Why Burlesque is the ‘New Therapy’
My Sass-Pot is Full! Why Burlesque is the New Therapy.
I have always been intrigued by the concept of Burlesque. I firmly believe we all have an inner Diva. I certainly do. But sadly mine never seems to appear when i need her the most. She is there, simmering in my untimely conversations and sassy quips I have with myself, generally after the event. But in the moment, more often than not she is looking the other way and not pulling her weight.
I’m sure I can’t be alone with this.
But what if we could learn to summon this inner sass at will, to step into our alter ego when the moment or mood required a power move? I mean, imagine that…just take a moment and really imagine how that would feel…
That’s how I found myself head to toe in a black lace catsuit, ready to shake a tail feather in my first Burlesque class of my 40 + years.
Now, as I’m sure you all know by now, since my spinal cord accident, balance is hilarious at best, face-planty at worst, timing is an abstract concept and I have zero idea of where my body is in space. I have a wayward left foot and unpredictable muscle weakness and never ever give me your best glasses if we share some wine. But when I tried Burlesque I found a movement form that gave me a sense of control, joy and a little glimmer of who I used to be.
Now, trying anything new can be intimidating. Trust me I know. Although my fuck-it bucket has become very accommodating since my accident (I know I will never be the most elegant person in the room… or on time… with anything and I am A-OK with that) I still felt a sense of trepidation and vulnerability heading off to try something new that seemed purely the realm of the super confident badass. But you know what… that first lesson, even though I can’t tell my left from right and can concentrate on hands or feet but definitely not both! By the end of that first lesson i felt just a little bit of a badass myself :) And that my friends is the power of Burlesque!
Burlesque is slow, it’s sassy, it’s controlled movement with a hint of dominance. And I loved it! There is something about the sheer cheekiness that breaks down the barriers and discomfort of feeling ‘too much’. It’s cockiness with a wink, where everyone is in on the joke. It’s sensual without being too serious, it dissolves the terror of ‘being seen’ and replaces it with a delicious rush of sensuality and empowerment.
Having felt restricted and vulnerable since my accident for the last three years, that single hour of escapism permitted me the freedom to trial run my full unapologetic self without judgement. It felt experimental and liberating, with dare I say it… a hint of risqué. (She says with a blush)
Burlesque is not designed for the male gaze my friends, it is a celebration of your strength, your body and your femininity in an inclusive safe space. It’s women empowering women, body acceptance, sensual expression and sisterhood all in one glorious art form. It’s all the really really great stuff.
I got to live the showgirl dream for a night with sweet kicks burlesque at the amazing Phoenix Aerial Studio and let me tell you it was fan-fluttering, sass-pot filling, pure liberating joy…and quite the power move.
It was the inner confidence boost i needed. Not because i was any good at it… because I wasn’t :) but because it felt great! So great that i will do it again. I will look forward to leaving my inhibitions at the door and being glamorously free even if just for an hour.
So if you feel like your inner diva could do with a boost, your sass needs releasing into the wild, or your inhibitions are holding you hostage I urge you to give Burlesque a go. Give yourself permission to let your inner Diva roam free with a supportive, uplifting tribe who will celebrate you like your personal group of cheerleaders. Even if just once. You might surprise yourself, and find that little spark of ‘unfuckwithable-ness’ you’ve been searching for.
Love from ‘Its Not That Serious’ - xxx