Neo-Burlesque Revival

In the early twentieth century, when a man wanted entertainment of the feminine persuasion, he went to see a burlesque strip tease show. The show was a send-off on the elaborate theatrical productions of the time and was a sensation in Britain before coming to America in the early 19^th Century. These shows featured ‘revealing’ outfits on women, (revealing for that time period anyway) and incorporated dance, music, strip-tease and comedic performances. Early laws against these establishments ended up stifling the ‘final reveal’ and led to many performers being arrested for indecency. The burlesque shows would later give way to more modern interpretations of stripping. Today though, these shows are making a comeback in the neo-burlesque shows.

Neo-Burlesque shows feature women stripping in the form of the classical strip-tease, modern dance, fan dancing and theatrical mini-dramas and even comedy. These shows, while allowing more revealing outfits, lean more on the ‘tease’ than on the ‘strip’. They don't take place in a strip club.

Blame it on nostalgia, or perhaps patrons wanting more of the show than the reveal, but the classic Neo-Burlesque shows are coming back in a big way. The early videos of the originals in burlesque Sally Rand, Tempest Storm, Gypsy Rose Lee, and more are available on YouTube and they are inspiring performers today to add more performing to their acts.

Today there are modern performances, shows, festivals and pageants where Neo-Burlesque is performed and celebrated. There is even an annual convention called the Miss Exotic World Pageant where the winner is crowned with the Miss Exotic World title. For someone who would like to experience the history and revival of the Neo-Burlesque performances there is no better place than the Burlesque Hall of Fame located in Las Vegas, Nevada. Come in June and stay to watch the Pageant!