Burlesque Performance Tips

15 Burlesque Performance Tips to Boost Your Confidence & Stage Presence

Whether you're brand new to burlesque or a seasoned showstopper, these tips will help you sharpen your skills, connect with your audience, and elevate your performance. Burlesque isn’t just about dance, it's about storytelling, attitude, and owning your moment. Let’s get into it:

1. Don’t Dance Too Fast - It’s easy to get caught up in the energy and want to move at lightning speed (I was guilty of doing this too much), but slow down. Feel the music. Fast doesn’t always mean fierce. Control, clarity, and intention make you look stronger and more confident. Burlesque is about the performance, not just the dance. You don’t even have to dance if you don’t want to. But if you do? Own your movement and make every beat count.

2. Stretch - Stretch before and after every session to give your body a full range of motion. Just 5–10 minutes a day can reduce stiffness, boost flexibility, and help prevent injuries. You can find videos on YouTube to help get you on the way.

Bonus: A more flexible body means more dramatic, expressive movement.

3. Practice, Practice, Practice - If you want to get better, there’s no secret, just show up and put in the time. Consistency builds confidence. Yes, life gets in the way, but remember why you started and keep going. You'll thank yourself later.

4. Build Your Foundation - Before diving into complex choreography, master the basics. Solid technique gives you the tools to layer in personality, style, and storytelling later. Think of it as building a strong house, you need a steady base before you add the glitter.

5. Be Present in Class - Class is a space to learn, not just content for the gram. Focus on absorbing, improving, and exploring. Nobody cares if you mess up—only you do. Let go of perfection and dive into the experience. Growth comes from trying.

6. Watch Dance with Purpose - Watch videos or performances not just for entertainment, but to learn. Pay attention to how performers interpret music, how they transition, and how they bring emotion to their movement. Study the “why,” not just the “what”—then use that inspiration to shape your own unique style.

7. Really Listen to the Music - Dive deep into the music. Listen to the beat, the lyrics, the background instruments. Notice the energy shifts and emotional highs and lows. The more connected you are to the music, the more expressive and impactful your performance will be.

8 . Rehearse in Costume (Yes, Heels and All) - It’s one thing to nail your choreography in comfy clothes—but performing in full costume is a whole different game. Rehearse in your actual outfit (or something close), including heels, gloves, corsets, boas, pasties—whatever your act includes. This helps you get used to the feel and timing of costume reveals, avoid wardrobe malfunctions, and build confidence moving in your performance gear. Also, shoes change everything. Always dance in what you'll wear on stage.

9. Breathe - Seriously, don’t hold your breath! It’ll make your movements stiff and your body tense. Breathing helps with fluidity, grace, and control. In burlesque, especially, it can also enhance your expression by lifting your chest and drawing attention to your body.

10. Watch Your Hands - Intentional hands make a huge difference. Are they reaching, pointing, teasing, inviting? Or are they awkwardly floating? Avoid "T-Rex arms" (no shade to our prehistoric friends). Make your hands part of the story.

11.Connect with Your Audience - Burlesque is a conversation between you and the crowd—it’s not just about what you do, but how you share it. Make eye contact. Tease, flirt, hold a pause. Let your energy reach out beyond the stage lights. Whether you’re in a comedy act or a slow, sultry number, the audience wants to be part of your world. Let them in. Own the moment.

12. Keep Learning - There’s always more to discover. Take classes in different styles. Learn from other performers, even if their style is nothing like yours. Every teacher has something to offer. Stay curious, stay humble, stay hungry.

13. Wing It Like a Pro - Mistakes happen. The trick is to make it look like part of the act. Keep going. Smile. Commit. The audience probably won’t even notice if you don’t draw attention to it. Confidence is key—even when you’re improvising.

14. Take Critique with Grace - Validation feels great, but growth lives in feedback. Constructive critique is a gift—take it in, sit with it, and use it to evolve. You’re not being judged, you’re being guided.

15. Take Notes (and Get Cute Stationery!) - Whether it’s a glittery notebook or your phone’s notes app, keep track of ideas, tips, choreography, and anything that inspires you.

• Write down moves, sequences, and corrections.

• Save class or studio info for out-of-town rehearsals.

• Track shows you want to attend—they’re not just fun, they’re educational and you support the scene.

• Note down burlesque history for inspo and confidence.

• Keep a collection of quotes, videos, and performers that light your fire.

Final Thoughts: Your burlesque journey is uniquely yours. There’s no “right” way to perform—just your way. Keep learning, stay playful, and never stop expressing yourself. The stage is yours—make it unforgettable.

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