Saturday Night's Burlesque Show
I didn't stay long at the Spy party the other night, but I stayed long enough to see two acts performed by Burning Hearts Burlesque. The acts I saw were quite cute, and I wouldn't mind checking out some more of their shows. They have also performed recently at The Last Supper Club.
Snowboarding and Burlesque
I went snowboarding instead of going to The Vancouver International Burlesque Festival. What can I say? I am a ski bum, and marvel at what my jeep looked like this morning! 
How could I possibly deny myself the pleasure of a foot of fluffy white fresh powder? I could not.
So, what does snowboarding have to do with burlesque? Nothing. Except I have been tossing an idea around in my head of doing a burlesque piece that involves snowboarding. I have noticed that there is something about women who snowboard that is strangely appealing to both men and women. Is it the danger? The adventure? It could not be the gear or clothes, because, although women's snowboarding gear has come a long way, it is still a long way away from being ergonomically designed to actually FIT women. I'm guessing it's the danger.
Tonight, in honor of Japan launching its fourth spy satellite today, I am attending a party in Seattle called Spy which includes a performance by Burning Hearts Burlesque.
How could I possibly deny myself the pleasure of a foot of fluffy white fresh powder? I could not. So, what does snowboarding have to do with burlesque? Nothing. Except I have been tossing an idea around in my head of doing a burlesque piece that involves snowboarding. I have noticed that there is something about women who snowboard that is strangely appealing to both men and women. Is it the danger? The adventure? It could not be the gear or clothes, because, although women's snowboarding gear has come a long way, it is still a long way away from being ergonomically designed to actually FIT women. I'm guessing it's the danger.
Tonight, in honor of Japan launching its fourth spy satellite today, I am attending a party in Seattle called Spy which includes a performance by Burning Hearts Burlesque.
Burlesque Yoga
What will they think of next?
Vancouver International Burlesque Festival
The Vancouver International Burlesque Festival is this weekend! I'm thinking about going, if I don't go snowboarding. According to the site:
Yoga mats and fat-free vanilla lattes don't come to mind when I think of Vancouver, but maybe I have just had different experiences on visits to that fair city. Anyway, any excuse to go to Vancouver is good enough for me, and this sounds fun.
Vancouver has long been famous for breathtaking mountain views, gorgeous beaches, yoga mats and fat-free vanilla lattes, but you may be surprised as to the nature of the city’s more recent claim to fame. Over the last decade, a hugely diverse cross-section of Vancouver’s subculture - from punk clubs to rockabilly shows to electronica parties to queer clubs to political demonstrations - have been organizing their own DIY cabarets far beneath the bicycles and SUVS. Burlesque is fun, sexy, fresh, accessible and BACK for good… especially in Vancouver.
Yoga mats and fat-free vanilla lattes don't come to mind when I think of Vancouver, but maybe I have just had different experiences on visits to that fair city. Anyway, any excuse to go to Vancouver is good enough for me, and this sounds fun.
Is Burlesque Anti-Feminist?
A friend of mine and I were debating about whether my involvement in a burlesque troupe is a step back from the years of the feminist lifestyle I have lived. Whenever I talk to her about the troupe, she makes a noise, such as "hmm," which drips with a supressed feminist rant. Her view, in my words, not hers: Burlesque perpetuates the idea that women are allowed to be objectified and we can only hold value if we are seen as being sexually desirable.
Well, she has a point. But here is my point: In a culture that places so much value on appearance and makes women hate ourselves because of how we look no matter what we look like, isn't it wonderful that there is an outlet for women to love our bodies? Besides, why do women have to hide our sexuality in order to be feminists? Women are sexual, so why is it is horrible to be sexually desirable? Pretending that we as women are not sexual beings simply to prove that we are equal to men is silly. That is like burning bras. Why did women burn bras? I never understood that. Burning a bra is pretending you don't need something when you need it.
And let's not skip over the fact that women are constantly being objectifed and sexualized no matter what. You don't think so? Ladies, put on your grungiest pair of sweats and walk past a construction site. Are sweats and construction sites perpetuating the objectification of women, too? I spent the majority of my teen years making myself look ugly to mainstream society by dressing in an extreme punk/goth style. I felt like I was taking a stand against being objectified. However, it didn't make any difference. Take a look at Suicide Girls. I bet if I stopped brushing my hair and taking showers, there would still be some jerk who would objectify me. And then there would be a website called nappyheadedsmellychicks.com.
I am not blind the the sexism of today's society and I would like it to change, but I also don't let it control my life. If ever I get to a point in burlesque where I feel it limits me in other aspects of my life or if I feel like I am not being respected, I will quit. So far, it's been fine.
Well, she has a point. But here is my point: In a culture that places so much value on appearance and makes women hate ourselves because of how we look no matter what we look like, isn't it wonderful that there is an outlet for women to love our bodies? Besides, why do women have to hide our sexuality in order to be feminists? Women are sexual, so why is it is horrible to be sexually desirable? Pretending that we as women are not sexual beings simply to prove that we are equal to men is silly. That is like burning bras. Why did women burn bras? I never understood that. Burning a bra is pretending you don't need something when you need it.
And let's not skip over the fact that women are constantly being objectifed and sexualized no matter what. You don't think so? Ladies, put on your grungiest pair of sweats and walk past a construction site. Are sweats and construction sites perpetuating the objectification of women, too? I spent the majority of my teen years making myself look ugly to mainstream society by dressing in an extreme punk/goth style. I felt like I was taking a stand against being objectified. However, it didn't make any difference. Take a look at Suicide Girls. I bet if I stopped brushing my hair and taking showers, there would still be some jerk who would objectify me. And then there would be a website called nappyheadedsmellychicks.com.
I am not blind the the sexism of today's society and I would like it to change, but I also don't let it control my life. If ever I get to a point in burlesque where I feel it limits me in other aspects of my life or if I feel like I am not being respected, I will quit. So far, it's been fine.
What is Burlesque?
Burlesque is an artform, therefore it is difficult to define. Different people have different interpretations of what burlesque is. According to the wikipedia definition of burlesque,
Burlesque is theater performed mostly by women, for adult men and women. Burlesque performers are women of all shapes, sizes, and ages. In today's society, so much value is placed on a woman's appearance. Burlesque shows that attractiveness comes from a woman's personality, and not not her age or shape.
In burlesque, performers, usually female, often create elaborate sets with lush, colorful costumes, mood-appropriate music, and dramatic lighting, and may even include novelty acts, such as fire-breathing or demonstrations of unusual flexibility, to enhance the impact of their performance.
Burlesque is theater performed mostly by women, for adult men and women. Burlesque performers are women of all shapes, sizes, and ages. In today's society, so much value is placed on a woman's appearance. Burlesque shows that attractiveness comes from a woman's personality, and not not her age or shape.
Making Costumes
The best burlesque performances seem to be coupled with beautiful, elaborate, and unique costumes. And the best way to get a beautiful, elaborate, and unique costume is to make it. I know a few of the best burlesque performers make their own costumes. Vienna LaRouge makes all of her gorgeous costumes! Jo Boobs posted a picture of herself sewing.
Does this mean you have to be a costume designer to be a burlesque performer? It doesn't hurt to know how to sew. My troupe and I work together on creating costumes. Some of us are good at sewing, some of us are good at glue gunning. Some of us are good at bringing the wine and food to our sewing parties. I'm good at eating pizza. We all use our talents in a collaboration and that works out great for us.
Does this mean you have to be a costume designer to be a burlesque performer? It doesn't hurt to know how to sew. My troupe and I work together on creating costumes. Some of us are good at sewing, some of us are good at glue gunning. Some of us are good at bringing the wine and food to our sewing parties. I'm good at eating pizza. We all use our talents in a collaboration and that works out great for us.
