Things You'll Need:
- Gloves
- Corsets
- Thigh-high stockings and garters
- Tassels
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Step 1
Learn from the great burlesque dancers. Watch film clips of legendary dancers like Gypsy Rose Lee and Tempest Storm, follow the antics of current stars like Dita Von Teese, Immodesty Blaize and Kitten DeVille. All burlesque stars adapt the sexy fan dancing moves and bump and grind of early stars to fit their own personalities and body types.
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Step 2
Tone your body. A burlesque star can be skinny, curvy or plus size, but she needs to be toned and move well. Take ballet and modern dance classes, go to the gym and practice Pilates and yoga. Get in tune with your body before you hit the burlesque stage.
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Step 3
Choose your costume. Burlesque specialty websites and lingerie stores offer costumes for exotic dancers that feature shimmy belts, fringed bikini tops, velvet gloves, corsets, pasties and tassels are perfect for the burlesque act. Sew your own costumes if you're the creative type using lace, gingham and other sexy fabrics.
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Step 4
Join a burlesque troupe in your area. Austin, Texas has a burlesque group for large size ladies and Los Angles offers fetish-oriented and alternative groups like the Suicide Girls and Velvet Hammer Burlesque. Some burlesque groups include performance art and comedy in their revues while others combine old-fashioned burlesque moves with flashy costumes and rock music.
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Step 5
Promote your act. Every well-known burlesque star has a website and MySpace page so set one up with plenty of photos and banners. Tour the country playing small theaters and rock clubs. Date rock stars and pose for tasteful pictorials in music and men's magazines to be a highly sought after burlesque star.
