Author Archives: silverkitsune3

Today’s lesson plan has us looking at the history of the Moulin Rouge. This iconic cabaret, whose name means “Red Mill” in French for the red windmill that sits top it, has been around since 1889. Although it did burn down in 1915, it was rebuilt and has survived two World Wars and countless changesContinue reading “Remember Wednesday”

Today we will be exploring panel skirts! A standard part of the classic burlesque costume, the panel skirt is deceptively simple looking but a little more complex to make. However, once the trick of it is discovered, you can make as many panel skirts as your heart desires! There are many different kinds of panelContinue reading “Teaching Tuesday”

Today’s lesson plan has us exploring the life of Zorita. Born in 1915 as Kathryn Boyd and adopted in Youngstown, Ohio, Zorita was an early bloomer and began working at stag parties and nudist events at the World’s Fair at the tender age of 15 (probably much to the horror of her strictly Methodist adoptiveContinue reading “Remember Wednesday”

Today we will be exploring the glove peel! Is there anything better than stripping off a pair of hand huggers and revealing… Glitter! Flower petals! A naked hand (gasp!) Another glove (double gasp!) A dove (triple gasp… wait, that’s magicians.) Glove peels are something that every performer should study, new and old, there are alwaysContinue reading “Teaching Tuesday”

Today’s lesson plan has us delving into the life of one of our most treasured icons: Josephine Baker. While most of us are at least familiar with the name and the iconic banana skirt, The “Black Pearl” was a diverse entertainer and a pioneer in many ways that make her a cultural icon into today.Continue reading “Remember Wednesday”

Today we will be exploring making a basic panty. Not everyone has the hand for sewing (AND THAT’S OKAY). Many performers that make their own costuming either start with a basic knowledge of sewing or take steps to learn it as they evolve. Even those of us who do sew occasionally work with other seamstresses,Continue reading “Teaching Tuesday”

Today’s lesson plan has us journeying to the stages of New York City and meeting that daring blonde beauty, Lydia Thompson. Born in The United Kingdom in 1838 and growing up in the pantomime tradition that flourished in the mid to late 1800s, Lydia soon graduated to the burlesque shows at the time, which harkenedContinue reading “Remember Wednesday”

Today we will be exploring the wonderful world of pasty twirling! Tassels aren’t for everyone. Some performers don’t like the look of the twirl, some simply don’t feel it suits their character. Sometimes a performer doesn’t like how they work with a costume. But no matter what you think about tasseled pasties personally, we canContinue reading “Teaching Tuesday”

Today’s lesson plan has us venturing to the annuals of our own history to explore the evolution of nudity laws! In their own, weird, quirky and not at all consistent way, so called “blue laws” have shaped burlesque across the United States. Have you ever met an out of town performer and swapped stories aboutContinue reading “Remember Wednesday”

Today we will be exploring that sacred object: the pasty! We make, buy, sale, trade and gift these beautiful drops of legality like the precious gems that sometimes adorn them (well, usually Swarovski at best but a performer can dream, right?) They are, in essence, simply one of the most taken for granted piece ofContinue reading “Teaching Tuesday”