Neo-Burlesque: Transitioning into Burlesque
Indigo Blue, The current “Headmistress” of the Academy of Burlesque in Seattle, WA, states in her website biography that she had a “strong theater and dance background along with extensive experience as a stripper” (Academy of Burlesque). She is the inspiration behind the academy and shows how a current day stripper can become the head of a large dance academy organization. When looking at the biographies from other staff members at her academy their backgrounds ranged from acrobatics, trapeze, and hula to holding BFAs and MFAs in Dance. Currently there are many skills that relate to burlesque dance that can translate to other athletic and dance fields. For example, acrobatics and trapeze work is not a “requirement” for burlesque dance but definitely give that performer a unique skill set and platform to develop their persona. It seems that Neo-burlesque dancers have a wide variety of backgrounds and eclectic skills that are different from those of the burlesque dancer interviews from the archive. Dancers come from all walks of life and may or may not have the same path through which they discovered burlesque. Indigo Blue and her Academy give a current snapshot into how someone can get into the burlesque industry and how their education, lifestyle, and other skills led them into the industry.
Works Cited:
"Teachers and Instructors-Academy of Burlesque." Academy of Burlesque. Spin Digital Consulting, 2015. Web. 02 Dec. 2015.
