Times have changed

Just an interesting anecdote about how the art and "public" display of the female body has changed over the years. It's as if America had started off in the golden age, then was left to tarnish. Years ago there were caberets and burlesque performances. These evolved (or de-evolved) into the modern forms of strip-tease, stripping, and pole dance. In place of art, we now have gals looking for a quick buck. But, sometimes you find a true gem. Keep looking, and keep your wits--and wallets!--about you

2 comments

Latest

  • joker44
    14 years ago
    Interesting look back into the memory hole. Kansas City's Folly Theater was a burlesque house; now it's a center for the performing arts. Even after its conversion to a music and theater venue the second floor lounge area had pictures of past burlesque dancers and upcoming show posters.

    Since the passage of MO's restrictive SC laws clubs have been scrambling to draw in customers. KC's Bazookas Showgirls is hostig an old fashion burlesque show, Frivolitease, on April 1 & 2. Ads say it features: "the classic curtain dance, fan dance, tassle twirling, flashdance, and aerial arts." Turning lemon into lemonade.
  • CarlKC
    14 years ago
    To paraphrase a famous quotation, "Though I may not agree with what you say, I defend to the death your right to say it."

    Burlesque, in it's original form was, in fact, 'strip tease." The woman coaching the burlesque troupe at Bazooka's was, a known and award winning burlesque performer. Though the girls in the show are all very new in this type of dancing, they have put in months of rehearsal to arrive at a point where they are able to deliver a show that encompasses the ancient, classical and modern styles of burlesque. I was allowed to sit in on a rehearsal last week, as a regular and friend of many of the performers in the show. And I can tell you without a doubt that these girls are working for it.

    As smentioned in the above post "aerial arts" are, in fact a very fashionable modern type of burlesque. Dita Von Tease, Catherine D'lish, and many others have included these types of gimmicks in thier shows in the past. There are representative shows from every major era of burlesque, from the most ancient to the most modern. And, I might add, very impressive in their execution.

    As I said, you are absolutely entitled to your opinion. However, I suggest that you actually see the show before passing judgement on the ability of these women to step out of their 'comfort zone' of the old bump and grind and learn to perform in a more theatrical way, while still conveying the suggestive and seductive, despite the venue.

    Just my humble opinion.
You must be a member to leave a comment.Join Now
Got something to say?
Start your own discussion