I know this is a re-occuring theme, for performers and enthusiasts of burlesque, but the popular question of “what is the difference between burlesque and stripping” has been put to me, personally, so many times, I feel the need to discuss.
- Cassandra Jane
I have not personally ever been a stripper, but do feel quite informed about this scene. Apart from knowing many strippers over my lifetime,my business partner, Cassandra Jane was a well known stripper (more showgirl), I ran a special Bootcamp with Lola The Vamp – focused on girls wanting to cross over (strip to burlesque), and more recently, I went on a strip club “crawl” with Cassandra in Melbourne (in the name of research, of couse!!).
I know Dita Von Teese, amongst a lot of performers, consider as a burlesque artist – they are also a stripper. But when I look at a good burlesque routine and a good strip club performance – I can’t help but think they are chalk and cheese.
Apart from the fact when I walked into most clubs, the floor cleared. Apparently, there are a few girls who are fine with being a burlesque performer, but the other job, is something they don’t want me to know. Why is this? (I also later found out that by missing their stage time, they had to pay a fine!).
From my point of view, the girls that got on stage, did a fabulous show. I just had to turn away at the “ending”. I’m definitely not a prude, but there is some clear mental difference between my girls doing burlesque & stripping for me, personally.
- Pantha
I recently saw Australia’s top male stripper, Pantha, perform at Mandate in Melbourne. Although some cheesy music choices, he managed to get a few hundred girls chomping at the bits, without taking off his shirt, or revealing anything below the belt. There was humour, parody, narrative and there was tease, amazing choreography. So what was he doing – Burlesque or Stripping? Or both?
When I read of or talk to the US girls, doing both and their experiences in the strip clubs and on the circuit, it really does sound different to the scene here. I mean, in different states within Australia there are different rules on what clients can see / touching rules. Something that a girl in Victoria is allowed to do, is completely different from what a Queensland Stripper is.
So when the “out and proud” performers in both genres announce they are both, decipher this for me. “Stripping”, from what I know of it, is more than just the act of taking off one’s clothes. Its the venue, the audience, the outfit, the different finishes in the arms and legs, the shoes, the different approach to men. Then it’s also the issues of private shows and getting up close with the client.
It worries me that we generalise that burlesque is stripping, when there are so many different meanings of what ‘stripping” actually means. The meaning changes between venue, city, state, country, occassion, client request. One girl may so stage only, another work the floor or another only drive to private gigs through an agency booking (ie Bucks party). I know of one recent performer saying in an interview response to “How should a girl get into Burlesque?” her response? “Work in a stripclub”.
Whilst I am not for or against this statement, it makes me think.
What are your thoughts?
My thoughts are in my link attached.
http://ladyvivianemae.tumblr.com/post/1522824925/…
mmm… now thats a tough one! Being only to one burlesque night (and what a night it was!) my thoughts were that burlesque tells a story, whereas stripping – Im am talking about stage shows, private strip shows (ie bucks/birthdays) not lap dancing, pole dancing, table top etc. – is more about the art of taking your clothes off, some strippers (showgirls) do tell stories in their shows but not to the same extent as burlesque.
Whether its a good striptease show or a good burlesque show appreciate all the work your performer has put into their show, most performers put their heart and soul into their shows,, so applaud them loudly, they deserve it!
If you want to work as a stripper – go to a strip club
If you want to work as a burlesque performer – go to a burlesque club
Watch the professionals in your trade to learn how its done properly
Well I don't think you have to strip. But sexuality is a big part of burlesque.
Burlesque is (as Bebe Sparkle said the other day) about the "art of the tease." You don't have to end up completely naked, you don't even have to take anything off at all. Many performers do take their clothes off though, and alot of those performers strip for the stripping. But, I think the biggest discriminating factor between "exotic dancers" and burlesque performers is probably the class and tone of a burlesque performance as opposed to a straight up strip at a strip club.
However, the line between "seedy" and a burlesque performace is very hard to draw as culture can have alot to do with your level of tollerance. I do not believe there is really a set line between a "stripper!" and a burlesque performer. It's a very individual thing as is the interpretation of what burlesque itself is.
Personally though, I don't mind being called a stripper (I take my clothes off, it's not exactly a term I can deny) and I would be happy to perform at a GOOD strip club. As I said, it's all about class for me as a performer!
Xx
Burlesque is art, put simply <3
I am a burlesque dancer, and I was formerly a stripper for about a year. There are some significant differences between the two in my opinion.
Stripping: Prolonged (and inorganic) contact with the audience, more mingling, conversation etc. Shorter stage times, less prep time (costumes etc), this is business not art.
Burlesque: Shortened and organic audience-performer interaction. Longer stage time, more prep time, art first, and then business.
These are significant differences that I can pinpoint off of the top of my head.
As well in my part of the United States, the legal penalties for strippers are many. (Have to cover your nipples, 50% of your butt, 3'' heels min and you can't take them off), but for we burlesque performers here, we take our shoes off, sometimes only wear as much as a merkin and pasties… and nobody bats an eyelash. It's sort of curious.
Wow that is really interesting about the legal penalties. Where exactly in the US are you? And how odd for this to be ok in Burlesque?
It really shows a difference in audience / community attitude towards each. Which I think is of course, a big part of this debate.
I live in Oklahoma in the state capital/metro area, it's a highly conservative state.
I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that the police here might not even know about our burlesque shows, though I am pretty sure they do. Myself I've been performing (with our local troupe) for two years now, and we aren't invisible. It may have to do with the name "burlesque"… a number of people around here have no idea what burlesque is, it takes seeing a live show for them to get exactly what it is that we do.
I don't like saying this, but I think that perhaps some of the freedoms we enjoy (compared to strippers) are due to the ignorance in our community. This same ignorance also limits the number of venues we can perform in. I'll talk to an owner, and at first they think this is a great idea. Then they soon realize that there may be some skin, they talk to their lawyers and stop returning phone calls. It's frustrating, but what can a gal do?
So the difference between a local performer calling themselves a stripper or burlesque performer is pretty important.
Beyond the obvious costume and choreographic preparation and performance quality already mentioned, one big difference is in the audience. Let me give you a metaphor … burlesque is to art what stripping is to porn … and the difference between art and porn is often in the mindset of the person looking at it.
Strip clubs feel seedy … burlesque feels classy … so what does that say about me? I appreciate the effort made in burlesque … it makes for a more meaningful performance … irrelevant of how much clothing comes off in either style.
You don’t actually answer the question: “what is the difference between stripping and burlesque?” I think that’s because you can’t because it’s the same thing. Burlesque is perceived just a higher ‘classier’ form of stripping to burlesque dancers. But to the general public, they’re still selling sex (or fantasy) for money, what ever name you give it.