From dance to tease, acting to spoken word, and even a bit of risqué business, burlesque has always played an important role in Australian entertainment.
Although burlesque began centuries ago, the seductive art has only been gaining popularity on local shores for around 60 years.
Beginning as early as the 17th century, the act stood for theatrical experiences and included diverse literary and musical themes. Although the word ‘burlesque’ itself derives from the Italian word ‘burlesco’ meaning ‘a joke or ridicule’, the art of the act does not embody the meaning of the word whatsoever.
With its carefully-choreographed routines, gracious acting, and sensual themes, burlesque drew its audiences in rapidly. By the late 1800s, the riotous act took off in the US, with notable English troupe Lydia Thompson and the ‘British Blondes’ taking stage in New York City.
At that point, burlesque was sadly beginning to go out of fashion in England, but was swiftly taking off in the states with national circuses and resident companies staking ground in New York.
Although burlesque has crossed back and forth over the lines of striptease, in 1930s America, stripping was another element that made this act so unique and highly sought after. With a show combining around six female performers, supported by comics and music, it’s no wonder the performances took off as they did.
Spawning from its pivotal role in the states, as well as the UK, burlesque slowly made its appearance in Australia with showgirls like America’s Tempest Storm and Lili St. Cyr paving the way.
Eventually, burlesque took off with Sydney playing host to many clubs along Kings Cross and other inner-city streets. Between the enticing look of the performers, the seductive tunes, and the alluring dances, burlesque quickly became a top way to find entertainment for the evening.
History cites Sydney’s own Elizabeth Burton as one of the first showgirls to enhance the scene in Australia, and as she recalls, it was a rowdy time.
“I lived through it all and had a wild ride, and unlike some other woman I know who did stripping and burlesque, I don’t regret any of it,” she revealed to The Daily Telegraph in 2015.
Check out ‘The Man With The Golden Arm’ performed by Tempest Storm:
As the craving for nostalgia bubbles up, as well as the want for simpler times where one can put their phones aside and view live entertainment that is sure to captivate, burlesque stands to fill that craving.
In modern times, the show captivates the best of vintage elements, bringing the audience to a simpler time of entertainment while acting as a tribute to the past, yet keeping the acts contemporary enough to attract large audiences.
As for Australia, we are lucky to have a thriving community of burlesque dancers, offering the country the best in live entertainment. Between Australia hosting its own Burlesque Idol as well as Miss Burlesque Australia, while also having an Australian Burlesque Festival, fans aren’t short of options when it comes to watching these sensational acts.
Luck shines on Sydneysiders though, with the finest and boldest acts right under their noses. Noted as the best way to experience burlesque in the city, The Bamboozle Room plays host to an array of colourful and decorated performers that entice the eyes and ensnare the senses.
Combining the best of burlesque, with the elements of tease, dance, acting, and comedy, The Bamboozle Room plays a key role in keeping the art of burlesque flourishing in Australia.
Accompanied with dinner, the show aims to transport the viewer into another world chock full of “wholesomely debaucherous” entertainment.
“As a performance genre it constantly breaks the rules, including its own and can encompass anything from; bawdy humour; satirical social comment; classic vintage glamour; or sensual striptease.”
As the history of burlesque runs deep in Australia’s veins, venues like The Bamboozle Room play a significant part in actively keeping burlesque alive and well in entertainment.
With so many fantastic elements to this cabaret, including the art of seduction, stunning showmanship, and (as The Bamboozle Room includes) comedy, the diversity of the shows cannot be understated, and it is obvious as to why it plays such an important role in the nightlife of Australia.
Tickets for the shows at Potts Point Hotel can be found through their website.
