health | body confidence
BUILDING BODY CONFIDENCE THROUGH
Burlesque
BY AMY STUBBLEFIELD Minneapolis has been recognized for being one of America’s healthiest cities, so it’s no surprise that Twin Citians have a ton of options when it comes to getting fit. There are 5ks, marathons, fitness classes, 24-hour-gyms, yoga studios and thousands of acres of green space. But one way to work out that you might never have considered? The art of striptease—also known as burlesque. Savvy talked to three women who are pioneers of the Twin Cities burlesque scene to get the lowdown on the art form, its misconceptions, history and myriad of health benefits.
A MOVEMENT THAT’S TAKEN OFF Founded in 2005 by Ophelia Flame and Gina Louise, both internationally recognized for their neo-burlesque (or new burlesque) production and performance, Playful Peacock has helped to put Minneapolis on the map in the world of burlesque. Burlesque embraces, among other themes, nostalgia and retro glamour. Flame, a native Minnesotan and selfproclaimed Uptown Girl, teamed up with performer and partner Louise to bring the art form here, where it seemed to be a natural fit. “It’s very community- and women-positive,” Flame says. In 2011, as the burlesque resurgence was taking off, performer CherryBomb Jac founded BurlesqueMN with a mission of providing “an alternative way for women and men to get reacquainted with their bodies.” Now the studios are experiencing more success than ever, always expanding their class offerings for a dedicated and ever-growing following of students and audience members.
stripping? It’s an important conversation to have,” Flame says. “And the answer is intention.” Flame notes that many customers go to strip clubs for companionship—while audiences attend burlesque shows to enjoy the entertainment. “It’s very playful—it can be sexy, it can be silly, it can be serious. It really has the ability to do anything you want it to,” says Hussy Hautepants, student-turned-instructor at BurlesqueMN. “I would say, don’t knock it ‘til you try it. Going to a show can change your outlook on what burlesque actually is. For the most part it’s pretty, it’s fun, it’s sexy, and there’s nothing raunchy about it.”
WHAT TO EXPECT
Both local studios offer a variety of class options for students of all skill sets and comfort levels, hosting workshops, weekly classes and private events. Many of the classes take place over a series of consecutive weeks and offer a performance opportunity after the completion of the class. So what can you expect to learn? For starters, you might want to start thinking about your stage name. “No performer performs under their real name,” RISQUE OR REFINED? says Hautepants. “I immediately started thinking about Not everyone thinks of burlesque as its own sexy and my stage name, because I really wanted it to represent seductive art form, and it’s a revolution these Twin Cities how I wanted my burlesque persona to come across.” studios are actively taking part in. And at Playful Peacock, being present is key from the “What’s the difference between burlesque and get-go. The studio offers introductory and more advanced
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FEBRUARY 2014 | savvy.mn