Hi folks, first of all, your assignment for this week is below this post — be sure to check it.
Also — Trixie Minx, who wrote one of the articles you read (Minx, Trixie. (2007) Burlesque: The Art of Tease, The Perspective from a Dancer, Root
Magazine ) submitted a response to all of your blog responses. She invites you all to respond to both her comments and two YouTube videos she posted for you to watch. I will give extra credit worth TWO blog responses for those who respond with thoughtful commentary to Trixie Minx’s post by Nov. 5th – one week from today. Her comments follow below:
A friend sent me this link and I was thrilled to see so much thought and interest go into both the article I wrote and the one Emlinger did as well. I would like to expand on my article with a personal opinion on victim art.
Everytime I’m on stage I feel as though I am taking each audience member through a ride to excite their senses. I hope they leave a show feeling entertained and delighted. There are other groups where the focus is on nudity. A nude body is beautiful but a body that moves and interacts with the audience on an emotional level is even better. I’ve recieved criticisms that we aren’t raunch enough from a few but more often the demure attitude behind Fleur de Tease has our fans going crazy for more. Through burlesque (the way I run my company) every female cast member feels empowered. I believe the problem lies not within the art but those behind it, the directors who push for more skin and less dance. I’m not sure how you are defining a victim for this topic specifically but I believe people do not choose to become victims, some second party is the catalyst.
With that in mind it is sad that the opinions of certain people can color the reputation of a whole art form. Directors who want to make more money push for more skin and the dancers agree under that outside pressure. Within Fleur de Tease we refocus the energy of burlesque to its original intent comedy, teasing, and fun. I do not deny the power of the sex industry or the appeal of nudity and its relationship to burlesque. Burlesque houses became strip clubs because of popular demand. But though one evolved from the other they independently are not the same thing. Some things are difficult to describe but become perfectly clear when observed. So I invite you to see the show and let me know your opinion on what we do. Here are links to both group numbers and my favorite solo. ENJOY!”
