Biography

A Brief History of Bordello Bordello

Bordello Bordello was esablished in 2007 from a mutual love for all that is burlesque. The company was founded by Catherine Burns, Michelle Newell and Rose Higgins.

Catherine Burns had a boring background in business and management but always had a hidden desire for glamour and decadence. One day she curiously tried on a friends tassels and this is when The Lady Burns was born - since then there has been no going back! She has been creating costumes for burlesque and other theatrical enetertainers since 2000.

Having performed herself she has an insight into the workings and practicalities of a burlesque costume, believe me, she knows how to take it off!

Michelle Newell has worked as a freelance dancer since 2006. Her main focus was on striptease and the art of burlesque - she performs under the alias of Beau Rocks. Although her background is in textiles and fashion design, she has always been drawn to the glamour and decadence of burlesque - this is clearly reflected in her work. Michelle graduated in Textiles and Fashion Design Management (Bsc Hons) at Heriot Watt University in 2005.

Rose Higgins has been involved in the performance industry for over 10 years. Her background is in Musical Theatre and performance art. She discovered burlesque through a random audition and since then has never looked back. Since working in the field Rose has fallen in love with the genre. Her stage persona - Betty D'Light - is inspired by the iconic image of Betty Boo - "Boop boop bee doop"!

The girls met in 2006 whilst working in the burlesque industry where they immediately discovoured a mutual passion. It was clear that they all had the same goal in mind: to raise the bar in terms of quality and professionalism within the burlesque scene. With Catherines expertise, Michelles knowledge of design and Roses experience in performance, they are the perfect ingredients to bake a beautiful burlesque cake.

Burlesque - a definition

Burlesque refers to theatrical entertainment of broad and satirical humor, which usually consists of comic skits (and sometimes a striptease). In burlesque, performers, usually female, often create elaborate sets with lush, colorful costumes, mood-appropriate music, and dramatic lighting, and may even include novelty acts, such as fire-breathing or demonstrations of unusual flexibility. Put simply, burlesque means "in an upside down style". Burlesque is a style of live entertainment that encompasses pastiche, parody, and wit. The genre traditionally encompasses a variety of acts such as dancing girls, cabaret singers, comedians, mime artists, and strip tease artistes, all satirical and with a saucy edge.

New Burlesque

There is a new generation nostalgic for the spectacle and glamour of the old times determined to bring burlesque back. New Burlesque is a revival and updating of the traditional burlesque performance. Though based on the traditional Burlesque arts, the new form encompasses a wider range of performance styles; New-burlesque acts can be anything from classic striptease to modern dance to theatrical mini-dramas to comedic mayhem. As with the earlier burlesque, new-burlesque is more focused on the "tease" in "striptease" than the actual "strip." Audiences for new-burlesque shows tend to be mixed; men, women, straight, gay, and everything in between.

Today New Burlesque has taken many forms, but all have the common trait of honoring one or more of burlesque’s previous incarnations, with acts including striptease, expensive costumes, bawdy humor, cabaret and more. New Burlesque puts the emphasis on style and tend to be sexy rather than sexual, often involving humor. Unlike modern strippers, who dance in strip clubs to make a living, burlesque performers often perform more for the love of their art than for financial gain.

A Brief History of Burlesque
Although today the term Burlesque conjures up images of bump'n'grind, frilly knickers and tassels, it has not always been so. The term burlesque literally means "a parody, or imitation." In its early years, burlesque had very little to do with striptease. It was the first form of theatrical entertainment which was readily available to people of all classes. The early 19th century burlesque began in Britain as a way for the poorer classes to poke fun at the arts, society and social stigmas. With the arrival of the music hall, theatre became more accessible. The music hall differed from traditional theatre as instead of showing full scale productions the acts came in the form of small bite sized skits, each with the intention of one way or another, poking fun at society and the upper social classes. The burlesque acts of the time included actors, singers, dancers and comics. They all adapted they're routines so they would appeal to the working classes who were always ready to send up those of higher social standing. The more outrageous the routines became, the bigger the controversy and the applause. Music Hall patrons realised that with outrage came ticket sale and so the skits became more political, more immoral and more risque. For example in an era where women adorned themselves with layer upon layer of bustles, hoops and frills, the thought of a ladies leg or even ankle being exposed in tights, be they black and completely opaque, was scandalous. Women in tights became a common part of the burlesque repertoire and was made more acceptable by being passed off under the guise of 'art.' Acts that were most scandalizing were those in which there was any form of sexual reference or where a ladies figure was obvious in any way, even when dressed as a boy. Burlesque continued to be popular in Britain for many years even into the later part of the Music Hall days in the 1930 and 40's.

By the time burlesque made it to the US it was already a well established genre in Britain and had been thriving for over 50 years. In America where there is not such an established class system, the traditional British burlesque repertoire did not translate so well and so American burlesque became more focused on the bawdy or lewd aspect of the genre. In 1886 Lydia Thompson and her British blondes took America by storm. Thompson and her group were well known and had been performing all over Britain and Europe and so were well prepared to conquer America. They bleached their hair wore flesh coloured tights and quickly became the hottest thing in American show business. American proprietors like they're British counterparts before them, quickly identified the value of this risque new form of entertainment and began building theatres specifically designed for burlesque. American burlesque became synonymous with striptease and although initially praised by the American press, became thought of as a 'low' form of entertainment, despite Americas supposed classless society. American burlesque was glamourous, sexy and female led and was made iconic by stars like Gypsy Rose Lee, who at the time was one of the highest paid performers in show business.

While "the golden age of burlesque" may have passed us, its legacy still clearly lives on. The tradition of burlesque is still very much alive in todays media. Big screen spoofs such as Austin Powers or any of the Carry On films are clear examples of modern comedy immitating early burlesque parody. Since the late 1990s the "New Burlesque" movement has taken hold on both sides of the Atlantic. There is a new generation nostalgic for the spectacle and glamour of the old times and are determined to bring burlesque back. New Burlesque is a revival and updating of the traditional burlesque performance. Though based on the traditional Burlesque arts, the new form encompasses a wider range of performance styles. New-burlesque acts can be anything from classic striptease to modern dance to theatrical mini-dramas to comedic mayhem. As with the earlier burlesque, New-Burlesque is more focused on the "tease" in "striptease" than the "strip." Audiences for new-burlesque shows tend to be mixed; men, women, straight, gay, and everything in between. Today New-Burlesque has taken many forms, but all have the common trait of honoring one or more of burlesque’s previous incarnations, with acts including striptease, expensive costumes, bawdy humor, cabaret and more.

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