear a gown, keep your accessories and makeup relatively simple, and let the dress do all the talking. Updos look great with long dresses, so consider wearing your hair up.

Have a shawl or scarf on hand to keep you warm, as theaters are often a little bit chilly. If you want to play up the sexiness factor, go for it! A simple office look is a great outfit to wear to a burlesque show.

A low cut blouse or a tight button up top underneath a cardigan pulls the outfit together. Think 50 Shades of Grey or Secretary. Keep accessories to the minimum - you did just come from work, after all. Most importantly, when it comes to dressing for your first burlesque show - remember to have fun! Fashion is all about expressing yourself - just like burlesque. Barbara Yung.

If you feel inspired by some of the early 20s — 30s stage stars then plenty of sparkle and feathers will be the order of the day, finger curled hair and ruby red lips, with a dash of mascara for those extra-long lashes, and perhaps a sequined skull cap with a few feathers?

Although Burlesque had all but gone quiet during the Second World War, it came back with a vengeance in the s. This time it was more daring, salacious and bawdy than it had been in the decades before, and it was no longer hidden. Newspapers and magazines reported on shows around the world and it was no longer something that was whispered about in corners.

The fifties saw some of the most exciting and famous stars emerge. This included Tempest Storm with her curvaceous figure and red hair, she played the vamp with style, she would also go on to appear in films such as Teaserama, a film that saw her appear with another famous star at the time, Bettie Page.

Lili St. Cyr by Bernard of Hollywood c. Lily St Cyr created some imaginative acts to contribute towards her notoriety as a burlesque star. Jungle Goddess was one-act of many where her rather amorous performance with a parrot left the audiences amazed. Lily St Cyr-jungle goddess.

Today there are still burlesque stars working today the most famous being Immodesty Blaize, the British star and the American Dita Von Teese. Now there is a greater distinction between stripping and burlesque, with the emphasis being on the art of the tease.

Dancers will strip down to underwear, but never appear nude. Immodesty Blaize MEW, In the London Burlesque Festival made it more popular and much more well-known. Today, there are venues all over the country that teach Burlesque dancing. You can go to your local community centre or gym and learn the art. Burlesque is as popular with women as it is with men, who are interested in the glamour and costumes worn by the dancers than anything else.

Although they do strip down, this is merely a few seconds towards the end of the performance. If you fancy learning how to do a little dancing then find out in your local newspaper where you can find a venue near to where you live.

The world of burlesque has come a long long way from the days when it was a covert and secretive act, to a celebrated form of dance that both men and women can enjoy.