…I wanted to re-post what I wrote for a recent Hip Expressions newsletter…
1/21/2013 Why Burlesque?
What an amazing weekend! The Suncoast Burlesque Festival blew me away!
A big THANK YOU to our features; Coco Lectric, Madame Onca, and Burlesque Legend Camille 2000, who ‘schooled us’ in performance, workshops, and panel discussion on the History, Evolution, and Art of Burlesque. A big shout out and thanks to all the local talent who brought their BEST and supported our festival!
…Now, you ask, why Burlesque?
Hip Expressions is dedicated to support of all the performing arts, with a focus on feminine empowerment, strength, and self-development. All performing arts contain technique and stylizations particular to their form. These performing arts also evolve and re-define themselves from tradition, to infusion, through individual self-identity, and into new tradition. Many, like Tribal Fusion, Burlesque, Egyptian Cabaret, Nia, or Hoop Dance (just to name a few) also are contemporary social movements.
Just as with our other festivals and events, the Suncoast Burlesque Festival ties Hip Expressions and Tampa Bay into the international community that is exploring and evolving this art form that celebrates the feminine. As you know, though we are rooted in Belly Dance and will always be, we are a hub for many styles and events that span many genres.
Did you know, Burlesque began when Westerners saw the ‘belly dancers’ of the Middle East and tried to duplicate their actions without proper instruction or reference! This unintentional offspring of belly dance has now grown into a Western art form with its own set of rules, traditions and
techniques. How can we ignore this evolution and community? Instead we embrace it as we do other styles, and create an arena for discussion and education as is our mission.
We understand not all dance styles are for everyone, which is why we work hard to bring wide selection and variety to our classes, performances, and events. We are committed to bringing you the best, most professional, and educated version of all of it. And we promise, it will be entertaining.
Please, as always, if you have any questions or ideas, feel free to ask! We are all happy to engage in dialogue about our art (Who doesn’t like to talk about themselves and their passion? lol). Thank you for all your support and we will see you soon at the next event that interests YOU!
Shimmy OM,
Johanna Xenobia
Producer, Director, and Owner, Hip Expressions
PS – Interested in learning more about Burlesque?
Check out Tsunami Blu’s weekly class, Saturdays at Noon! $15/class, or use your class card or Membership.
Or, check out the Burlesque Thursdays show, a free event every Thursday from 8 – 10pm at St Petersburg Nights, 6800 Sunset Way, St Pete Beach. Call for reservations, 727.363.3832.
Also, I’d like to point out that there are many styles and sub-styles of Burlesque, ranging from adult entertainment only to neo-burlesque and belly-burlesque fusion, just to name a few. Our Burlesque shows at St Pete Nights are more on the side of Cabaret, involving comedy, magic, music, song, dance, AND the art of the tease. We call the shows, ‘just naughty enough’.