Burlesque: I came, I sassed, I conquered-ish

Why Burlesque is the Most Unexpected Confidence Boost You’ll Ever Get

There I was, wrapped in lace, self-doubt, and a flimsy bravado, staring at my feather fans like they held the answers to my self-steem.

I didn’t know what to expect when I signed up for a series of workshops with Sweetkicks Burlesque at Phoenix Aerial Studio A laugh? Sure. A few face plants? More than likely. A complete shift in how I saw myself? Absolutely not.

But here’s the thing about Burlesque, it’s not just about tassels and teasing, it’s about taking up space, with unapologetic, shameless joy. It’s about finding power in play and realising that confidence doesn’t always look like a supermodel strut. Sometimes it looks like a shimmy that starts awkward and ends triumphant.

With burlesque, you are not the object you’re the art,

Even science agrees. Confidence isn’t some magical quality we are born with.We don’t just appear on planet earth with it all figured out, It’s built piece by piece, step by step, It’s built through trying and failing and trying again. It’s built through realising the world doesn’t implode if you’re not perfect. Confidence is something you embody.

You see movement changes mindset. With every pose, every wink, every flutter of your fan your body tells your brain, we are really doing this, we can do this. We belong. And eventually… you start to believe it.

So that dramatic hair toss? It’s basically neuroscience.

I have always struggled with being seen. Its vulnerable. Its stomach-knotting, palm sweating, knee shaking, anxiety riddled grossness, but more than that… all that fear? it’s suffocating.

There’s an alter ego hiding in all of us. Maybe she’s cheekier, bolder, maybe she stands a little taller and laughs a little louder, squished and squashed over the years, into a neat palatable little package, that we think keeps us safe. But in truth it’s just a cage of our own making.

Burlesque teaches us to be seen. It teaches us to be visible without the need to shrink, to release your inner diva at full volume. It teaches us to break through the barrier of embarrassment and squash self-conscious thoughts. You are not here to make other people comfortable and hide your high definition vibrance! You are here to be your full unapologetic glorious self, and yes, it might not be appropriate to bring your full sass to your grandmothers church meeting, but to have a space where you can unleash your wild? to peek behind the curtain of your uncensored self? Well that’s liberating.

And the absolute best part? You don’t have to have the grace of a ballerina or the body of an Olympian because in the world of burlesque, its your inner confidence that guides your movement and allure, its about the attitude and confidence, not the package its put in. There is no single definition of beauty. Burlesque embraces every shape, size, age and gender to be admired. In the world of Burlesque imperfection is the definition of perfection and your very ‘you-ness’ is celebrated…It’s a feather decorated reminder that there’s room for everyone in the spotlight and that’s the whole point.

But what about the choreo I hear you cry! Well fear not! Perfect imperfection translates to crimes on the dance floor too. Personally I now have the co-ordination of a drunk cat in clogs, and my physical brain freeze comes straight from the lands of arctic shame…but confidence isn’t about being flawless, it’s about laughing through the fumbles and finding beauty in the chaos. Realising you are worthy of space through every misstep or mishap…. You don‘t need me to explain the life lesson in that one. Burlesque transforms a bumbled step into a punchline, and a wardrobe malfunction into a moment, and just as Art imitates life, the plans that go wrong always turn into the most epic tales.

Am I now a fully-sassed Burlesque performer? absolutely not. Did I feel like one for an hour? without a doubt. I left that class feeling a little taller (A big achievement for someone the size of a penny), a little bolder and with more than a hint of vintage swag.

I tucked that feeling away for safe keeping like a little therapist in my pocket. She may not join my personality party everyday, but now I know she exists.

So here’s my final truth on dipping my toes in the glittery world of burlesque. Confidence is not a final destination its a dance. Some days your sass-pot will naturally overflow-eth, some days it will be hard to spark into life, but Burlesque gives you the tools to keep re-discovering it, to keep tapping into your strength and power like a favourite pair of shoes. She’s your cheerleader on the tough days, and the truth is…that cheerleader has always been you. It’s time to trust her a little bit more. She’s always got you boo.

So yes, I came, I sassed, I conquered-ish.

And honestly? That’s enough.