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 Lee. Burlesque has always been…

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 livelihoods. But feminist principles are…

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 mindset at odds with the…