Karen Focht: Harley riding Burlesque dancer Velvetina Taylor has spent many months mastering the art of the tease in Memphis, Tennessee. The New York native and entrepreneur holds a master’s degree, but after pursuing various kinds of work in her lifetime, she says she has found what truly makes her happy and Burlesque dancing is a combination of all the things she loves. Through performers like Velvetina this old Victorian art has become new again. American burlesque shows were originally an offshoot of Victorian burlesque. The English genre had been successfully staged in New York from the 1840s. Burlesque comes from the Italian and means ‘mockery.’ Historically, Burlesque entertainment couldn’t compete with the rising popularity of movies and nightclubs; eventually, it fizzled out. However, it saw an underground resurgence in major cities across the United States in the 1990s. Today, those interested in burlesque, with its colorful feathers, sequins and rhinestones can still follow its stars and performances, not only in Memphis but at venues and festivals around the US. Welcome to: ‘Burlesque IS BACK’
Scott Mc Kiernan, Founder & Editor-in-Chief, ZUMA Press
ZUMAland.com 