Burlesque

Burlesque is a performance also known as 'Travesty' or 'Extravaganza' where scantily clad women perform parodies of popular plays and stories. Basically, burlesque is beautiful women making a joke out of serious pieces of literature in the form of a dramatic or musical work. It is a form of entertainment and it’s original purpose was to make the audience laugh. Of course back then burlesque was not nearly as sultry as it is today but in those times showing a leg with a thigh high stocking was shocking! Shakespeare plays were often made into Burlesque parodies. Burlesque’s origin lies in England but it did spread into France and Italy as well.

An important name in Victorian Burlesque is Lucia Elizabeth Vestris. She produced many well known Burlesque performances in London, England. She was was an actress in a burlesque show herself and once she became popular Lucia made travesties of her very own. Vestris was so successful that she bought the olympic theater and renovated it. This also gave her a great platform for her Extravaganzas. Popular faces in the scene of Victorian age burlesque were Fred Leslie, John D’Auban, and Nellie Farren. Eventually people just stopped being interested in Burlesque. This was a time when wholesomeness was very important to most people and in the late 1890’s Burlesque was no longer popular in Europe.

Burlesque then made it’s was over to America, particularly New York. It has always been a risque form of entertainment but modern burlesque is less about jokes and more about the art of strip tease. The main point of the show now is the nude female form and exotic dancing. America Burlesque shows were a great place to go drinking and when prohibition took place it hurt the industry. Burlesque was no longer as popular as it once had been but did not cease to exist. To this day Burlesque is very popular especially in Las Vegas. Stars like Dita Von Teese and Miss Amanda are still dominating the Burlesque game. Burlesque has changed over the years and is now empowering many women to feel confident and beautiful. It has been a great form of entertainment from the beginning and to present day. Burlesque has impacted people by opening their minds by giving them a good show and a laugh or two.

Since this is an educational trip and there being minors in our group we will not be able to see any modern burlesque performance. It is an important part of European culture to know about though. It is interesting to think about how back then they thought Victorian burlesque was so unmodest and look at where burlesque has gone now! It shows how over time people have developed socially and become less shy and embarrassed about the female form. Now, for the adults the Moulin Rouge has Burlesque performances, maybe if you’re of age that is something you might fancy seeing.