I'm a stripper, isn't that what he's talking about, isn't it?
What I think makes burlesque different from striptease is that burlesque performance and
burlesque striptease usually has a plot, there's usually a character, there's usually
a stage persona, there's usually more comedy involved in it.
I just think it's a little bit more artful than stripping as such and I think it tracks
a completely different audience as well.
It isn't all about the strip, it is an art form and it should be all about performance
and some thought and some creativity has to go into the performance as well.
I don't really trust any man's judgement when I'm dressed like Roxy because I kind of think
well if he thinks I'm easy he's wrong and if he thinks I'm intimidating he's wrong.
It is a character so don't judge a book by its cover.
I can be so shy whereas now I find that Roxy has actually helped me build my own confidence
as Helen.
It's really a lot of courage to go up on stage for my very first performance whereas
now I really enjoy it and I revenue it.
Back in the late 19th century, the 1800s, burlesque was a variety show.
It had comedy, it had singing, it had skits and a very small element of striptease as
well.
The very first performer that would be renowned, that inspired me, would it be a modesty place?
She performed in the very very first Tassel Club ever.
She's a really curvy woman and I liked that about burlesque and I liked that about her.
The gloves and boas and corsets are and stockings are all kind of like essential basic ingredients
to anyone's wardrobe if you're going to do burlesque.
Burlesque is a really visual medium so the minute you walk out on stage people are going
to see you and so having a really impressive costume definitely has an impact.
I've seen performers do a whole performance on just doing a glove, striptease, where they
literally just take off their gloves and I think it's the whole idea of the satin against
skin, it's quite sensual so it's a real visual medium but at the same time you're playing
with the audience's perception of how that feels as well and what they could see and
what's underneath those feathers and underneath those nylons.
The best thing about burlesque is that it doesn't exclude any type of woman at all, anyone
can do it.
It doesn't matter what shape or size you are and that's what's fantastic about it, like
size 12, size 18, it doesn't matter what size you are, you're normal if you're happy and
I think confidence makes you even more beautiful.
I really like performing in the sugar club for the burlesque and cabaret social club.
The people who come to the shows make us, they are so core to what happens.
They dress up, they get in costume, they're every much as part of the show as the performers
on the stage are.
So it's great to see people participating and I think that's why burlesque is so appealing
to audiences now is because they can participate in the night out, it's not just going to see
a show and being entertained, you get to participate in it and you get to be part of that and it
makes it a whole experience for someone rather than just a night out.
I like to do a burlesque when I'm 60, who knows, I doubt it though, I don't think anyone
wants to see this.
Thank you.
