Spring Break
Burlesque: Not about naked chicks
Fluff Girl Burlesque show brings history, humor to Friends and Co.
Michael Peterson/ Staff Reporter
Issue date: 4/28/05 Section: The Verge
Burlesque. When most people hear that word they think of strippers or pole-dancers.
In actuality, there is much more to burlesque than just naked women.
In fact, in a burlesque show, the audience will never see any of the dancers completely nude.
Burlesque, which is a genre rooted in the early 1840's Victorian Era, was originally a form of art that was fashioned to mock the upper class. Shows would include comedy sketches, dance numbers and quick-witted humor.
"Burlesque is mainly about teasing and sexual humor," said Cecilia Bravo, founder of the Fluffgirl Burlesque Society. "You could bring your parents to the show."
Bravo, a nurse from Vancouver, British Columbia, began her show in 1996, and in 2001 the Fluffgirl Burlesque Society was born. The group is currently touring across the country, according to Fluffgirlburlesque.com.
"It's a lot better than working a 9-to-5 job you hate," Bravo said.
Bravo said she first came up with the idea of doing a burlesque show when she bought a burlesque-music compilation album.
"I liked the music and the whole concept," Bravo said. She said her group was the first "neo-burlesque" group to ever tour.
Bravo wants to revive the burlesque circuit and she thinks the movement is gaining speed. She said that before she began her show it was impossible to find anything remotely burlesque. Now, she said a person could walk into a Victoria's Secret and find garments that are obviously inspired by burlesque fashion.
When the society started, Bravo had trouble finding costumes, so she made them herself. Today, it is not impossible to find such costumes, but Bravo prefers to continue making them herself.
Celebrities, like pop singer Christina Aguilera, are starting to embrace burlesque, Bravo said.
A few things that drive Bravo while she is dancing are the love of performing and touring across the country and the excitement that she feels while dancing. Bravo said she feels like she is "breaking new ground."
In actuality, there is much more to burlesque than just naked women.
In fact, in a burlesque show, the audience will never see any of the dancers completely nude.
Burlesque, which is a genre rooted in the early 1840's Victorian Era, was originally a form of art that was fashioned to mock the upper class. Shows would include comedy sketches, dance numbers and quick-witted humor.
"Burlesque is mainly about teasing and sexual humor," said Cecilia Bravo, founder of the Fluffgirl Burlesque Society. "You could bring your parents to the show."
Bravo, a nurse from Vancouver, British Columbia, began her show in 1996, and in 2001 the Fluffgirl Burlesque Society was born. The group is currently touring across the country, according to Fluffgirlburlesque.com.
"It's a lot better than working a 9-to-5 job you hate," Bravo said.
Bravo said she first came up with the idea of doing a burlesque show when she bought a burlesque-music compilation album.
"I liked the music and the whole concept," Bravo said. She said her group was the first "neo-burlesque" group to ever tour.
Bravo wants to revive the burlesque circuit and she thinks the movement is gaining speed. She said that before she began her show it was impossible to find anything remotely burlesque. Now, she said a person could walk into a Victoria's Secret and find garments that are obviously inspired by burlesque fashion.
When the society started, Bravo had trouble finding costumes, so she made them herself. Today, it is not impossible to find such costumes, but Bravo prefers to continue making them herself.
Celebrities, like pop singer Christina Aguilera, are starting to embrace burlesque, Bravo said.
A few things that drive Bravo while she is dancing are the love of performing and touring across the country and the excitement that she feels while dancing. Bravo said she feels like she is "breaking new ground."
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