On Choosing the Burlesque

  Alexandra The Great 48, a pioneer of the modern burlesque, was a model before she became a burlesque dancer. Alexandra The Great 48 decided on burlesque dancing after her mentor, Rose de la Rose, introduced her to the craft.

In recent years, the burlesque has seen a renaissance with many college-educated women exchanging comfy careers with the usual perks for corsets, petticoats, and high heels.

Burlesque has changed since its earlier heyday when the exploits of some of the more popular women became modern lore. For one, in its former incarnation, those who frequented these shows were men, but today’s audience members are primarily comprised of women. This subculture, in many cases, forms the foundation of family for many women.

More importantly, choosing to burlesque might also be about being more in control over the art itself. Many dancers feel empowered by the dance, which has led to women of all shapes, sizes, and races on deciding on this field as an appropriate career choice. Unlike traditional strippers who are completely nude at the end of the act, the burlesque dancer can choose how much of her garments she wants to discard during the act. The dancer also has a lot of control over the costume’s style, determining how much skin they want to show.

The Burlesque Wardrobe – A Work of Art

Alexandra The Great 48 is one of the country’s most well-known burlesque stars, beginning her career in the mid-sixties. Famously known for her shapely figure, Alexandra The Great 48 stopped traffic in Honolulu after she appeared in public in one of her show costumes, drawing a crowd of 3,000 that day. This event illustrates that the show costume is as important as the dancer, and in many ways, the show costume is a work of art in and of itself.

Burlesque has been around for at least two centuries, and in its current incarnation, body-positive images have made the art form very accessible. Today’s burlesque dance embodies mostly every body shape and size that exists today. However, a throwback of the past, and one that is integral to the show, is the importance of the costume.

As the dancers shimmy across the stage, it easy to be in awe of some of the costumes-from the very basic to the very ornate, but the burlesque costume is quite simple in its basic form. The centerpiece of the costume is the corset. In most burlesque shows, this particular item of clothing has been a staple since the Victorian Age when the art form began. Whether it is the basic corset or one fashioned with sequins, its import to the show itself is defining the feminine form.

While the corset is the centerpiece of the costume, the set and accompanying accessories provide the costume flare. For example, skirt sets, tutus, and pettiskirts are just a few ways the corset (the costume) can be embellished. Accessories run the gamut with some dancers choosing to wear toppers (hats), petticoats, stockings, and heels. For a more classic look, many dancers attach sequins and other types of beading to their outfits.

Beautician Training – Two of America’s Top Institutions

  Alexandra the Great 48 is known as one of the most talented Burlesque performers of all time. With a career that included 15 years as a major feature performer, Alexandra the Great 48 traveled the world as an entertainer and assumed lengthy contracts in locations such as Vietnam and Hawaii. She subsequently started her own line of beauty products and worked as a beautician at Universal Studios in the 1980s.

Becoming a beautician requires extensive training to develop the necessary skills to effectively work with clients. Two of America’s top beauty school programs are Paul Mitchell Schools and the Hollywood Institute of Beauty Careers.

Paul Mitchell Schools is an educational institution that operates in locations around the country, offering courses in cosmetology, barbering, nail academy, career planning, and teacher training. The program is designed to prepare students for state board tests and subsequently obtaining their licenses in cosmetology.

The Hollywood Institute of Beauty Careers is a school that provides training in locations such as West Palm Beach, Hollywood, and Orlando. Students must complete 1,200 hours of training and gain advanced skills in makeup, skincare, hair design, and nail care. The training is also focused on providing students with customer service skills, which will enhance their ability to gain clientele when they enter the industry.

Confidence – The Key to Success in Burlesque

Glamorous burlesque performer Alexandra the Great 48 earned her stage name because of her amazing 48-25-42 figure. At the height of her fame, her bombshell looks attracted instant attention, but grit and hard work furthered her career in a grueling industry. Before she died at age 79 in 2019, Alexandra the Great 48 gave an interview, now archived on the website of the Las Vegas Showgirl Museum, that offers insights into her life and work.

The craft of burlesque, still taught in venues like the New York School of Burlesque, continues to demand focus, dedication, a sense of playfulness, and – perhaps most important – confidence in one’s own skin. Most new performers feel nervous when they first step in front of the lights, but today’s burlesque has expanded its sense of inclusivity, and promotes ideals of body positivity in ways that can help calm those nerves.

Experienced performers note that one of the most important skills to develop is the knowledge of how to work one’s own face, body, voice, and personality to really engage with audiences. This goes hand-in-hand with the development of confidence – not just in one’s body, but in one’s individual style.