Burlesque 101: Types of Burlesque and Burlesque Shows
Hello, Class, welcome back to Burlesque 101. Today we are discussing types of burlesque and the different types of shows you may see coming up. As previously mentioned on the blog, you can use Burlesque Boston as a calendar resource for upcoming shows in the Greater Boston Area. We also have an events page on our site you can find here, we tend to focus more on Rhode Island but there are Boston burlesque shows in there as well. But if you peruse these pages you’ll see lots of different types of events and different types of performers. So let’s talk about it! I’m going to do my best to briefly describe genres and shows as well as define and differentiate the types of shows you may come across so that you can confidently buy tickets to a show coming near you!
Types of Burlesque
First of all, let’s get something straight here: there is no “wrong way” to do burlesque and there is no “real burlesque”. If someone says that to you, they’re being an asshole. At its core burlesque is artistic expression and therefore you’re not doing it right or wrong. I say that with the footnote that there are some things you can’t do like show nipples or take your g-string off, but that’s legal logistics, not artistic choice. With that out of the way, there are so many ways to do burlesque.
Burlesque, as per the Rhody Q operational definition, is a striptease performance where the performer uses exaggerated and absurd tropes to express themselves and tantalize audiences. And individual performers can take that basic information and use it however they want. As any dance form there are moves that are specific to burlesque- grinds:burlesque:.pirouettes:ballet. That was an SAT throwback for you, gotta’ keep you on your toes. I’m getting somewhere I promise.
Beyond these basics, performers can use other moves to make them their own and perform in different styles. Some performers are all classic bump and grinds, some are chair-aerialists, some do slow burns, others shimmy faster than anything you’ve ever seen before. Some performers gather inspo from pole and experience as strippers, some rework their Contemporary dance competition trauma (experience). And they're all burlesque, because they’re teasing and tantalizing the audience.
Burlesque Genres
Like other forms of art, burlesque has genres. This is widely depending on the style of individuals. You may often see the term “neo-burlesque”. This is a term that technically includes all modern burlesque as a revival. But you will likely see it applied to performances that are not focused on individuals doing classic striptease moves.
For example, the Lipstick Criminals, who are a staple of burlesque in Boston, produce and perform shows that are heavily focused on group dance numbers, often invoking choreography from specific artists like Britney Spears or Janet Jackson. The choreography includes synchronized reveals and many different styles of dance mixed in. This is a great example of “neo-burlesque”.
Other genres include Classic which focus more on long glove peels and iconic things like giant feather fans. This is more true to the original burlesque performers of the early days. This includes “slow burns” which is a style of taking your time getting undressed (our friend Pearl Buttons is the queen of this). Aerialist or circus performers can also be burlesque, these performers can do wild stunts on or with hoops, poles, silks, you name it. A personal fav, Comedy Burlesque, is an emphasis on the ridiculous and silly parts while stripteasing, former troupe Rouge Burlesque were the local masters of this (RIP). Another genre we notice a lot around Boston in particular is horror burlesque, which is exactly how it sounds- dark and/or scary burlesque. We have so many great local performers who perform in so many different ways.
A great way to learn more about genres of shows is following performers on Instagram! If you see a show posted near you we encourage you to look up the individual performers on Instagram and see what kind of performances and costumes they post. If it seems like you’d be excited to see something they posted live, that show will likely be a good one. If you don’t know where to start with individuals and that seems overwhelming, start with following us and Burlesque Boston, and follow tagged people from there!
Different Burlesque Show Styles
There are also different styles of shows you can attend. These vary largely based on venue and the type of show it is supposed to be in general.
Mainly there are two types of shows: stage and floor. That means where the performers will be at the time of performance. Stage shows are classic theater set up, and can be standing or seated. They vary in size based on the venue but they all have an elevated stage space. Floor shows are more likely to be in bars and restaurants, they are the shows where performers stay on the same level as spectators and often do crowd-work by interacting with the audience and walking through the whole space. These create different vibes for shows for sure, but like we discussed in a previous blog, both of these shows have active, loud, tipping audiences who are there for a good time.
Cabarets, Revues, and Full Length Shows
Most burlesque shows you see fall into a category of these terms. You are probably familiar with what I mean by full-length shows, if you see a musical or play I would put them in this category. They’re pretty rare for burlesque but a notable and out-right famous one around here is The Slutcracker, which is a reimagined burlesque-strip-sex version of The Nutcracker. The performances all follow a storyline, similar to the acts in The Nutcracker, so they all tell one story.
You may be familiar with the word cabaret, if only from the musical named the same. Cabaret and cabarets are different, since the former is a musical involving the latter. The definition of cabaret is “a restaurant serving liquor and providing entertainment (as by singers or dancers)”, so you can see why the musical takes the name. Cabarets are made up of individual acts of entertainment. One person sings, the next tap dances, the next tells stand-up etc, etc, all at an establishment that provides drinks technically I guess (I was unaware of that until right now).
A revue is extremely similar to a cabaret in that it is individual acts put together. The real definition of revue is: “a light theatrical entertainment consisting of a series of short sketches, songs, and dances, typically dealing satirically with topical issues”. So as you can see burlesque shows fit perfectly with revues! And that’s exactly why we're calling our first monthly show “Rhody Revue”, because it will be theatrical entertainment consisting of songs and dances mostly airing on the satirical! Look at that! We are so excited to bring this type of show to Providence! Rhody Revue is open to all performers with no application, just a sign up form, and specifically doesn’t have a theme, it’s just vibes. And the really good news is you’re all invited! Can’t wait to see you there!
That’s All Folks
Ok that’s it for this class. As always, reach out to us with questions, concerns, or if you’d like to add your show to our events page! Thank you for reading and helping us with our SEO initiative.
