ear, like, Are you there? I can’t hear you!
The idea of burlesque is to show who we are, without our masks, without our carefully constructed facades. In burlesque, as in FLAUNT!, the removal of clothing signals the removal of a cultural norm, an ironic idea, a label, a role, or even a belief. For example, as polite members of society, none of us are supposed to admit that we are curious about seeing others naked. But come on! We all are! Everyone sneaks peeks — and no, not in a sexual way! As women, we check out other women. We compare our bodies, our hair, our makeup, or whatever to those of other women. This sense of curiosity is what creates anticipation in a burlesque routine. Are we going to see something we aren’t supposed to see? And how will I compare? Burlesque is not about the strip; it’s about the tease!
The Spiritual Tease
It’s odd to say, but my own spiritual self-growth journey mirrored the concepts found in burlesque: tease, voyeurism, and slow reveal. As a constant seeker of truth, I’d reach a new level of understanding, only to realize there was yet another layer to unveil. Which flummoxed me completely at times! I’d watch others, do what they did, meditate, read, and take classes. I’d study the great masters from around the world, do exactly what they did, but then I’d have a bad-hair day on the same day as a catastrophic hard-drive failure while uploading pictures of my son for his middle-school-graduation slide show (at the eleventh hour), and I’d come totally unhinged. It was almost like peace was a thing that the Universe would dangle in front of me, tease me mercilessly with, but never quite let me have. Just read one more book, Lora! If you would have only meditated this morning, you would have been fine, Lora! But how sad for you; you didn’t quite make it! Better luck next time!
How ironic that actual burlesque facilitated my process of self-discovery on a spiritual level. Just like burlesque performers let go of their clothing, I let go of my own limiting judgments and beliefs. I shed society’s labels, my own limited interpretation of myself and my roles, slowly at first and then with increasing fervor and joy. Stripped bare, the truth of my heart and soul visible for all to see, my own sparkle was exposed. I no longer had to guess who I was or what I wanted. I knew. And with that knowledge, I could re-choreograph my life as it was meant to be. Sparkly, brilliant, and more magnificently fun than I had ever dreamed!
And just like in burlesque shows, where the audience cheers wildly with the removal of each article of clothing, encouraging the performer to reveal more, so too did my friends and family cheer me wildly on as I removed layer upon layer of limiting judgments and beliefs. Through my journey I had unknowingly given others permission to begin their own burlesque, to reveal themselves, and to finally, gratefully, have the opportunity to be seen and accepted for who they were.
My foray into the world of burlesque showed me that burlesque is a joyful experience for the performers and audience alike because it busts stereotypes and celebrates women of all shapes, sizes, abilities, and ages. Burlesque is not about looking a certain way; it is about reveling in one’s reality. While other middle-aged moms flocked to me, larger women flocked to the larger burlesque performers, and flat-chested women crushed on the flat-chested performers. Seeing performers who looked like them, with what they perceived to be their same flaws, but who dared to be confident, beautiful, sexy, or funny in spite of those flaws, set them free to embrace those same qualities in themselves.
The act of watching someone just like them shed the label of fat, flat-chested, old, or ugly and be seen in all their glittery, flawed gloriousness was enough for some women to loosen their own labels. Watching their favorite performer do all they wished they could do, seeing others react encouragingly to their visibility, empowered many women to believe that they could let go and show their true selves as well. With its focus on humor and female-dominated power, burlesque gives women explicit permission to live confidently, joyfully, and without cover.
Is it any wonder that throughout my metamorphosis into an actual burlesque dancer I had so many friends watching my every move? Every layer of fear or expectation that I broke through — every label, role, or script that I challenged, reinterpreted, or removed — gave them permission to do the same. If I could be outrageously happy in spite of my imperfections, so could they. As I broke what I perceived to be “the rules,” I proved to myself that there was nothing stopping me from building my dreams and living my sparkle, except me.
The laughter, parody, and joy in the face of taboo and judgment that burlesque provided were the ideal combination to heal wounds around body image, sexuality, self-judgment, gender roles, power, shame, or guilt. Without setting foot on an actual stage, many of my friends were able to strip out of the fear, lies, and inhibitions that had been placed on them by their culture, family, or religion — or that were self-imposed. Just as my childhood belief that I needed to be perfect in order to be worthy became my metaphoric corset of perfection, so too could others find ways to release their own inhibitions.
Not only had I disrobed physically but I was disrobing emotionally, too, by living my particular brand of sparkle. Society said that a middle-aged mom, lawyer, and spirit-based female-empowerment coach shouldn’t do what I was doing. But I did it anyway. Not to rebel or to create a fuss, but because it was in my heart to do it. I was no longer worried about looking like I was doing the right things for the right reasons or being what I thought others wanted me to be. I was interested in getting metaphorically naked and revealing everything there was about myself.
And as a result, I was happier and more content than I had ever been. Accepting myself and my desires as they were freed me to dance my own dance with wild abandon, and that was exactly what I did!
Your Inner Burlesque Star
Your inner burlesque star is your naked, authentic self. She is the confident, fun, playful, anything-is-possible part of you who cannot be hurt by others, because she knows that accepting herself is the only thing that truly matters. Although she loves costumes, masks, makeup, feathers, glitter — the whole nine yards — she knows how to take it all off. She’s not afraid to strip down, to show off her beauty, her brains, and her beliefs, exactly as they are. Without apology. Do you think you might want to hang out with her? She’s pretty awesome!
Like playing an elaborate game of dress-up, FLAUNT! allows you to put on and take off a variety of personas. And just like in a real burlesque routine, strip out of the ones you find confining, outdated, or not to your liking. FLAUNT! is pure creative fun that does not require you to add to your already overly busy life. To the contrary, finding your inner burlesque star creates more space, grace, and joy in both your professional and your personal life because, like cleaning out your closet, clearing the clutter makes it easier to see and appreciate the goodness that remains.
Plus, it’s fun! Creating a visual representation of your fears, insecurities, and judgments keeps it lighthearted and makes it easier to choose what to shed and what to keep. Burlesquing your life challenges you to remove your layers of judgment and protection, to face your fear of being naked — whether that nakedness is emotional, intellectual, or physical — by saucily stripping away the coverings you are most afraid to lose and offering up your raw, authentic self, without apology. And to do it all with a wink and a smile!
Are you ready for a burlesque dance party? Let’s FLAUNT!
All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women
