What is burlesque?

The following information is taken from the website http://www.blackorchidburlesque.com/, please visit the site for more information... It's just gone live and is not finished yet, (we are still waiting for the nipple tassles to twirl!) but hopefully you will enjoy your visit!

The inevitable question everyone asks is- what is Burlesque?

Directly translated, Burlesque means "in an upside down style". Burlesque does just that, it turns societies' opinions on their heads.

Burlesque usually incorporates dancing girls, variety acts, boisterous Singers, Vaudevillian magic and specialty acts. Think vintage glamour, corsets, feather boas, pasties and fascinators.

Movies like Moulin Rouge made Burlesque jump into the 21st Century, but this time-honored art form has been around since the early 18th Century across Europe and America.

People are conflicted about Burlesque's more risque origins, as it relates to what is now called Strip Tease. Burlesque today is not what you would find in the strip clubs, but rather a classier and cheeky version of this entertainment, where the focus is on what you are hiding rather than what is being revealed.

Artistes wear glamorous and lush costumes, use mood appropriate music, and perform acts with a satirical and saucy edge. Over the years, Burlesque has become multi-faceted, with sub-genres such as Neo-Burlesque becoming a popular source of bawdy entertainment around the world. The common factor is always the parody and cheeky comedy associated with this theatrical entertainment. A few well known Burlesque stars are Gypsy Rose Lee, Tempest Storm, Betty Page and the ever-gorgeous Dita Von Teese.

While Black Orchid's performers stay true to the roots of Traditional Burlesque, they also add a modern day twist to a classic art form. This makes Black Orchid Burlesque the leading representative for Neo-Burlesque in South Africa. Raucous and breath-taking, Black Orchid's Artistes promise to leave you wanting more!