Q&A | Burlesque, revealed

Miss the fervor over the "burlesque revival"? Never been to a show? Not quite sure what all the fuss is about? Here's a cheat-sheet for Burlesque 101:

Q: What is burlesque?

A: Burlesque is blue-collar, adult cabaret entertainment that relies on elements of vaudeville, comedic satire and striptease.

Q: Is it raunchy?

A: "Cheeky, not raunchy," says Glam-o-rama Girly Show's songbird, Tana the Tattooed Lady. "It would have been the seediest, bawdiest show a WWII-era man could see, but it's definitely demure by modern standards."

What's the difference between burlesque and stripping?

"Burlesque is striptease, with a focus on the 'tease,' " explains Vienna Le Rouge, a Seattle burlesque performer who guest stars with several troupes. "It's the art of taking off a glove."

Q: Do dancers do the full Monty?

A: Nope. They're always wearing underwear and "pasties" — small, nipple-covering stickers, that are often decorated with glitter, decals and tassels.

Q: So they're just little glittery things? Why even bother?

A: Burlesque dancers of yesteryear wore them, so it's tradition. Also, according to state law, nipples must be covered in venues that serve alcohol. "It's such a weird distinction," says Miss Indigo Blue, who is writing an academic paper on the matter titled "The Nipple is the Contested Domain of Modern Performance."

Q: Does anyone ever accidentally lose a pastie — or two — on stage?

A: "All the time," laughs Glam-o-rama's red-headed starlet, go-go Amy. "But it's not so bad. There's nothing like a pity cheer, and the show goes on."

Q: Who goes to burlesque shows?

A: "Men, women, gay, straight, you name it," says Vincent Drambuie, Glam-o-rama's quick-talking host. "You've got the hipster and hip-replacement crowd, both." Women make up more than half of today's audience.

Q: What about the hippies?

A: Glam-o-rama uses exclusively vegan, recycled and cruelty-free materials in their costumes and make-up, and "encourage an awareness of the global economy and animal rights" in their promotion materials. Bedizen your Birkenstocks!

Q: Do all the performers do the same thing?

A: No. Everyone has a gimmick. Some people sing, others ham it up and some go for straight seduction. Go-go Amy does a full-body "shimmy," which she describes as "80 percent vintage burlesque, 20 percent seizure."

Q: What's with the super-glam aesthetic?

A: Many female burlesque performers claim that burlesque is great because it challenges society's conception of beauty and femininity by showcasing the zaftig forms of everyday ladies. Rubenesque curves are celebrated here. (We hear you, Tyra!).

Q: Can I be a burlesque dancer, too?

A: Why not? Grab your best skivvies, throw on some jams and head for the full-length mirror in your bedroom. If the neighbors get sick of your personal shim-sham revue, head to Miss Indigo Blue's twice-yearly, six-week burlesque class for tips on everything from tassel twirling to how to walk in those high heels. (For more details, go to www.academyofburlesque.com).

If it's the Betty Grable look you're after, try the Glam-o-rama Girly Show's do-it-yourself pin-up modeling workshop. (Check out their site, myspace.com/glamoramagirlyshow, for details).

Haley Edwards, Seattle Times staff reporter