Burlesque? Am I just out of touch?

I've been to a burlesque show.It was OK.
I suppose that belly dancing is sexual , but originally it was performed by women for women and intended to exercise the pelvic organs .
It funny to think that a really sweet ,
rather chubby little girl,who sucked her thumb and went to school with my daughters and is now a burlesque performer.

Yes I did say don't Google. But am sure it is all so empowering. Sigh.

Wow. I put Ivy Malice into Google but I didn’t click any further when I saw what she offers.

Pretty sure I’m going to get a lot of pop ups offering sex services niw😱🙄🙁

Having looked up Ivy Malice myself, I must say that to me is not the ideal personification of burlesque.

Oreo

WI?!
Sounds like a load of tripe, what woman wants to watch that?

Not me, I hate tripe. But my mother loved it. It takes all sorts.

Burlesque has been demonstrated at various WI branches for over a decade at least. It's nothing new.

It’s not how much body Lahlah, it’s what you do with it😬

I don’t think men would go to burlesque shows for sexual pleasure in the way that some people are describing in this thread. Modern burlesque more a branch of ‘cosplay’, where people just like dressing up, (but it includes a level of performance). A lot of people in the audience at burlesque shows will also be dressed up too. A bit like going to see the Rocky Horror Show?

It’s not being done for men - it’s being done for fun. I watch young women piling off the train to go out on a Friday and Saturday night in my town. They are often wearing very revealing clothing - probably showing more of their bodies than the average burlesque performer!

Any kind of dancing requires a level of physical fitness, and can be the basis for interesting and engaging exercise classes. Any of these movements could also be used in deliberately erotic performance. Isn’t it in the intent, rather than the performance itself?

Each WI committee trawls through the list of talks available and it’s always a struggle to find the right mix for their members. Obviously people can’t choose not to go to any talk that doesn’t appeal to them. It’s a shame if anybody thinks that any topic is not suitable for WI.

(PS I also think that body positivity is a complex issue, and I’m not going to comment on that.)

I am really old fashioned - so much emphasis on self-indulgent sex and sexual orientation. My attitude is "Sorry, but I do not care who you sleep with and what you do in the bedroom, but PLEASE keep it to yourself, and have you not got better things to get on with than make it central to your life?"

I would not put pole dancing (strengthening exercise) in the same group as burlesque, which I would put with stripping, but hey! if you want to do either take it home.

I see it as a general lowering of standards, but yes I am old fashioned. I also see a contradiction between girls feeling safe on our streets and them going out dressed in their underwear, and our pop singers and "stars" virtually baring all. It is small wonder that our immigrants think our girls are easy and available. And indeed learning the type of dancing that is specifically designed to excite (Not that the probably older, ladies of the WI might not appreciated learning how to get grumpy a bit more interested <lol>) if they so wish.

Each to their own, but it doesn't appeal to me. However there are those who pole dance for men and others who pole dance as a form of exercise. Again not for me but I knew a couple of colleagues who did some years ago. I guess it is a similar thing if it's about body positivity.

No you are not out of touch. They are deluded. It’s a step back. How we fought against gender stereotypes etc etc . Nothing more stereotypical than pandering to porn images of women teasing men.

Burlesque, Smurlesque.

What a load of old codswallop.

The stuff l have seen on the Tele and You Tube is definitely bordering on soft porn. Same for pole dancing.
Some nice outfits but still cringeworthy and low class and originally designed for the literal titillation of the male gaze

Burlesque has moved in leaps and bounds since the Tiller Girls, The Can Can and Fifi the Fan Dancer. Dear Me.

I bet Ru Paul and the Drag Race Girls could do the best tacky version of Modern Burlesque by a mile

Women can do whatever they want is the new mantra.

As Annie Lennox sang

Sweet dreams are made of this
So who am l to disagree?

I rest my case.

Interesting comments on here about the WI. My boss is a trans woman and was asked to give a talk at a local WI . And why not ? She’s fully transitioned and I find her story very sad but very interesting.
I’ve also seen a Burlesque show and loved it. It was set in America when alcohol was banned and we drank cocktails from tea cups .

Kamiso

StripeyGran

WI didn't work for me. Nothing to do with sex. More to do with bags on seats and " My sister sits there"

That’s what the local U3A meetings were like. L found them irritating but amusing at the same time until I came across a woman with tears in her eyes. Widowed six months ago and her first lone venture out told three times she couldn’t sit in certain seats. Very off putting!

You must have a bad U3a! How sad. But maybe persevere? Of course there are cliques in every group/ organisation, hierarchy abounds everywhere, but my local U3a ( South West Wales) is full of generally lovely people! It does take a bit of courage to lone join any group. I was initially just looking for a Scrabble group as I missed playing. Not an expert, just an average player and my regular partner had died and my family no where near, but perhaps I was lucky and when I took the plunge a few years ago I was pretty hesitant, but I met another lady joining on the same day at the monthly meeting, and we started chatting and both relaxed then. I subsequently ventured out and joined other groups. Overall they are very varied nice people, men and women, and now the few groups I belong to I really enjoy! My problem is finding the time to attend. I could be doing something everyday with the variety of groups available!
Maybe give them another go, and ignore the bags! Have you a friend or acquaintance you could join with? Those ‘huggers’ will not be ALL the people there, I’m sure there will be lots of others who you WILL like! The WI is more insular as being all women in my view. Try the U3a again and start, as I did, with the one group doing something you really enjoy?

Oreo

WI?!
Sounds like a load of tripe, what woman wants to watch that?

Why on earth not … we are sexual beings too surely?
I’m 80 next year and would really enjoy that!

Personally I’ve never been impressed by sexy clothing but if it makes a woman feel good then why not, it’s nothing to do with pole dancing clubs where women are paid to perform.

Sounds really boring to me- would rather watch paint dry...

Yes indeed

I think it speaks for itself…the WI group want to invite her back…not a man in sight..but women enjoying women. Not necessarily sex, but an art form. I DO NOT have the figure for it , never have…but would have a go if I did…for me not for a man

Kamiso

StripeyGran

WI didn't work for me. Nothing to do with sex. More to do with bags on seats and " My sister sits there"

That’s what the local U3A meetings were like. L found them irritating but amusing at the same time until I came across a woman with tears in her eyes. Widowed six months ago and her first lone venture out told three times she couldn’t sit in certain seats. Very off putting!

Poor lady.

Those women who became famous as the Calendar Girls, were they WI?

I went with the local Trefoil group because my mother had a spare ticket. It wasn't what I expected and I didn't really enjoy it but the other ladies seemed to love it. To be honest, quite a lot of women seem to like a strip show by males but I can't quite get my head around that either. I don't object to anybody removing their clothes if it is something they enjoy doing but I just find it that enjoyable to watch!

Oh what have we come to. The WI being 'entertained'?! by burlesque.... (Head in hands).

I loved my visit to the Moulin Rouge in Paris where the dancers looked fabulous and left a lot to the imagination

Me too hollysteers!
The imagination is a thing of wonder.

I agree with you eazybee. I don’t find burlesque at all offensive, in fact I find it erotic and sensual and I’m straight! Same with a good belly dancer. More erotic than complete stripping, porn or nudity.
I loved my visit to the Moulin Rouge in Paris where the dancers looked fabulous and left a lot to the imagination.
With forward thinking views, we need to watch out we don’t end up against more than we are for, tending towards narrow mindedness.