The rhinestones and feathers and all that make-up! The costumes, the numbers, and the friendships, oh my. There are many paths to the Burly World. This is mine.
I had an 18 month old baby. Is this seriously the time to do Burlesque? I don’t think there is a better time. You fold in on yourself when you become a Mom, everything becomes about The Child. This was for me.
I also had my foot in the filmmaking world and via a friend I met someone in our local burlesque troupe who was doing make-up for a photo shoot, for my photo shoot. During make-up she told me about burlesque and I was all ears. It was an opportunity to be someone else, but also your truest self. It sounded like something I really wanted to try. I was scared shitless, but also I couldn’t stop thinking about it.
I told a friend about what happened and she was all in, so we joined together and she came to be known as none other than Misty Tetons. We did it together. For me there wasn’t a better way to join burlesque than with a friend. I’m not sure I would have had the courage to do it myself. Also, she was amazing with anything creative. The numbers she came up with and her ability to make costumes and pasties was mind blowing. I was just along for the ride and helped where I could. In fact, I never actually made my own pasties or any part of my costumes. WHAT?! I found it so difficult and overwhelming Misty did them for me. So when she had the idea of the Burly Bundle, I was the very first tester and I had so much fun doing it and that was NOT what I expected.
I loved performing, I loved mingling with the crowd. I loved being backstage getting ready and bonding with the other performers. Today, I no longer perform, but never say never, maybe one day I’ll make a comeback.
Burlesque changed my life. If you’re wanting to just try something in your home or maybe thinking of joining a troupe or taking a few classes at a burlesque school, you’ve come to the right place.
Make sure to visit Poppy backstage again. I plan on interviewing current and past performers and continuing to tell my own story so come along with me. Tits up!
Smooches,
Poppy