Burlesque: Not about naked chicks

Fluff Girl Burlesque show brings history, humor to Friends and Co.

By: Michael Peterson/ Staff Reporter

Posted: 4/28/05

Burlesque. When most people hear that word they think of strippers or pole-dancers.

In actuality, there is much more to burlesque than just naked women.

In fact, in a burlesque show, the audience will never see any of the dancers completely nude.

Burlesque, which is a genre rooted in the early 1840's Victorian Era, was originally a form of art that was fashioned to mock the upper class. Shows would include comedy sketches, dance numbers and quick-witted humor.

"Burlesque is mainly about teasing and sexual humor," said Cecilia Bravo, founder of the Fluffgirl Burlesque Society. "You could bring your parents to the show."

Bravo, a nurse from Vancouver, British Columbia, began her show in 1996, and in 2001 the Fluffgirl Burlesque Society was born. The group is currently touring across the country, according to Fluffgirlburlesque.com.

"It's a lot better than working a 9-to-5 job you hate," Bravo said.

Bravo said she first came up with the idea of doing a burlesque show when she bought a burlesque-music compilation album.

"I liked the music and the whole concept," Bravo said. She said her group was the first "neo-burlesque" group to ever tour.

Bravo wants to revive the burlesque circuit and she thinks the movement is gaining speed. She said that before she began her show it was impossible to find anything remotely burlesque. Now, she said a person could walk into a Victoria's Secret and find garments that are obviously inspired by burlesque fashion.

When the society started, Bravo had trouble finding costumes, so she made them herself. Today, it is not impossible to find such costumes, but Bravo prefers to continue making them herself.

Celebrities, like pop singer Christina Aguilera, are starting to embrace burlesque, Bravo said.

A few things that drive Bravo while she is dancing are the love of performing and touring across the country and the excitement that she feels while dancing. Bravo said she feels like she is "breaking new ground."

Bravo appreciates her job the most when she sees a satisfied audience.

Last Saturday's show at Friends and Co., featured four dancers, including Bravo herself, wearing costumes ranging from a French maid uniform to a gorilla suit. One woman came out dressed like a cowgirl and danced to Big and Rich's "Save a horse (Ride a cowboy)." Audience interaction was also a part of the show.

One man and one woman participated in a shimmying contest, and the man won a free drink of his choice. The Fluffgirls auctioned off various things, such as a whip-spanking from Bravo herself. The whipping, which continued until the whip broke, was auctioned off for $45.

"I thought it was great," said Melissa Bochte, a junior psychology major. "I'd much rather see this than a strip show."

In between the whistling, hooting and hollering, a couple people heckled the women. For those who decide to heckle a burlesque dancer, be forewarned: these women will heckle back.

After a man yelled at Bravo, while she stood on the stage, she replied by announcing to the audience, "Excuse me, everyone. This man in the front is offering free blow-jobs."