Super duper Associated Press reporter Martha Irvine has a great piece on the continued popularity and rise of the Burlesque scene, entitled 'The Big Tease: Burlesque Grows in Popularity'. The question in many folks' mind on Burlesque remains: art or X-rated?
My thoughts / quote on the matter:
And many audiences of burlesque shows are filled with women, who often focus as much on the costumes, glamor and dancing as anything.
"True burlesque is more of a kitschy Vaudeville act than anything else. It's all about the art of the striptease, a cheeky and titillating performance that can induce chuckles, cheers and longing sighs all at once," says Katie Laird, a burlesque fan in Houston.
"Performance is the key word here, not naked gyrations for dirty dollar bills."
It's a tricky subject for many - we live in a confused nation where violence and gore is a-okay on cartoons and 7pm network television, but throw in any sort of sensuality (absolutely any) into the mix and it's labeled filth.
But that's not how I see it - sure, you can go to some dirty strip club and get "burlesque" shows (whatever), but it's something more to me. Bringing the Dr. Sketchy world to Houston with our Houston Sketchy chapter has been amazing - combining burlesque, life drawing, general camaraderie and random silliness together in a light hearted room full of people spending slow, sunshiney art-filled Sundays together (and a bloody mary or three).
As with anything, art-related or no, it's all in what you make of it. I choose the path less smutty, more kitschy, more silly, more feather-y, glitter-y, sequin-y. Hope you'll come and sketch it with me.
Photo thanks to the rawking Groovehouse, my all star Sketchy photographer
