How do you get started in Burlesque?

[Ginger Rayne]

Hey I have a question for all you experienced performers. I want to get into Burlesque but have no idea how. I am a trained ballerina and worked the strip club thing for many years. I have NO DESIRE to go back there. How do you get started and where do you look for reputable places?

Thanks in advance!
xoxox
Ginger

[Roxy Tart {PL Team / Comm. Mgr}]

Find and go to shows in your area. Talk to the girls that perform, and the people that put on the show. Make some friends and ask lots of questions. That's really the best way to get into any scene. Good luck, and let us know when you start performing.

BTW, What area are you in?

[Ginger Rayne]

Roxy Tart said:

Find and go to shows in your area. Talk to the girls that perform, and the people that put on the show. Make some friends and ask lots of questions. That's really the best way to get into any scene. Good luck, and let us know when you start performing.

BTW, What area are you in?

I am in Jackson, Michigan. SO nothing here, I will have to venture out which is ok!

I will do that, thanks for the advice! :)

[The Pinup Angels]

1. Attend shows
2. Research: websites, DVD's, Books
3. Attend a class! This is a must these days. There is so much burlesque out there that you don't want to be the one on 'the learning curve'. It's a worthy investment! Five of the Pinup Angels are burlesque performers. Three of them were trained at The Kindergarten Of Burlesque. The other two are guest instructors. It makes a big difference!

[River Taylor]

Oh stripping's not so bad, lol.

I did that for a number of years myself and all the best celebrities or even pinup models such as Dita Von Teese & Courtney Love (put her in whatever category you like ; )) and even Cody Diablo who wrote the screenplay for the movie Juno.

I think it is all dancing as an art form.

But anyways, I took burlesque classes here in New York, but to be honest, it didn't really do me much good as far as getting my foot in the door.

Since you are the second person who has mentioned burlesque in Michigan and / or Detroit, I took it upon myself to google it.

Here's what I came up with...:

My Space Link : http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&am...

Website - Same as myspace link~ http://www.candypantsgirls.com/

And this, which may or may not be around : http://burlesquepoetryhour.blogspot.com/2007/02/detroit-invades-dc....

I know there is one girl who is big into burlesque out there and may even offer classes, but I can't think if she is in Chicago or Detroit.

Didn't find her when I looked it up.

Also Jo Boobs has a website called gstringsforever.com which might have links and whatnot to other cities.

I certainly know that she has a yahoo group and I promoted this site there to hopefully bring on some of the burlesque people.

I want to know all the secrets to the biz myself

[AbSINthia V.]

hello. i happened upon a troupe adition once. later left the group years later and went solo..... you need to get some moves and offer your services to venues, hit up bands,events, thats what i do. now im in a group called the red light variety but i have free range to move about where ever! hope this helps darlin!!

[Infamous Nina Nightshade]

Here in the Portland, OR area, there's a lot of burlesque. A lot of the girls here start as a "Stage Maid" and work up to performing... Kind of an apprentice type thing.
I personally had 12 years of belly dance experience, so I got a few quick lessons from go-go Amy and Meghan Mayhem on the more burly-q side and was fortunate enough to get to perform with them.
Having dance experience I'd say is huge and if you can't find a burlesque class, join a belly dance class. Much of the muscle memory and movements are similar enough, that it will at least give you a boost on the dance side of it!
Good luck to you!

[Classique]

hey there,
I have read everybodys responses and take the advice also since i am too looking to get into burlesque... however i am from birmingham, united kingdom... which is abt three miles away from london so there r not the facilities that r available there... i have booked a show for the 24th of this month ad hopefully that comes up with something... ideally id like to set up a club for women in this area who want to learn burlesque n put on shows - semi professional tho... any ideas ppl? or even any help???