Lingerie… rhinestones… heels… stripping… show-stopping costumes… glitter… attitude… creativity… feather accessories… freedom.

Ooo LALA!

What does all that fabulousness equal? BURLESQUE

Maybe you have heard of it, seen a show, a YouTube video, or you have no clue!

Allow me to introduce you to the fabulous vixen named Burlesque

What is Burlesque?

Burlesque is a live, creative performance art form that combines fabulous costumes and accessories, stripping, characterization, and comedy in a cabaret/vaudeville-style production setting. Historically, American burlesque began in the 1840s, featuring witty dialogue and provocative costumes, evolving into burlesque entertainment with striptease elements by the 1920s.

Burlesque can be higher budget, like the legendary burlesque performer Dita Von Teese’s shows or like the movie you may have seen called “Burlesque” with Christina Aguilera. This, however, is a rarity in the Burlesque world. Most productions are smaller, intimate, sweaty, 10 girls changing costumes in a 3x3 closet all together. And that’s just the way we like it! HA!

Neo burlesque, a modern evolution, emphasizes self-expression, elaborate costumes, and sensual dancing, moving away from seeking validation and incorporating contemporary themes.

Burlesque at its core is an art form that celebrates creativity, artistry, heart, sensuality, sexuality, fashion, self-love, confidence, the beautiful human body, intimacy, and so much more.

If you’re curious… here are some reasons to try Burlesque. Keep in mind you don’t have to become a full-on professional performer. Taking a class or even just going to see a show can be extremely fun, impactful, delicious, and healing!

Creative Outlet

While many people think you must have a special “talent” to perform, it’s not necessary. All you need is a feeling or a thought that you desire to express! I perform with girls who are professional dancers, singers, contortionists, etc., in burlesque performances, and then I perform with people who simply have something to say and show.

ALL offer fabulous performances. You can also collaborate with your fellow burlesque performers and learn new skills. I started as a burlesque singer and eventually learned how to host shows and how to eat fire from a fellow performer!

Burlesque performances often include solo dances, which add a provocative and engaging element to the variety of acts.

Connection, Connection, Connection

Burlesque, like many performative, movement-based art forms, connects you to your mind, body, and spirit. The sultry dancing and stripping of a burlesque show fosters physical connection to our bodies - something that many people have trouble with.

In our fast paced, technology, social media-driven world, we tend to get pulled up into our heads and out of our bodies. Slow, sensual movement guides us back into the body. Connection with the body supports us to recognize our boundaries more clearly (sexual boundaries included), sense our intuition and “gut” feelings with greater ease, and experience heightened physical sensitivity and sensations (yes please!).

Additionally, sexually suggestive dialogue has been a key element of American burlesque since the Victorian era, adding wit and entertainment to performances.

Vulnerability

Burlesque can be extremely vulnerable - you are performing a piece that emerges from your heart, mind, and soul. “Will they get it? Was I good? Did they like it? I have 50 other things going on in my life so was this piece at tonight’s show crap?”

Burlesque offers the opportunity to open up and reveal what is inside of you - on stage! But it doesn’t matter what the audience thinks, because it’s not for them, it’s for YOU! They merely showed up to witness what happened. This fosters becoming the truthful, unique, open, and vulnerable human you are meant to be.

Then… if baring your heart and soul wasn’t enough, next comes the stripping with elaborate costumes! Where all the sizes, shapes, colours, marks, scars, & uneven boobies get their limelight! Burlesque (contrary to many other performative art forms) truly accepts and celebrates every type of body, and it’s been doing this loooong before the rest of the world began to. This encourages us to accept ourselves - not just when we’re all dolled up for a show in sexy lingerie and rhinestones - but when we’re bare and naked as well.

Celebration of Sensuality

In our western society, we can feel sexual shame one moment, and then hyper-sexual the next. Huh? The reality is this: We are all sensual, sexual, sentient, beautiful beings. Everyone deserves to love and be loved. Everyone also deserves to DESIRE and BE DESIRED. But desire doesn’t negate respect, communication, or emotional intelligence. In fact, it’s the combination of desire, respect, communication, and emotional intelligence where the magic happens…

I have been a professional burlesque performer for over four years now and I don’t think I’ve ever had an inappropriate incident with a male patron. Yes, we have security and an announcement of rules at the show, but it’s more than that. More often than not, men have this look in their eyes when they see us perform. It’s a beautiful combination of surprise, nervousness, desire, admiration, respect, and even a hint of protection.

Every woman deserves to be looked at like that. Burlesque celebrates the loving, sensual, pleasure-filled, intimate beings that we are - awakening one's inner exotic dancer by putting these things on stage. Burlesque also embraces a ludicrous treatment of serious subjects, transforming them into something both entertaining and ridiculous.

The name of the game is Freedom

In burlesque shows, you can literally create WHATEVER performance piece you want! Seriously! As long as you don’t get fully nude or harm anyone, the sky is kind of the limit. It’s the ultimate rebel, f*ck-you art form. Because we can do what we want on stage and artistically, burlesque gives us the courage to do what we want in our life. It opens the door to being our unique selves and living our unique, sovereign life. Which is the best way to live, of course!

Burlesque has its roots in musical play, a historical art form that originated in the Victorian era and has evolved into a modern expression of self through performance.

FAQ

What happens at a burlesque show?

A burlesque show is a sensual and theatrical experience that blends seduction, humor, and empowerment into an unforgettable performance. It’s a space where performers use dance, striptease, and elaborate costumes to create a visual feast that teases the imagination rather than baring it all at once. Expect slow glove removals, corsets being unlaced, feather fans concealing and revealing, all designed to celebrate sensuality and confidence in a way that is both playful and commanding. Some acts are sultry, others comedic, and some even push boundaries with political or satirical messages, but every burlesque show is rooted in self-expression, body confidence, and the art of tease.
Is burlesque the same as stripping?

While both burlesque and stripping embrace undressing as an art, they are entirely different experiences. Stripping, as seen in clubs, is designed for direct erotic entertainment, focusing on full nudity and personal interaction. Burlesque, on the other hand, is a performance art that celebrates the tease itself—often stopping at pasties and lingerie, with the emphasis on storytelling, character, and theatricality rather than immediate gratification. Burlesque performers use humor, exaggeration, and sensual movement to create an immersive experience where the audience is seduced through wit, elegance, and confidence, rather than explicitness.
What is modern day burlesque?

Modern burlesque is a fierce and unapologetic evolution of its vintage origins, blending classic glamour with contemporary influences. While it still honors the timeless sensuality of legends like Gypsy Rose Lee, today’s burlesque welcomes performers of all body types, genders, and artistic styles, making it one of the most inclusive and body-positive art forms. Some performers stick to the sultry, old-Hollywood style, dripping in pearls and lace, while others incorporate punk rock, comedy, or even social commentary into their acts. Whether it’s a slow, hypnotic striptease or a high-energy routine with bold feminist themes, modern burlesque is about owning your pleasure, your power, and your presence.
What are burlesque girls?

Burlesque performers, often called burlesque artists or showgirls, are masters of seduction and self-expression. They are dancers, comedians, storytellers, and rebels who use movement and costume to create an atmosphere of tease, confidence, and play. A burlesque performer isn't just taking off clothes; she’s commanding the room, captivating the audience, and reclaiming sensuality on her own terms. Whether she’s using humor, drama, or pure smoldering presence, a burlesque performer radiates confidence, proving that sensuality isn’t about fitting into a mold, it’s about celebrating yourself, exactly as you are.

Written by Alexandra Vita

Alexandra is a Renaissance woman, with a background in the performing arts as well as holistic sexual health & mindfulness. She currently lives in Los Angeles and works as a professional actress, singer, burlesque performer, writer, and EMT. Follow Alexandra on Instagram @alexandravitaxo.

What is Burlesque? Reasons to Try It!