Dancing in a burlesque show - Page 3

Brea · 08-27-2007, 02:50 PM

Hi Kharmine,

(Are you a Jimmy Buffett fan? I am...curious because of your signature). It is an old fashioned burlesque show...as far as I can tell anyhow. Here, I will post their web address and you can tell me what you all think.

Lili's Burlesque Revue: We aim to tease. Classic striptease and cabaret in downtown Minneapolis.

I am thinking of it as the type of place that's in the movie "Cabaret". As you can see, striptease IS involved...but I think it looks classy enough. They also do seem to separate 'classic striptease' from 'live dancing'. Still, I am kind of concerned...

-Brea

Kharmine · 08-27-2007, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brea

Hi Kharmine,

(Are you a Jimmy Buffett fan? I am...curious because of your signature). It is an old fashioned burlesque show...as far as I can tell anyhow. Here, I will post their web address and you can tell me what you all think.

Lili's Burlesque Revue: We aim to tease. Classic striptease and cabaret in downtown Minneapolis.

I am thinking of it as the type of place that's in the movie "Cabaret". As you can see, striptease IS involved...but I think it looks classy enough. They also do seem to separate 'classic striptease' from 'live dancing'. Still, I am kind of concerned...

-Brea

I like JB, but the quote doesn't come from any of his songs. Can't remember where I first heard it, actually!

I looked at the burlesque site and it's difficult to tell what kind of show it is. I tried to read one review and my computer promptly hung itself. "Vintage burlesque" could be highly raunchy, or it could be mildly naughty and amusing -- I can't tell here.

The movie "Cabaret" is tame by today's standards, but, remember, it had a couple of horrible racist numbers (one made fun of Jews), and the setting was not supposed to be a nightclub for high-class people. The movie" Moulin Rouge" was a distorted fantasy of what the actual nightclub was like in Paris, so I wouldn't go by that, either.

You don't say that you've ever seen one of these "Lili" shows, or if anyone you trust has seen one -- do you really want to accept a gig with a show you have no clear picture of? Does your local newspaper speak favorably about it? (Most mainstream publications will ignore "adults only" entertainment like strip clubs so if they ignore this show, it's not a good sign.)

Unless you've got a better understanding of the show, and you know how your community, in general, feels about it, you really can't make an informed decision.

IMHO, anything that boasts about its striptease, no matter how high-class it pretends to be, is not a venue for a self-respecting belly dancer who doesn't want to be stereotyped as an exotic/erotic performer.

If that doesn't bother you, go for it. Just don't expect everyone in the dance community to feel the same way.

Aniseteph · 08-27-2007, 07:31 PM

I think Kharmine's right. Why not go and check out the sort of show you're considering appearing in? A slightly cheeky family-friendly variety programme is one thing, dancing for an audience who are basically going to be disappointed if the bedlah stays on is another. And you really can't tell from that site.

Shanazel · 08-28-2007, 04:22 AM

I looked at the site, too. It struck me as sort of tacky. Burlesque can be elegant and funny, but those tassle-tittied topless dancers-sigh. I think the advice to go check it out (incognito, of course

) is good.

Brea · 08-28-2007, 02:20 PM

Hi everyone,

I suppose you are right: I am imagining the 'slightly cheeky' type of variety show when I could end up experiencing something quite..different. I will go to one of the performances and see what happens. I haven't moved yet (I currently live in a city about three hours away from Minneapolis) and just thought it might be a good opportunity for me to dance as a 'real' job. We will have to see.

To Kharmine: That is one of his songs...that's where the saying comes from as far as I know:

Jimmy Buffett - What If The Hokey Pokey Is All It Really Is About? Lyrics

-Brea

Azeeza · 08-28-2007, 06:31 PM

Brea:

You know, a girl has to pay the bills and I've seen some reputable dancers in my area, who make a living from being a belly dancer, perform in some not so Middle Eastern restaurants. Think barbeque joint (although kababs are grilled over fire!) with bikers present (they are not so Middle Eastern, or are they?).

If you are paying the bills with money from the performance, I'd do it, but that's me and that's what I've observed from other professional dancers locally who need the money.

Azeeza

Brea · 08-28-2007, 06:33 PM

Hi Azeeza,

Yes, which is why I am considering it. It would be steady pay...but I don't know exactly what kind of show it would be.

-Brea

Azeeza · 08-29-2007, 12:21 AM

Hi Brea:

I'll tell you about my experience. Recently, I took a belly dance workshop and most of the dancers I knew or I'd seen them before.

The same teacher had a burlesque workshop afterwards. Some of the dancers left, but some stayed for the second workshop. I took the burlesque class because one of my friends was taking burlesque classes too. Every single student in the burlesque class was a belly dancer, though some didn't come to the first workshop.

One dancer, who was in the second class, is well respected in the dance community and she was really getting into the burlesque workshop. I'm wondering if she is considering expanding her classes by offering more than just belly dance lessons?

Something to contemplate,

Azeeza

da Sage · 08-29-2007, 01:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brea

Lili's Burlesque Revue: We aim to tease. Classic striptease and cabaret in downtown Minneapolis.
-Brea

I don't think I've seen Lili's Burlesque, but I have seen a burlesque show which had some of the same performers (I *loved* Coco Dupree!). I think it was a predecessor of Lili's (Cirque Rouge? something like that). The setup was that all the performers were women, except for the house band, and the house boy. About half the performances were burlesque-style "sexy senarios" or stripping (usually to panties and pasties), and the other half were musicians (singers, accordian players, etc.). It was a quality show that I saw (3 times with the BF), but like I said, I'm pretty sure it was technically a different group.

I believe a local bellydancer is/was part of Lili's, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if she refused to actually bellydance there...it might not look good at her other gig with a prominent local bellydance troupe!

Dr Farrago's is quite a bit sleazier, but they had good bellydancers involved a while ago (and maybe still do). I wouldn't want to get involved with Dr Farrago's; the organizer seems to be rather indiscreet about which pictures he posts to the web.

da Sage · 08-29-2007, 01:52 AM

ps

The thing to do is to check out the show incognito. And see if you can spend time backstage before you actually perform, to get a feel for how people treat each other.

08-27-2007, 02:50 PM	#21 (permalink)
Brea V.I.P. Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: USA Posts: 1,283	Hi Kharmine, (Are you a Jimmy Buffett fan? I am...curious because of your signature). It is an old fashioned burlesque show...as far as I can tell anyhow. Here, I will post their web address and you can tell me what you all think. Lili's Burlesque Revue: We aim to tease. Classic striptease and cabaret in downtown Minneapolis. I am thinking of it as the type of place that's in the movie "Cabaret". As you can see, striptease IS involved...but I think it looks classy enough. They also do seem to separate 'classic striptease' from 'live dancing'. Still, I am kind of concerned... -Brea Last edited by Brea; 08-27-2007 at 02:52 PM.

08-28-2007, 04:22 AM	#24 (permalink)
Shanazel Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Rocky Mountains USA Posts: 4,563	I looked at the site, too. It struck me as sort of tacky. Burlesque can be elegant and funny, but those tassle-tittied topless dancers-sigh. I think the advice to go check it out (incognito, of course) is good.

08-28-2007, 02:20 PM	#25 (permalink)
Brea V.I.P. Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: USA Posts: 1,283	Hi everyone, I suppose you are right: I am imagining the 'slightly cheeky' type of variety show when I could end up experiencing something quite..different. I will go to one of the performances and see what happens. I haven't moved yet (I currently live in a city about three hours away from Minneapolis) and just thought it might be a good opportunity for me to dance as a 'real' job. We will have to see. To Kharmine: That is one of his songs...that's where the saying comes from as far as I know: Jimmy Buffett - What If The Hokey Pokey Is All It Really Is About? Lyrics -Brea Last edited by Brea; 08-28-2007 at 02:23 PM.

08-27-2007, 07:31 PM	#23 (permalink)
Aniseteph V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Sussex, England Posts: 1,687	I think Kharmine's right. Why not go and check out the sort of show you're considering appearing in? A slightly cheeky family-friendly variety programme is one thing, dancing for an audience who are basically going to be disappointed if the bedlah stays on is another. And you really can't tell from that site.

08-28-2007, 06:31 PM	#26 (permalink)
Azeeza Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 829	Brea: You know, a girl has to pay the bills and I've seen some reputable dancers in my area, who make a living from being a belly dancer, perform in some not so Middle Eastern restaurants. Think barbeque joint (although kababs are grilled over fire!) with bikers present (they are not so Middle Eastern, or are they?). If you are paying the bills with money from the performance, I'd do it, but that's me and that's what I've observed from other professional dancers locally who need the money. Azeeza

08-28-2007, 06:33 PM	#27 (permalink)
Brea V.I.P. Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: USA Posts: 1,283	Hi Azeeza, Yes, which is why I am considering it. It would be steady pay...but I don't know exactly what kind of show it would be. -Brea

08-29-2007, 12:21 AM	#28 (permalink)
Azeeza Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 829	Hi Brea: I'll tell you about my experience. Recently, I took a belly dance workshop and most of the dancers I knew or I'd seen them before. The same teacher had a burlesque workshop afterwards. Some of the dancers left, but some stayed for the second workshop. I took the burlesque class because one of my friends was taking burlesque classes too. Every single student in the burlesque class was a belly dancer, though some didn't come to the first workshop. One dancer, who was in the second class, is well respected in the dance community and she was really getting into the burlesque workshop. I'm wondering if she is considering expanding her classes by offering more than just belly dance lessons? Something to contemplate, Azeeza

08-29-2007, 01:52 AM	#30 (permalink)
da Sage V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: MN Posts: 1,087	ps The thing to do is to check out the show incognito. And see if you can spend time backstage before you actually perform, to get a feel for how people treat each other.