Quick History of Burlesque

A Brief and Bawdy History of Burlesque

Burlesque began in 17th-century Italy as a form of theatrical parody. The term “burlesque” itself comes from the Italian burla, meaning “joke” or “mockery.” These performances served as humorous interludes between serious operas or plays, offering comic relief with exaggerated characters and storylines. They often spoofed classical works, like Shakespeare’s tragedies or the rigid art of ballet, and shared a kindred spirit with British pantomime, blending satire with physical comedy.

As burlesque moved into the 18th century, it started to evolve into a more provocative art form. Costumes became more revealing, and the content more suggestive. Still satirical at heart, burlesque began to play with themes of sexuality, gender, and power in increasingly bold ways.

Burlesque in the Victorian Era: From London to the New World

The golden age of British burlesque ran from the 1830s to the 1890s. London theatres like the Gaiety and the Royal Strand made burlesque their signature offering. These performances were cheeky, often musical, and usually alluded to contemporary politics or pop culture with a comedic twist.

In the 1860s, British dancer and actress Lydia Thompson brought this style to the United States, forever changing the American entertainment landscape. Her troupe, The British Blondes, debuted in New York in 1868 and shocked American audiences with their daring costumes and sexually suggestive humor. The public was scandalised, but also mesmerised. Thompson’s success helped birth a uniquely American form of burlesque: one that fused satire, song, dance, and increasingly, striptease.

Early American Burlesque and the Rise of the Striptease

By the early 20th century, burlesque in the U.S. had morphed into variety shows that often included comedians, singers, and exotic dancers. These shows traveled in circuits, playing everywhere from vaudeville theaters to 'seedier' clubs. While women’s bodies became a more prominent part of the spectacle, the spirit of satire and social subversion remained alive and well.

During this period, Black performers made indelible contributions to burlesque despite facing systemic racism and exclusion from many mainstream venues. Pioneering figures like Zoe Fossey, a dancer known for her electrifying performances in the 1920s, and Lottie “The Body” Graves, a glamorous trailblazer active through the 1950s and beyond, carved out their own space in the scene. Lottie was especially famous for her elegance and refusal to perform in segregated venues, often standing in solidarity with the civil rights movement.

Additionally, queer performers and LGBTQ+ culture have always been deeply intertwined with burlesque. Gender-bending acts, drag, and queer performances were part of the underground circuit, offering a space for expression in a society that often criminalised queerness. In the mid-20th century, performers like Stormé DeLarverie a biracial, lesbian singer and emcee, worked the burlesque circuit. She later became known for her role in the Stonewall uprising and is remembered as a queer icon.

Mid-Century Glamour and Reinvention

By the 1950s, burlesque in the U.S. had adapted once again. With increasing censorship and moral crackdowns, the art form leaned into exaggeration, theatricality, and personality. Signature props became central, giant fans, oversized feathers, and glamorous costume reveals.

This was the golden age of legendary performers like Gypsy Rose Lee, a witty striptease artist who elevated burlesque with her narrative style and sharp intellect; Sally Rand, famed for her fan dance and bubble dance; and Tempest Storm and Blaze Starr, who became cultural icons in their own right. The “First Real Queen of American Burlesque,” Millie De Leon, gained fame earlier in the century for her daring “hooch” dances and elaborate costuming, often pushing the boundaries of what was socially acceptable.

Despite public outcry, burlesque remained an art of defiance, a space for women (and increasingly, gender-diverse performers) to control the gaze, flip the script, and claim power through spectacle.

Neo-Burlesque and the Inclusive Future

Today, burlesque is more vibrant and inclusive than ever. The neo-burlesque movement, which took off in the 1990s and 2000s, reclaimed the genre’s roots in parody and empowerment. It also embraced diversity, bringing queer, trans, fat, and BIPOC performers to the forefront.

Contemporary stars like Dita Von Teese, Dirty Martini, Immodesty Blaize, and Perle Noire carry the torch today. Queer and trans-led troupes like The House of Knyle, Brown Girls Burlesque, and Boylesque continue to redefine what burlesque can be.

Modern burlesque is a joyful celebration of identity, sensuality, and self-expression. Whether it’s classic fan dances, comedic striptease, political parody, or avant-garde drag, burlesque continues to blur the lines between art, protest, and performance, with rhinestones and attitude.

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