Becoming Burlesque
In 1927, struggling vaudevillean Rose Louise Hovick stepped onto a burlesque stage for the first time, transforming herself into the urbane, sophisticated stripper Gypsy Rose…
Dancing the Revolution: Feminism in Burlesque History
Most burlesque dancers throughout history would not have considered themselves “feminists”. In fact, many clashed with the feminists of the day who were attacking their…
Spectacular, Erotic, and Slightly Shocking: A Timeline of American Burlesque
With roots in the tragicomedies of ancient Greece, American burlesque first emerged in 1860s. Driven by the industrial working class’ hunger for entertainment, an individualistic…
Bump & Grind Beneath the Big Top: Burlesque in Carnivals, Circuses, and Fairs
From its late 19th century beginnings in the United States, burlesque thrived both in the theaters and nightclubs of major urban centers and as a…