F.A.Q.
Welcome to DFW Burlesque.com – so glad you’re here!
Are you new to burlesque? Never attended a show? Or are you the seasoned veteran? Do you have more pasties than you can count? If you know what’s up, and just want to know more about this site, go here. Everyone else begin…..here.
Let’s start simple: What is Burlesque?
Here’s what Merriam-Webster says:
Main Entry: bur·lesque
Pronunciation: \(ˌ)bər-ˈlesk\
Function: noun
Etymology: burlesque, adjective, comic, droll, from French, from Italian burlesco, from burla joke, from Spanish
Date: 1667
1 : a literary or dramatic work that seeks to ridicule by means of grotesque exaggeration or comic imitation
2 : mockery usually by caricature
3 : theatrical entertainment of a broadly humorous often earthy character consisting of short turns, comic skits, and sometimes striptease acts
synonyms see caricature
— burlesque adjective
— bur·lesque·ly adverb
As much as it pains me to do it, Wikipedia has a pretty good run down on the history, if you’re so inclined – Burlesque on Wikipedia
Burlesque, in my mind, has a lot less to do with the turns, skits, and caricature than it does the striptease. However, many of the shows in the Dallas-Fort-Worth area do include all aspects of what is it traditionally considered burlesque. For the moment, however, I’m going to use burlesque as a synonym for “art of the tease”. Most generally speaking, the burlesque shows in DFW involve a venue, a dancer/dancers, a stage (maybe), lights (maybe) and some music.
One of the things that I’m often surprised about is that when I mention that I like going to burlesque shows, I will usually get an odd look. Burlesque, in many people’s minds, is a back-alley, seedy venture where dirty old men in raincoats eagerly await their next thrill.
To wit: Going to a Burlesque Performance is NOT the same as going to a STRIP CLUB.
In reality, I’ve found the venues to be clean and well lit, and the audience is receptive to the idea that yes, women will be taking their clothes off. Seeing that end result has never been the primary objective for attending to the people that I have spoken with. Watching a burlesque show is much like watching a performance at the ballet – or a stage play – with a little more skin. Sometimes bands will perform before, with, or after the dancers. All in all, it’s simply a great way to get out “on the town” without going deaf or having to scream over loud music. That being said, Burlesque Performers love clapping, hooting, hollering, and general mayhem when their clothes come off. That is not the time to be quiet at a show. Out of all the performances that I have attended – I have never seen anyone get out of hand, hassle the performers, or get tossed out for lewd or drunken behavior. In fact, of the shows I have attended, the majority of attendees are female – it’s equal opportunity viewing. Above all, it’s a classy way to spend an evening and a usually a hell of a story to tell your friends the next day.
Now if you’re REALLY new to this, you might be wondering what kind of burlesque is out there in DFW. Well, rather than rehash what’s already been written, I’ll point you to an article written for http://pegasusnews.com – “The Layman’s Guide to Burlesque in Dallas-Fort-Worth“. This should give a better understanding of what type of shows you might see.
Dfwburlesque.com was created by two aficionados of the DFW burlesque scene who are not connected with any specific dancer, troupes or promoter. It was created in hopes of collecting upcoming burlesque events in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex so that other burlesque fans could find them easily. With the growing popularity of these fantastic shows, it was commonly lamented that it was hard to know when the next show was happening – no central location for ALL the shows. We’re hoping to correct that.
As well, we’re including a section for upcoming burlesque classes – for those of you who have always wondered how to make that transition from audience member all the way to tassel-twirling goddess!
That being said, it’s a tough job to keep track of all the shows and classes. If you see that your show/class has slipped through the cracks, send your info to admin@dfwburlesque.com and we’ll get it posted as soon as possible!
