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 THE BURLESQUE INCEPTION
by Jeff Teachworth
How did you end up here at this moment? Think about it… Where are you right now? Are you actually home asleep in your bed, dreaming you're reading this article? Well, it’s time to WAKE UP.
Your next lesson in shared dreaming comes from Burlesque. As Leo DiCaprio’s character, Cobb, advises, “Stay calm and read on...”
“Inception” shows us that we have more power than we realize to create the world of our dreams for ourselves. Imagine creating a world where as long as they stay safe, people get to do whatever they want to do, create whatever they want, go see whatever they want, express themselves however they want. There are people on the planet who live this way. You too, can really live your life like this. Here's why Burlesque is a good example:
Burlesque is dream-like. It is unpredictable. It is the surrealistic expression of self, as interpreted by each performer. Burlesque is a masquerade of mystery, revelation, satire, sexuality and beauty that inspires similar parts deep inside of us.
 Burlesque has an exotic quality, like you felt as a kid when the circus came to town. You know those are real people underneath the makeup and costumes, but let yourself get carried away by the make-believe. What bold characters they present! Not only do we admire their courage and conviction to perform onstage in front of a crowd, but some performers go even further by revealing their body as they dance. And there's always something personal revealed about each performer's inner self, their act having a special connection to their personality. Like the world of your dreams, Burlesque is a magical doorway to an exotic fantasy world.
Is burlesque sexy? Hell yes - but it's a treat we all secretly yearn for. Sexuality revitalizes us, and Burlesque is safe sexiness. It draws upon a child-like innocence at the root of its sexiness, like skinny dipping or flashing. A warmth and camaraderie comes across; and in the end, both performer and audience are invigorated through "the art of the tease", as Dita von Teese calls it.
Because it doesn't worry about a bunch of rules, burlesque is mysterious and exciting. It has mystery and variety because it’s live and anything can happen. Performers can fly high above the audience like Oops the Clown, Sarah the Bobcat or Angela Eve. They can be silly or campy like Trixie Minx, Lady Lucerne or Kitty Kaos. There is the magic of Dante or Magic Mike, the satiric comedy of MC's like Chris Lane, Spackle McCrackle and Ben Wisdom. Talented singers perform, such as Athena and Debbie Davis with Bustout Burlesque. Enjoy Rev. Spooky's rock band "DC and the Swaggers", the ethnic-inspired music of "Debauche", or the classic jazz of Irvin Mayfield or the Bustout Burlesque Jazz Band. Anything goes when passion rules!
Wish fulfillment: What woman didn't want to be a show girl or professional ballerina when she grew up? There are so many talented and sexy show girls and ballerinas in burlesque there's just not enough space here to name them all... (see the Troupes page here at BurlesqueScene.com). FULFILL YOUR WISHES.
The new movie “Burlesque” encourages us to not give up during adversity, but to believe in yourself and to go after your dreams. Not everyone can sing like Christina Aguilera, but we can sure exert our very best efforts going after our goals. Several New Orleans burlesque performers including Kitty Kaos, Nona Narcisse and Madame Mystere have told me that doing something that comes from your love of the art makes you the ultimate winner. Artistry, passion, glitz and glamour - all this and more are out there waiting for you at the burlesque shows...
And what can the movie "Inception" ultimately teach us about life? Here's a quote: "You're waiting for a train; a train that will take you far away. You know where you hope this train will take you, but you can't be sure." Think about it. You can't ever be sure where your life will go if you keep getting on a train that's driven by someone else. In the final analysis, living a great life is allowing yourself to be self directed and to be passionate in going after your own dreams.
Take a lesson from burlesque: Forget all the rule-making. Deep inside, you already know what you want...
Become the star of your dreams.
Next, read our column on NewOrleans.com about the release of the new movie “Burlesque”
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