Burlesque 101

Saturday, September 5th, 2009 | Classes

We are head over heels for Burlesque dance!

Aradia Fitness is excited to have a new workshop added to our schedule - Introduction to Burlesque. Our instructor Fauna is a vivacious dancer & performer from Greensboro, NC - you can check out her company, Soulflower Dance, by clicking HERE.

When most people think of Burlesque, they immediately think “stripping”.

I however imagine brightly colored outfits, tight corsets, big feathers and a little “risque” behavior.  Burlesque is not, and has never been, simply a strip show.

Origins of modern-day Burlesque dance can actually be traced back to the Shakespearean era of theater, when writers such as Miguel Cervantes (think Don Quixote) and Geoffrey Chaucer (The Canterbury Tales) began to poke fun at traditional literature/theater and medieval society.

The term “burlesque” itself is rooted in the Spanish verb “to joke”.  The key to this form of dance is that it is FUN!  Modern-day Burlesque emerged in the late 19th  & early 20th century in music halls featuring elaborate, over-the-top sets and actresses.  Known for turning social norms head-over-heels, Burlesque shows employed parody and wit to entertain its audiences.

British (or “classical Burlesque”) focused mainly on parodies of popular opera & theater often poking fun at upper class society.  The entertainment of American Burleqsue, however, tended to focus more on bawdy humor and low society.

Striptease had its part in American Burlesque as it was incorporated into the comedy routines.  Often people confuse the role of striptease in Burlesque and automatically associate it with the performances seen in modern-day strip clubs.  The role of striptease and risque clothing in Burlesque dance was that it defied societal norms at the time; remember, the term “burlesque” itself means “to joke” and “to turn upside down”.  If society turned its nose up at something, Burlesque troupes were sure to incorporate it into their acts!

The confusion between Burlesque and striptease arose in the mid-20th century as Burlesque shows began to feature less satirical entertainment.  The 1930s was considered the birth of striptease as Burlesque performances ceased to feature elaborate comedies and instead hosted rather simple strip shows.

Burlesque dance became dormant for some years until the late 1990s when a revival began to take place.  Presently you can find Burlesque troupes and shows at local theaters and even find elements of Burlesque incorporated into the increasingly popular Roller Derby circuit.

Now that you understand a simple history of Burlesque, isn’t it time for you to give it a try yourself?  Check out the upcoming workshop at Aradia Fitness on Saturday September 12 2009 and get a taste of the fun and bawdy Burlesque style of dance!

Can’t make it in September?  Keep an eye on the Aradia Fitness schedule for upcoming classes or add yourself to our mailing list to be notified of new classes.

(Interested in learning more on Burlesque? Information for this article is credited to Wikipedia.com; you can learn more by clicking HERE.)

Tags: aradia fitness, burlesque, class, pole dance, pole fitness, striptease

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