Are Burlesque Dancers Strippers?
samsung1
Ohio
I read an interesting recent blog post by a Chicago burlesque dancer and I think it is relevant because Mardi Gra is coming (Feb 16) and I'm sure some of you will be in New Orleans for it. I won't be in New Orleans but I will be going to Club X's Mardi Gra party here in Columbus, OH.
http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/chaos_in…
02.01.10
"So you're a stripper?" I get that question every time I tell someone that I'm a burlesque dancer.
According to the Merrian-Webster Dictionary, a stripper is "one that strips." So based on the definition, I am a stripper.
Yes, I take my clothes off in front of a room full of people, but there is a huge difference between what I do and what can be seen in a strip club.
First and foremost, burlesque is a noncontact sport. Meaning, there is a distinct separation between the audience and the dancer; there is no stuffing dollars down g-strings and no lap dances. Nor are there any poles involved. Plus full nudity is strictly prohibited.
By now, most of the guys who are reading this are thinking, "What's the point of going to a burlesque show when I could just go to the strip club?"
Showmanship. That's what burlesque shows are all about, and that's what differentiates it from other displays of eroticism. The costumes, the glitter, the stories ... All of these aspects contribute to the allure of burlesque.
Have you ever seen a man quiver at the sight of a woman slowly removing a silk glove? Or a crowd of eager onlookers go wild at the site of woman taking of a thigh-high stocking?
If your answer to both of these questions is no, I suggest you get yourself to a show immediately!
There are shows all over the Windy City where guys and gals can get a glimpse into the multi-faceted world of burlesque, and a lot of them are free. So even if you are still contemplating the allure of burlesque shows as it relates to the strip club, you won't be hurting your pockets by taking a peek.
Check out Heartbreakers Burlesque Free Bartop Burlesque Show by Vaudezilla, Thursdays in February at Blue Bayou, 3734 North Southport Avenue (you can catch a special appearance by me on February 18th). Enjoy authentic New Orleans cuisine and tasty $4 drink specials while sultry burlesque dancers titillate you. Show time starts promptly at 10:00pm.
http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/chaos_in…
02.01.10
"So you're a stripper?" I get that question every time I tell someone that I'm a burlesque dancer.
According to the Merrian-Webster Dictionary, a stripper is "one that strips." So based on the definition, I am a stripper.
Yes, I take my clothes off in front of a room full of people, but there is a huge difference between what I do and what can be seen in a strip club.
First and foremost, burlesque is a noncontact sport. Meaning, there is a distinct separation between the audience and the dancer; there is no stuffing dollars down g-strings and no lap dances. Nor are there any poles involved. Plus full nudity is strictly prohibited.
By now, most of the guys who are reading this are thinking, "What's the point of going to a burlesque show when I could just go to the strip club?"
Showmanship. That's what burlesque shows are all about, and that's what differentiates it from other displays of eroticism. The costumes, the glitter, the stories ... All of these aspects contribute to the allure of burlesque.
Have you ever seen a man quiver at the sight of a woman slowly removing a silk glove? Or a crowd of eager onlookers go wild at the site of woman taking of a thigh-high stocking?
If your answer to both of these questions is no, I suggest you get yourself to a show immediately!
There are shows all over the Windy City where guys and gals can get a glimpse into the multi-faceted world of burlesque, and a lot of them are free. So even if you are still contemplating the allure of burlesque shows as it relates to the strip club, you won't be hurting your pockets by taking a peek.
Check out Heartbreakers Burlesque Free Bartop Burlesque Show by Vaudezilla, Thursdays in February at Blue Bayou, 3734 North Southport Avenue (you can catch a special appearance by me on February 18th). Enjoy authentic New Orleans cuisine and tasty $4 drink specials while sultry burlesque dancers titillate you. Show time starts promptly at 10:00pm.
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7 comments
Burlesque shows first showed up just after 1900, and perhaps a few years before. Some burlesque dancers get nude, but they're moving around behind giant feathers and other props, so you don't get full nudity. Matter of fact, the only place where you can see burlesque dancers go full monty is at Les Girls in San Diego.
The best known burlesque act today is the Pussycat Dolls. They sing and dance and wear risque costumes, but the fact is that burlesque dancers are entertainers, and strippers are sex industry workers. Some strippers think of themselves as tease (like burlesque dancers) but the money makers in strip clubs are those who lapdance for fun and/or profit.
Two movies you might want to see, if you're into the history aspect, is "Lady of Burlesque", starring Barbara Stanwyck and "Mrs. Henderson Presents", which has an all star cast, including Bob Hoskins and Dame Judi Dench.
I would agree with the lady. Even in clubs, I'd much rather see the dancer on stage remove clothing in a sensual manner, rather then just stand there and strip down. The end results are the same, but like eating, there are better ways to get your needed nutrition, Micky D's or a nice filet mignon.
Correct. I always felt leaving a bit to the imagination is better. If you ever need proof, observe when a hot female customer in a club and most all guys are watching her and ignoring the nude dancer on stage.
Burlesque is burlesaque. Strip clubs are strip clubs. But then there's that Darwinian factor, analogous maybe to a dinosaurs and birds.
Even tough disrobing can be sensual, I like the interaction of strip clubs. But I wouldn't call dancers sex workers as a blanket description. They are still entertainers in general. And that's usually what many clubs call them, right?