HISTORY OF BURLESQUE
Classical Burlesque
In its classical theatre form, ‘Burlesque’ is a kind of “Spectacular Satire”. Both splendid and thought provoking, classical burlesque is high-brow musical comedy typically comprising of ironic iconography, playful punning and bawdy Brit-wit - all put to music. In Britain, its history is steeped in potent social change and female empowerment. Arguably, as a theatrical genre, classical burlesque saw it’s apogee in the 19th century where the players would send up known literary, historical and artistic works while making ribald social comment for the enjoyment of the middle classes and later, the working classes too. The form is still alive today (just) but it is not to be confused with the modern American burlesque-striptease - which is also fabulous, but a different thing.
Among the famous burlesquers of the classical tradition, we can count Geoffrey Chaucer, Eliza Vestris, J. R. Planché, Gilbert & Sullivan, Lydia Thompson, Vesta Tilley, The Western Brothers and also Monty Python. This genre is now specifically known today as “classical burlesque” or “traditional British burlesque”.
Burlesque-striptease
Burlesque-striptease (or 'American burlesque') is a 20th century genre born out of American retro-glamour. The form is an amalgamation of two older and disparate forms - classical burlesque (see listing) and striptease. A routine takes the form of a 'skit' in which a contextually relevant striptease is also performed.
Burlesque-striptease is comedic in style and emphasises the 'tease' rather than the strip; artists of this genre rarely go fully nude revealing instead, exiguous lingerie and often conclude by twirling nipple-tassels. The form is most often performed with seductive charm, elegance and often in homage to the American 'golden era' evoking the nostalgia of vintage Hollywood, Las Vegas and New York.
As it is a hybrid form, burlesque-striptease artists vary considerably from one to another in performance style. Some emphasise dance skills, talents for singing, comedy or character acting while others focus on the 'peeling'. Due to a modern convention of language, it is not unusual for other (non burlesque) forms of adult or 'exotic' dance to appear in a performer's repertoire - i.e. fan dancing and classical striptease itself.