How to be a Glamourous Burlesque Diva

The latest burlesque revival breathes life into the diva in all of us. Neo-burlesque is a contemporary twist on some age old traditions. Incorporate a little bit of burlesque diva into your everyday life by glamorizing with these simple steps.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Strive for glamor. Glamor, as we know it today, was created by the movie moguls of the mid-nineteenth century. Silver Screen icons like Bette Davis, Rita Hayward, Jean Harlow and Lauren Bacall created the standard. The Silverscreen Sirens website provides a photo gallery for a wide range of glamor actresses, as well as a listing of their films with a link to purchase the DVDs.
2. Study the new generation of burlesque divas. Conduct a web search on Kitten Deville to devour her essence. Dirty Martini’s routines reek of the classic burlesque stars of the 1940s and 1950s. Find your favorite neo-burlesque star by searching through the friends on Kitten Deville’s MysSpace page.
3. Learn from drag queens. Drag queens have cornered the market of divahood. A great article on how to apply drag queen makeup can be found on the Ggreg website. An Internet search on drag queen shows can provide comprehensive directories on performances in your communities. Go see these women in action. Be inspired to be big. Being a diva is not for the weak.
4. Take a burlesque class. Schools in burlesque can now be found in most cities. Get in shape while learning more about glamor.
5. Perform. Perform. Perform. Burlesque is about all body styles, shapes, and sizes. Take your glamor to the next level by embracing this movement of femininity. Prepare a short routine. Perform that routine some place other than in front of the mirror. An audience of one is better than an audience of none. The size of your audience doesn’t matter, because burlesque isn’t about the audience--it’s about the performer. You are a burlesque diva.

Tips & Warnings

• Have fun and be creative.