"The Art and History of the Burlesque Strip Tease"
Lily is available for hire at your dance studio, community center, or for private parties and lessons.
Students will learn about the origins of burlesque, the philosophy of the tease, and overcoming body image issues. They will have the opportunity to try out burlesque moves, costuming, props, and create their own pasties.
This history lesson, dance class, and costuming workshop, will teach you the skills to bump & grind, and give you the confidence and attitude to express it!
See the Calendar, or email Lily to see where this class is currently being offered, or to hire to teach this class.
By Lily La Rue
I grew up feeling inferior to the women that I saw on TV, in movies, and in magazines. I always wanted to be an actress, but felt discouraged because those women were were much skinnier than I was. Our society had placed such an emphasis on the idea of a beautiful woman being ONLY the ones who were extremely skinny, and conformed to one standard look,and I believed what the media told me.
One day, I was flipping through the channels on TV, and I came across a documentary on burlesque. I began to research burlesque, and pin-up girls from the 40's and 50's, and think about what was considered attractive in the past, and realized that I was actually beautiful.
This is the greatest gift I have learned from burlesque. Through my research of the women of the past, and the women (and men) who perform today. I have discovered that there are many performers out there who don’t conform to body and appearance standards we see on mainstream TV, film, and magazines, and they are beautiful, and sexy.. Why is this? Because they believe they are, and they have the attitude,the confidence, and they show it!
I think the neo-burlesque movement is important because we need to show that beauty and sexuality exists in many different body sizes, shapes, ethnicity, colors, and styles.
It is important to show that beautiful women exist in many different packages. I don’t think any good comes from the standardizing what is considered attractive to women, or those that admire them. I believe that a woman should express her beauty, and her body intelligently and creatively in any manner if she chooses, without guilt or regret.
For these reasons, and to honor myself, all women, and the beautiful and talented performers of this art in the past, present years to come.....
I am a burlesque dancer.