06
LIFESTYLE & ENTERTAINMENT
THE MIDDLESEX ECHO - ISSUE 01 - MARCH 2019
BURLESQUE: EMPOWERMENT OR TEASE?
By Roxie-Anne (Burlesque Performer), photography by Veronika vee Marx
One thing I get asked a lot is: Why do you do burlesque? Do you do it for the fact you can take your costumes off on stage? The attention you may get? Or to empower women? Starting burlesque, I did it to help with my confidence. I used to look in the mirror and see an unhappy face, never completely happy with my own image. I wondered constantly how I could change my image to suit what I was seeing in the magazines I read. My thoughts were more about trying the latest diet that never worked, or thinking of how I could remove the fat I didn’t want without having to pay the huge price tags that celebs could afford for their procedures. I wasn’t looking in the mirror and admiring the beauty that I have. Never did the thoughts of the costumes, the feathers or the hours I would spend rhine-stoning my bras, nipple tassels and corsets enter my mind. Performing burlesque has empowered me to admire my body, including all its curves and my tiger stripes (that’s what I call my stretch marks). But also, by experience I was able to become a burlesque instructor, which helped develop me into a person who could create the burlesque society here at Middlesex University. From the girl who started looking in the mirror wondering why I wasn’t ‘perfect’, to being able to develop my own skills in performing professionally, but also empowering other women to appreciate the beauty that they have. From new mums or those that just needed an extra push to show their beauty, we’re part of a big burlesque family who are able to stand together with a costume full of rhinestones and big feathers. And who wouldn’t want that?
Behind all the showbiz and performances, there are the hours and months preparing myself and my girls to perform the best of our
Burlesque Society rehearse every week on a Wednesday in Studio 3 in the Grove, 6-7pm for boys and 7-9pm for girls. Join the society on the SU website and join the Facebook chat for live updates on events and rehearsals.
ability, training each of them to be able to take a corset off, or a pair of stockings, whilst pointing their toes… which takes a lot of technique and practice! But also preparing yourself mentally to perform. A lot of girls come to me at the beginning saying the words: “I never want to perform on stage, I’d be too embarrassed.” And before you know it, they come off stage, full of confidence and cannot wait to do it all over again!
