Grace Cherry’s Burlesque 101: Burlesque and cabaret - similar but different

 Grace Cherry photo montage by Kate M Burton Photography

I feel like the Tony Jones of the burlesque world this week. The Cabaret Confessional team told me that some questions came in about the relationship between burlesque and cabaret in terms of genres. Unlike Tony, I won’t ‘take that as a comment’, because it’s a damn good question!

While doing a bit of research for this topic, one website Colombia Empire Burlesque suggested “…the difference between burlesque and cabaret? Both have had movies made about them, while only one had the good grace of starring Liza Minnelli.” That was just too good to keep to myself!

Zara Photo by Jonathan Elliot

Another of my favourite site, 21^st Century Burlesque, a burlesque artist Essence further suggested that burlesque and stripping are sisters but not twins. To extend that metaphor further, I’d say burlesque and cabaret could be classed as stepsisters. They are both in the same family, but how close they are varies a bit.  

I can see a number of similarities between the two genres. These are most evident perhaps when you compare burlesque and cabaret shows as a whole.

Cabaret shows can involve theatre, dance, comedy and music. All of which burlesque shows have in abundance. A burlesque event will mainly have acts created by individual performers (occasionally a duo or a troupe) that are an intoxicating blend of striptease, comedy and dance. These acts will be joined together for the audience with some banter from an MC or comedian. And often a burlesque show will incorporate some variety style performances – song, aerial or circus and perhaps a dance number.

Miss Kitty’s Meow by Jonathan Elliot

Not all burlesque acts of course are of the classic striptease variety. As with cabaret, satire, parody and political statement are utilised.  Perhaps most famously we might remember the press going gaga over the gorgeous Gypsy Wood when she jumped out of a ballot box dressed as former PM John Howard for Bob Hawke’s 80^th birthday?

And then there are the venues. On most occasions you’ll catch a burlesque show in a club, bar or more intimate theatre, as you do with cabaret. There are exceptions, but they do seem to gravitate toward similar surrounds.

I think we’re starting to see the family resemblance!

I have seen more blurring of boundaries between burlesque and cabaret. Burlesque shows have elements of cabaret within them and vice versa. It’s all in the detail in my mind. But with all the similarities between our step siblings, why bother with two separate genres? They key differences that separate the two, in my view, would include:

• Strip and tease  Cabaret shows might have nudity. But a great classic burlesque night (say for example “The Big Tease” show at the Australian Burlesque Festival) there is a huge push on striptease – emphasis on tease. A careful concoction of music, costume and theatricality combined to bring about glorious strip tease that will leave an audience smiling…and a bit hot and bothered. In these acts, the production is about tantalizing the audience and leading them into a big reveal. The performer will generally be undressed to pasties (sparkly nipple covers) and a g-string or knickers.

• Music  Burlesque shows rely on music be it canned or live. A cabaret shows use the song to either set a particular mood or to tell a story to the audience. Some burlesque shows employ this (Polly Rae and the Hurly Burly show are great examples), some artists do a ‘sing n strip’ but it’s the exception to the rule. More often, burlesque artists use their bodies and faces to convey their message - be it a political statement or a sexy strip.

• Narrative  Cabaret shows seem to be well crafted with an overall narrative or story arch for their audience. Or a key and distinct theme. Many burlesque shows offer this - see for example the upcoming tour of Star Wars Burlesque or the Hurly Burly show – but more often than not a burlesque show is  a mix of different acts, created by individual performers. There may not always be a link between them. Festival shows like the Australian Burlesque Festival or a regular night at a burlesque hub, will provide the audience with a chance to see skillful performers perform notable numbers, but there will perhaps be nothing else linking them together for the audience other than the fact they are burlesque shows.

I could go on. And on. And on. But I hope the differences seem a little clearer. I see more fusion between burlesque and cabaret in the shows as a whole. Good burlesque producers have enough expertise to realise that boob upon boob isn’t enough to entertain an audience. Our audiences are burlesque savvy and expect something different. So I hope as we progress through the burlesque revival we see more of a fusion between the two genres - I think they do complement each other.  

Miss Kitty’s Meow is Hobart’s leading burlesque and cabaret troupe with penchant for glamour, classic musicals and vintage fashion. They’ll be showcasing their tantalising show The Beautiful and the Damned: Burlesque Revue at the Adelaide Fringe 2012. As they put the finishing touches on their show, the troupe’s femme fatale Grace Cherry will be shedding some light, sparkles and glitter on the mysterious world of burlesque in this blog series.

Grace Chery’s Burlesque 101 Series

Grace Cherry’s Burlesque 101: A History Lesson

Grace Cherry’s Burlesque 101: Starting Out

Grace Cherry’s Burlesque 101: What makes a good burlesque show?

Grace Cherry’s Burlesque 101: Burlesque and cabaret - similar but different

Click here to get the tickets to The Beautiful and the Damned: Burlesque Revue at the Adelaide Fringe 2012 at Excess Theatre, Gluttony on 23-25 February (the 24th show is sold out).

Click here for Grace Cherry’s bio, more information about the show and Miss Kitty’s Meow.

Clich here to ‘Like’ The Beautiful and the Damned: Burlesque Revue and click here to ‘Like’ Miss Kitty’s Meow on Facebook.

Follow Miss Kitty’s Meow on Twitter.

Check out Grace Cherry’s blog here.

*If you are interested in having your show featured on Cabaret Confessional, click here for more information.

Find out how YOU can become an exclusive Founding Patron of Cabaret Confessional.

Subscribe to Cabaret Confessional via email.

‘Like’ Cabaret Confessional on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. 

Grace Cherry’s Burlesque 101: What makes a good burlesque show?

Miss Kitty’s Meow Photo by Bret Salinger

By Grace Cherry 

If I thought I was getting to the pointy end of the sword when last I blogged, I can safely say the point is now dangling dangerously close to my jugular. Only two weeks until we kick off our show at the Adelaide Fringe!

This has meant frantic rehearsals, a flurry of feathers and rhinestones.  At the moment, if you enter my house, you have to play the ‘Where’s the most unusual place a Swarovski crystal will stick to you’? game. So far, the most bizarre incident has been a cluster of them jumping out of my yoga mat at Bikram this week!

Swarvorski incidents aside, I’m at the stage where preparations are less about the performers – as I know they will bring their best on the night – and more about the show itself and how it will come together. Which raises the question: what actually makes a good burlesque show?

For me, a burlesque event combines my fixations with what I want an audience to take home with them – a theme/concept. As the title of our event indicates, I have an unhealthy obsession with the late 20s/early 30s era and in particular, the work of F Scott Fitzgerald. I have the image of a massive party with Daisy Buchanan - lots of flappers, gorgeous girls and high kicks. Yet, beneath the ‘bright young things’, I often feel an underlying melancholy lurking. This means the show is divided in two parts - the light and shade of this era - the gorgeousness of the Jazz Age (the Beautiful) and a darker side (the Damned).

Aside from a theme or a concept, what else is needed? A good cast of performers, obviously! I am confident with the selection of Tasmanian artists, especially Lucy Sky Diamond, as she is a hardworking, consistent performer in Tassie. It was important to have a burlycue that represents my hometown and I think the scene in Tasmania has come along in spades since I started performing. 

But an all-Tassie cast was not feasible purely for financial reasons. Cue Luna Eclipse! I had the joy of performing with her a few years ago. She is loved locally in Adelaide, has a great style informed by her swing and belly dance background and brings a lot of energy to events. Our headliner, Bella de Jac, has worked with us before and I found her an absolute delight personally and professionally. Bella is renowned for her distinct twenties styling, so I knew that she would fit the event perfectly.

Bella de Jac Photo by Kahlia Litzow

Great performers? Check! The next link is the MC – an ingredient often overlooked. So many burlesque shows are let down by poor MCs, often simply because they are hard to come by. It’s not enough just to find a funnyman. You need someone who is on the ball, can keep the show well-paced, will pick up some stray feathers off the floor and can think on their feet when something goes wrong. Personally, I prefer a man in the mix to break up all the boobs and glitter. 

Beyond these core ingredients, the rest is icing. It helps if you can make the event a visual treat for the audience - ensure a great diversity of costume styles and colours. A good deal of variety in the acts is great - no one wants to see five fan dances in a row. 

The best icing you can offer in my mind is pacing. I’m too old to sit through lengthy shows. A good hour and I’m ready to pour myself a pot of Earl Grey and call it a night. A good burlesque should give the audience a laugh, some glamour, a bit of nudity and have them go home feeling like their money matched the entertainment value.

At the end of the day, regardless of the show, isn’t that what we all want? 

Grace Chery’s Burlesque 101 Series

Grace Cherry’s Burlesque 101: A History Lesson

Grace Cherry’s Burlesque 101: Starting Out

Grace Cherry’s Burlesque 101: What makes a good burlesque show?

Miss Kitty’s Meow is Hobart’s leading burlesque and cabaret troupe with penchant for glamour, classic musicals and vintage fashion. They’ll be showcasing their tantalising show The Beautiful and the Damned: Burlesque Revue at the Adelaide Fringe 2012. As they put the finishing touches on their show, the troupe’s femme fatale Grace Cherry will be shedding some light, sparkles and glitter on the mysterious world of burlesque in this blog series.

Click here to get the tickets to The Beautiful and the Damned: Burlesque Revue at the Adelaide Fringe 2012 at Excess Theatre, Gluttony on 23-25 February (the 24th show is sold out).

Click here for Grace Cherry’s bio, more information about the show and Miss Kitty’s Meow.

Clich here to ‘Like’ The Beautiful and the Damned: Burlesque Revue and click here to ‘Like’ Miss Kitty’s Meow on Facebook.

Follow Miss Kitty’s Meow on Twitter.

Check out Grace Cherry’s blog here.

*If you are interested in having your show featured on Cabaret Confessional, click here for more information.

Find out how YOU can become an exclusive Founding Patron of Cabaret Confessional.

Subscribe to Cabaret Confessional via email.

‘Like’ Cabaret Confessional on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. 

*If you are interested in having your show featured on Cabaret Confessional, click here for more information.

Find out how YOU can become an exclusive Founding Patron of Cabaret Confessional.

Subscribe to Cabaret Confessional via email.

‘Like’ Cabaret Confessional on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. 

Grace Cherry's Burlesque 101: Starting Out

Miss Kitty’s Meow (L to R) Grace Cherry, Tiger Lilly, Oopsy Daisy

By Grace Cherry 

With a little over six weeks to go until the Adelaide Fringe, I can say with some certainty that I have bought every crystal coloured Swarovski in Australia, as I race to fix the beading on one of my g-strings.  If I had a time machine and asked myself five years ago if I could imagine this moment, I’m sure I’d have been inconvincible.

How the hell did I get to this point?

The “how did you get into burlesque?” question strikes again. 

I have a strong dance background and have always been in love with the idea of being in a chorus line, wearing a Ziegfeld Follies-esque headpiece. At 19, I realised that I wasn’t going to really cut the mustard. And physically I would never really fit the silhouette required. Giving up dance was a real struggle for me, and as soon as I threw in the towel, I secretly plotted to find something creative to inspire me again.

I discovered burlesque via the pole dance craze and started taking classes. It was a fun, dance oriented experience that let me make heaps of new friends. Thanks to Zara from Tasmania’s Pole Dancing and Burlesque Academy, I felt renewed!  

Lucy Sky Diamond

On a whim, Zara and her students were hired to add a touch of pole and burlesque to a rockabilly gig. I had only a really vague notion of what burlesque was. But getting on the stage, I was soon hooked!  It satisfied my desire to wear an insanely sparkly costume and my addiction to old time musicals.

But I desperately wanted to explore burlesque further and pursue performing more professionally, so I created Miss Kitty’s Meow with two close friends. We conspired to bring burlesque back, bigger and brighter to Tasmania (cue evil laughter and stroking of a fluffy white cat).

Back then in 2007 – 2008, there was zilch burlesque in Tasmania. For Miss Kitty’s Meow, Zara and fellow performer Lucy Sky Diamond, breaking into burlesque was about creating a revival.  We had to promote burlesque and really educate our audience.  

Luna Eclipse

Over in Adelaide, Luna Eclipse has had a similar experience. Luna comes from a professional bellydancing background, but wanted to perform burlesque acts as well. Like many of us starting out, Luna said, “I didn’t really know what I was doing - but I just went with my gut and it seemed to work”. With Sapphire Snow, she created a duo in Peaches n Gin Burlesque and has worked hard to build up a unique style – one they felt wasn’t present in SA when they started performing.

Bella de Jac

Our headliner Bella de Jac has also spoken on her struggle to pull her dance background together and find a style that spoke to her. Upon discovering Dita Von Teese’s much loved book The Art of Teese, Bella said she “had a crystallising moment of ‘why the hell have I not been doing this my entire life!’”. Working in the UK, she was able to “research her ass off” and work on developing acts and break into the performance circuit. She returned to Australia in 2010, which has seen her career rise and rise.

As you can tell, there are some similarities between the performers. I often see us as this raggle taggle crew of misfits. We have all struggled to fit neatly into other genres. “How did I get into burlesque?” quickly becomes “how did I not get into it sooner?”.

Burlesque melds a lot of the things we love about dance, theatre and music. But at the same time it allows us to create our own acts. Most of us are our own producers, choreographers, costume designers (sometimes costume makers). At the end of the day the success- and failure of course- is in your own hands. Terrifying…. but in a thrilling kind of way.

Miss Kitty’s Meow:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSp_rw9d-eo

Grace Chery’s Burlesque 101 Series

Grace Cherry’s Burlesque 101: A History Lesson

Grace Cherry’s Burlesque 101: Starting Out

Grace Cherry’s Burlesque 101: What makes a good burlesque show?

Grace Cherry’s Burlesque 101: Burlesque and cabaret - similar but different

Miss Kitty’s Meow is Hobart’s leading burlesque and cabaret troupe with penchant for glamour, classic musicals and vintage fashion. They’ll be showcasing their tantalising show The Beautiful and the Damned: Burlesque Revue at the Adelaide Fringe 2012. As they put the finishing touches on their show, the troupe’s femme fatale Grace Cherry will be shedding some light, sparkles and glitter on the mysterious world of burlesque in this blog series.

Click here to get the tickets to The Beautiful and the Damned: Burlesque Revue at the Adelaide Fringe 2012.

Click here for Grace Cherry’s bio, more information about the show and Miss Kitty’s Meow.

Clich here to ‘Like’ The Beautiful and the Damned: Burlesque Revue and click here to ‘Like’ Miss Kitty’s Meow on Facebook.

Follow Miss Kitty’s Meow on Twitter.

Check out Grace Cherry’s blog here.

*Calling all Adelaide Fringe 2012 cabaret performers! If you are interested in having your Fringe show featured on Cabaret Confessional, click here for more information.

Find out how YOU can become an exclusive Founding Patron of Cabaret Confessional.

Subscribe to Cabaret Confessional via email.

‘Like’ Cabaret Confessional on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Grace Cherry’s Burlesque 101: A History Lesson

Miss Kitty’s Meow is Hobart’s leading burlesque and cabaret troupe with penchant for glamour, classic musicals and vintage fashion. They’ll be showcasing their tantalising show The Beautiful and the Damned: Burlesque Revue at the Adelaide Fringe 2012. As they put the finishing touches on their show, the troupe’s femme fatale Grace Cherry will be shedding some light, sparkles and glitter on the mysterious world of burlesque in this blog series.

By Grace Cherry 

Let’s talk about burlesque! Now, before you roll your eyes or start your rant about  that recent Christina Aguilera monstrosity, let’s get a few things sorted. What’s it all about?

I’m not the absolute word on the ‘what is burlesque?’ question. Every burlesque performer will probably give you a different answer.  There isn’t one ‘correct’ definition of burlesque, which is lovely….but it often leaves punters a bit confused.

First things first. The movie Burlesque had little to do with burlesque. It had some sexy jazz dancing with some sparkly costumes. It also had a number of blatant rip offs of Cabaret. Cher’s “Welcome to Burlesque” was really the “Wilkommen” of the noughties….only not good. And can I add my personal disappointment in not seeing enough Alan Cumming?

Burlesque, as any Wikipedia entry will tell you, is derived from the word ‘burl’, meaning parody, but for many performers, burlesque has become synonymous with striptease and often associated with gaudy, vaudeville style shows.

Confusing? Sometimes! Burlesque can seem like a strange mix. That’s because it has two strong and distinct traditions. The British - which has a focus on parody and the American - rooted in striptease.

Gypsy Rose Lee

For the Brits, burlesque was a cheap form of entertainment used to make fun of the upper crust. Music, song, dance and some nudity were used as a way of mocking the established order.

When Lydia Thompson and her British Blondes swept into the United States they took burlesque performances to an American audience. Showing off the female form in tights, their use of popular songs, cross dressing and comedy was all pretty groundbreaking for the mid 1800s. 

The US performers then really honed the art of striptease. Remember the line “You gotta get a gimmick” from the musical Gypsy? Sally Rand danced nude behind giant feather fans. The legendary Zorita used a pet snake. Rosita Royce had seven doves trained to remove her clothing and of course you had the most famous stripper of all, Gypsy Rose Lee, who entertained with her wit more than her clothes (or lack thereof).

So that’s my brief history lesson in Burlesque 101. It was said to have died a permanent death with the advent of TV, pole dancing and lap dancing. As it turns out, reports of Burlesque’s death were greatly exaggerated. We’ve seen a huge revival from the 1990s onwards. Nowadays a burlesque show will land you with an intoxicating blend of dance, music, satire, comedy, glamour and striptease. Some acts will lean more towards the British side, and others the American side – what we usually deem ‘classic’ burlesque strip tease.

The blend of theatricality, song and striptease is what I’m preparing for the Adelaide Fringe. I’m looking forward to chatting with the other artists and giving you some insight into their preparations. For now, I leave you with a clip from our headliner Bella de Jac. This number was performed at the 2011 Miss Burlesque Australia and is the perfect example of the 1920s-era burlesque that we’re working hard to bring your way. 

Grace Chery’s Burlesque 101 Series

Grace Cherry’s Burlesque 101: A History Lesson

Grace Cherry’s Burlesque 101: Starting Out

Grace Cherry’s Burlesque 101: What makes a good burlesque show?

Grace Cherry’s Burlesque 101: Burlesque and cabaret - similar but different

Click here to get the tickets to The Beautiful and the Damned: Burlesque Revue at the Adelaide Fringe 2012.

Click here for Grace Cherry’s bio, more information about the show and Miss Kitty’s Meow.

Clich here to ‘Like’ The Beautiful and the Damned: Burlesque Revue and click here to ‘Like’ Miss Kitty’s Meow on Facebook.

Follow Miss Kitty’s Meow on Twitter.

Check out Grace Cherry’s blog here.

*Calling all Adelaide Fringe 2012 cabaret performers! If you are interested in having your Fringe show featured on Cabaret Confessional, click here for more information.

Find out how YOU can become an exclusive Founding Patron of Cabaret Confessional.

Subscribe to Cabaret Confessional via email.

‘Like’ Cabaret Confessional on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.