Burlesque Is More

Burlesque Is More

Since the mid-1990s a not-so-new activity has returned to the New York City nightlife scene—burlesque. The phenomenon is something more (as well as something less) than the elaborate Ziegfeld and Minsky Brothers revues of the '20s and '30s and the stripped-down striptease acts of the '50s, which eventually gave way to go-go dancers and strippers of the '60s and '70s and lap dancers of the '80s and '90s. The latter are still around, of course, but the new burlesque stands apart.

Although not exactly family-friendly, many of today's shows are self-consciously feminist, organized and run by women. What's missing, though, are the bright lights and the glamour. There'll probably never be another performer as big as Sally Rand or Gypsy Rose Lee, but the movement's stars carry on with their own underground following. Some of the scene's finest performers include the heavily touring World Famous Pontani Sisters, classy diva Dirty Martini, the coed Dazzle Dancers (who usually end their shows wearing nothing but glitter and smiles), and Ixion, a troupe that takes its plots straight from Greek mythology, turning epic tales into erotic adventures. Check out the following Web sites for events and locations: www.starshineburlesque.com, www.vavavoomroom.com,or www.thisisburlesque.com.

If your trip is timed right, the New York Burlesque Festival (www.thenewyorkburlesquefestival.com)is a must for fans of this adult art form. This four-day event attracts more than 40 performers from all around the world to several snazzy rooms throughout the city.