The Evolution of Burlesque and Intentions

?Today, you will hear a lot of American women talking about pole dancing in the neo-burlesque trend. This is surprising for many people that equate it to antiquated strip club dancing. However, what is different about the burlesque of today and the ladies of the stage in the past has to do with the audience. Instead of dancing for the entertainment of men as exotic dancers, the women in modern burlesque are doing this for their female friends. On top of that, the most important person in the audience is the performer herself.

Although the intentions of the dancer's mind are different, the dancing and sexiness that the performers feel are often unchanged. Performers throughout history have been fully aware of the fact that anyone that views them will find them physically appealing. The sensuality, decorative touches, and focus on lingerie remain the same, but the management of the process and the people in charge make it new psychological territory for a modern American woman.

For example, many women are annoyed by public un-solicited comments about their bodies. The girl who developed first among her classmates is intuitively aware of this dilemma. On the other hand, burlesque is described as empowering because the performer gets to control her sexiness. When she wants people to validate the fact that she is beautiful, she can get the cheers she wants by stepping on stage.

In other words, dressing up in your work khakis and looking conservative are perfectly normal for everyday. It helps you avoid the weird guys that leer at you on public transportation. However, what about getting dressed up in the sexiest thing you can find and showing off your best dancing moves? The simplicity of being a star and having your 15 minutes of fame is far from the past when dancing for men was the only job an American woman could get outside of the home. At the end of the night, you have the affirmed feeling that you, like everyone else, can be sexy too.

By far, we are past the days when women who dance are considered sex workers. Instead, we are now in a realm within American culture where all women are celebrated for their wide ranges of beauty. For example, new moms that are stuck in dirty clothes for months can get applause for one night that re-affirms that their post-baby bodies are still exciting.

Neo-burlesque has definitely brought the idea of glamour back to pole dancing to the point it is now a trendy and female empowering hobby. For this reason, we are likely to see more women dancing on stage as if it were just another karaoke night.