“How do I get into this?” : A realistic guide for starting your Burlesque Journey.
Performing my number “Magic is The Moonlight” at The Clocktower Cabaret for Glitz n Glam produced by Kerri N Fuego.
Photo by Hthr the Photographer
So, you’ve seen a burlesque show. You’ve experienced the empowerment, the fun, and the sparkle from an audience perspective. Now you’ve got a wicked case of showgirl fever and you want in on the action!
I have been performing burlesque since 2020 and I would like to offer some insight on how you can “get into this”. As well as some realistic information and perspectives on what it means to do this art form.
Before we get into the bullet points, let’s get a clear understanding of what Burlesque is.
The definitions from the Oxford Dictionary are as follows
bur·lesque /ˌbərˈlesk/ noun
an absurd or comically exaggerated imitation of something, especially in a literary or dramatic work; a parody.
a variety show, typically including striptease.
Burlesque as we know it today, is a performance art that oscillates around the strip tease. You can see it done in a lot of different ways, comedy is a common factor but not required.
Alright, lets jump into these bullet points!
Here is my suggested list of actions you can take to start your burlesque journey.
Go take some artistic movement classes. There are loads of in person and online movement/dance classes you can take. Anything to get your body moving to music. You do NOT have to be a trained dancer to partake in this art form. But knowing some moves will help with the quality of your performances, spacial awareness, and body confidence.
Start connecting with and supporting your local burlesque community. Follow producers, teachers, performers, and venues.
Go to shows, events, classes etc. Don’t just enjoy the show, LEARN while you’re there. Take mental note of what you see being done on stage.
Offer yourself as a Stage Kitten to the producers of upcoming shows. Kittens are the people who set up for and clean up after the performers. Kittening is a great way to get your face and name known amongst a big cast of people as well as a way to continue watching and learning.
Learn some legitimate burlesque history. The movie with Christina Aguilera is NOT an accurate representation of what burlesque is or has ever been.
Build a number. Pick a song, put together a costume, and create a choreography. Film yourself doing your completed number in full costume to submit to producers/casting calls etc. It does not have to be on a stage but it does need to be well lit and filmed in a way that what you’re doing is visible.
Ask for feedback. We all have room to grow and critical feedback from people who are more experienced than you is invaluable. You won’t always get feedback, but when you do, do what you can to implement it.
Now the less sparkly part. Here is my realistic list of what it means to do burlesque.
Mind your expectations. You can do everything listed above, and it may not result into what you want or think you deserve.
Get clear with yourself. Do you want to try this on for funsies or is it something you think you want to do in a professional way? Use that information as your personal guide for the choices you make on your burlesque journey.
Very few people are able to make a living off of this. Most performers are lucky if the money they make from gigs even covers their cost of costuming.
This shit is expensive. It can cost you a lot of dollars, time, energy, effort, learning, and emotional labor.
This is show biz baby. Not a place for the faint of heart or thin of skin.
Being “hot” is not enough. You’re going to need skills, professionalism, and a good attitude.
There is no equation on how to get into performing burlesque in a consistent and professional way. Every burlesque performers story is unique to them.
You’re going to have to be patient. There is a whoooole lot of learning with this art form. It takes a while to build up your portfolio of bookable numbers and costumes. It takes time and a lot of practice before your refinement starts to show.
Rejection is inevitable and most of the time it’s not personal.
Burlesque is a very intersectional art form. So you, and anyone you bring to show, better not be a bigot.
This is not a good retirement plan. Even if you make it to the top of the industry, there will come a day that your body can’t do it anymore. It is wise to maintain other forms of income.
If you’ve made it this far and you’re still interested in “Getting into Burlesque”, congrats! Having this information in your tool box will help you build a solid foundation to stand on as you get started on your burlesque journey!
Want to do some deeper learning with me?
Click here -> https://www.thestellaluna.com/classesandworkshops to check out my class and workshop offerings!
