Well.
Thursday was a very gentle introduction to the course and the nature of burlesque itself.
I'd better say a thing or two about the venue first- The Brewery Theatre, just down the road from its big sister The Tobacco Factory in Southville. It reminds me of my relationship with my sister Maggie: the Tobacco Factory is independant, quietly stylish and quirky but the Brewery is younger, slimmer and infinitely hipper. It's covered in graffiti for starters, graffiti that's supposed to be there. 'Cause it's cool. My sister isn't covered in graffiti though. And I never made tobacco. It's a simile.
The ladies running the classes turned up pretty much on time, spent about ten minutes wrestling with the side door of the theatre and eventually got us in. We were introduced to Liz (human cannonball, burlesque dancer and performance artist), Rosie (therapist and cautious burlesque fan) and our main teacher for the course, Michaela (aka Poppy Von Tart, burlesque artist, dances with her two pet boa contrictors Houdini and Doris). As much if this first class was about introductions I'll try to focus on the 'we' present. As part of the course's funding some free spots were given to ladies with a history of mental illness, this being a very active form of therapy or activity. This meant that as well as those of us who saw the ad online and thought 'ooh, burlesque, could be fun' there were one or two women present for whom a pretty major factor was making it to the theatre at all. We're not at the point of hearing everyone's stories and background but I was really impressed by these girls who were not just coming to a women's group or a class but were enrolling in a course that deliberately and defiantly explores female sexuality and physicality.
Indeed, 'defiant' is how at the moment I'd describe burlesque and its ilk. This was wonderfully demonstrated by Liz and Michaela: Liz is a tall, long-limbed woman in towering heels and Michaela is a short, indescribably curvy woman in a tight, scarlet halterneck dress. Two women not only embracing their extremities but putting them on billboards with the tag line 'Wot you lookin' at?' It didn't surprise me that Rosie got us started on the conversation topic 'What's empowering about taking your clothes off?' The word 'choice' got bandied about a fair bit by members of the group but having only tried a single burlesque stance I'm not sure we had the experience to really get involved in this debate. What I have noticed so far is the defiance of women in burlesque, often women who do not conform to the social norms of beauty and yet display their bodies for all to see. It is this that I find so impressive, and perversely beautiful, as well as the intelligence and humour of the art form.
Burlesque does come in for a fair bit of stick from both men and women, and for those who wish to add their twopence I would like to remind them that Germaine Greer applauded Jordan's cynical use of her body for money. For Jordan (a very different entity to Katie Price I find) had no manager, was in control of her bookings, finances and image. She knew what she wanted and got it. Add Dolly Parton and Bettie Page and quite an interesting tea party is coming together. Add all the comedy, theatre and intelligence of the burlesque movement and a wonderfully complex collage of female images forms in my mind, and this is what I like best. This is also what can happen when lots of women talk to each other and work together.
After a quick introduction from everybody we got on our feet and learned the Burlesque posture. It's scary. It flies in the face of everything you've ever been told is healthy. Stnad with your feet together. Roll your shoulders back and position your hands out in a feminine style. Pull your stomache in and push your chest out. Push your arse out the other way (does it ache yet?). Take a look. Have a giggle then do it again.
Step two: adopt the posture (can't catch me out yet). Now hook the toes of one foot under the arch of the other and bring the knee across, creating a twist. If you like, pop out a hip. Bring your arms up and or heaven's sakes, smile! Take a look at yourself. Do you look uncomfortable? Do it all more, especially the face. Now look. Do you look insane? You're getting there!
More next week, and I will philosophise less and describe more. I will also take pictures. There is also the lovely Vivi who is filming the course for publicity purposes, so I might see if I can get her to help me out with photography etc. In the mean time I have homework: an object that inspires me, and item of clothing I love, a photograph, a piece of music, a piece of writing, all of which I have some connection to. Quite a lot of navel-gazing to be going on with, though at least one of my cookbooks is coming with me. All suggestions welcome.
On the subject of all things sexy I watched the first episode of Nigella's Kitchen. It's marvelous. Her body is also defiant in the face of television good looks and that warms me. And yes there is more than a pinch of lifestyle envy in there but try not to let it annoy you and try her recipes. They ruddy work and they're not all bad for you.
TTFN
Thursday was a very gentle introduction to the course and the nature of burlesque itself.
I'd better say a thing or two about the venue first- The Brewery Theatre, just down the road from its big sister The Tobacco Factory in Southville. It reminds me of my relationship with my sister Maggie: the Tobacco Factory is independant, quietly stylish and quirky but the Brewery is younger, slimmer and infinitely hipper. It's covered in graffiti for starters, graffiti that's supposed to be there. 'Cause it's cool. My sister isn't covered in graffiti though. And I never made tobacco. It's a simile.
The ladies running the classes turned up pretty much on time, spent about ten minutes wrestling with the side door of the theatre and eventually got us in. We were introduced to Liz (human cannonball, burlesque dancer and performance artist), Rosie (therapist and cautious burlesque fan) and our main teacher for the course, Michaela (aka Poppy Von Tart, burlesque artist, dances with her two pet boa contrictors Houdini and Doris). As much if this first class was about introductions I'll try to focus on the 'we' present. As part of the course's funding some free spots were given to ladies with a history of mental illness, this being a very active form of therapy or activity. This meant that as well as those of us who saw the ad online and thought 'ooh, burlesque, could be fun' there were one or two women present for whom a pretty major factor was making it to the theatre at all. We're not at the point of hearing everyone's stories and background but I was really impressed by these girls who were not just coming to a women's group or a class but were enrolling in a course that deliberately and defiantly explores female sexuality and physicality.
Indeed, 'defiant' is how at the moment I'd describe burlesque and its ilk. This was wonderfully demonstrated by Liz and Michaela: Liz is a tall, long-limbed woman in towering heels and Michaela is a short, indescribably curvy woman in a tight, scarlet halterneck dress. Two women not only embracing their extremities but putting them on billboards with the tag line 'Wot you lookin' at?' It didn't surprise me that Rosie got us started on the conversation topic 'What's empowering about taking your clothes off?' The word 'choice' got bandied about a fair bit by members of the group but having only tried a single burlesque stance I'm not sure we had the experience to really get involved in this debate. What I have noticed so far is the defiance of women in burlesque, often women who do not conform to the social norms of beauty and yet display their bodies for all to see. It is this that I find so impressive, and perversely beautiful, as well as the intelligence and humour of the art form.
Burlesque does come in for a fair bit of stick from both men and women, and for those who wish to add their twopence I would like to remind them that Germaine Greer applauded Jordan's cynical use of her body for money. For Jordan (a very different entity to Katie Price I find) had no manager, was in control of her bookings, finances and image. She knew what she wanted and got it. Add Dolly Parton and Bettie Page and quite an interesting tea party is coming together. Add all the comedy, theatre and intelligence of the burlesque movement and a wonderfully complex collage of female images forms in my mind, and this is what I like best. This is also what can happen when lots of women talk to each other and work together.
After a quick introduction from everybody we got on our feet and learned the Burlesque posture. It's scary. It flies in the face of everything you've ever been told is healthy. Stnad with your feet together. Roll your shoulders back and position your hands out in a feminine style. Pull your stomache in and push your chest out. Push your arse out the other way (does it ache yet?). Take a look. Have a giggle then do it again.
Step two: adopt the posture (can't catch me out yet). Now hook the toes of one foot under the arch of the other and bring the knee across, creating a twist. If you like, pop out a hip. Bring your arms up and or heaven's sakes, smile! Take a look at yourself. Do you look uncomfortable? Do it all more, especially the face. Now look. Do you look insane? You're getting there!
More next week, and I will philosophise less and describe more. I will also take pictures. There is also the lovely Vivi who is filming the course for publicity purposes, so I might see if I can get her to help me out with photography etc. In the mean time I have homework: an object that inspires me, and item of clothing I love, a photograph, a piece of music, a piece of writing, all of which I have some connection to. Quite a lot of navel-gazing to be going on with, though at least one of my cookbooks is coming with me. All suggestions welcome.
On the subject of all things sexy I watched the first episode of Nigella's Kitchen. It's marvelous. Her body is also defiant in the face of television good looks and that warms me. And yes there is more than a pinch of lifestyle envy in there but try not to let it annoy you and try her recipes. They ruddy work and they're not all bad for you.
TTFN
