How to Twirl Tassels: Burlesque Basics

Tassel twirling is the most memorable of the Burlesque basic moves. There is something about revolving objects being propelled into motion by gyrating breasts that leave a permanent dent in one’s psyche. Tassel twirling is always on the top of the ordinary women’s bawdy burlesque fantasies list. No need to day dream anymore, sister. Here are the resources to get your two “girlfriends” prepared for some serious twirling action.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pasties with tassels
• Adhesive

1. Make pasties with tassels. Express yourself by creating your own tassels. Burlesque Diva Jo Wheldon offers an excellent (and very, very affordable) guide on how to make tassels. “The Art and Craft of Burlesque” has a chapter on the construction of pasties with tassels. Go to her website at G Strings Forever.

2. Purchase pasties with tassels. If art and crafts is not your thing, purchase your tassels from the professionals. An excellent assortment can be found at the site of Twirly Girl. They guarantee that their pasties are made with love.

3. Stick the pasties over your nipples. A good adhesive is very important to the art of tassel twirling. Spirit gum is the choice of most spinning specialists. This substance is also used by costumers to glue on fake facial hair. For the spirit gum sensitive, liquid latex adhesive also works.

4. Take a class. Most major metropolitan areas now have basic burlesque classes available. An Internet search will reveal the resources closest to you. To learn from the master, Jo Wheldon offers weekend workshops. Tassel twirling is tucked under the Burlesque Basics class. So, you will also learn glove peeling and other classic moves.

5. Watch a video. Princess Farhana has recently released the “Hot Moves For Cool Chicks--A Burlesque Workout” video. This instructional video teaches how to tassel twirl. For what’s it worth, Comedian Margaret Cho, Burlesque’s latest convert, stamps her seal of approval on Princess Farhana’s teaching techniques. The video can be purchased on Amazon.

6. See tassel twirling in action. Go to a local burlesque show. Study how they do it. Look for their individual styles. Imitate them until your own individuality emerges. Burlesque Diva Dirty Martini has her tassel twirling expertise available for viewing on the This or That website.

7. Practice. Practice. Practice. Tassel twirling is not for the weak. Like any art, it takes time to master the moves. Don’t give up. Just keep trying. Practicing in front of the mirror has the added bonus of allowing you to get more comfortable with your body.

8. Cross-train. Tassel twirling is isolated muscle movement. Take a belly dancing or Pilates class to deepen your understanding of how to control and strengthen individual muscle groups.

9. Twirl fire. Twirling fire is the grand finale. This should not be done by amateurs. It’s very, very, very dangerous. Satan’s Angel is the guru. She’s twirled fire since the 1960s. Recently, she has begun to hand down the art. Contact her and she will decide if your skills are worthy. An Internet search will reveal her website and MySpace addresses.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure that your tassels have good spinning mechanisms--the old school tassels used fishing eyelets. Yes, the device that connect the bobber to the fishing line.
• Pasties are the small cups that cover your nipples and houses the tassel and twirling mechanism.

Resources

• Adventures in Tassel Twirling
• Twirly Girl