There’s a wide selection of burlesque books on the market and the list is only growing. There are also a few personal stories from behind the scenes to look out for.
Austalian burlesque performer, Jac Bowie’s upcoming tell-all biography Behind The Burlesque will be released in 2013, then there’s the photo book currently in production Wild Things: Burlesque Beauties and the Pets They Love and Satan’s Angelhas also hinted at a forthcoming release. Now lets dive into what’s already available.
The Burlesque Handbook
(Image from Amazon)
The founder of the New York School of Burlesque, Professor Jo Boobs, shares her brand of backstage wisdom in The Burlesque Handbook. Jo Weldon gives you the tools to get started.
For fans wanting to know how it’s done, newbies learning the ropes and old hats looking to nod in agreement along the way, this pocket-sized gem is a great start.
To get a cheeky taster, you can take a sneak peek underneathe the cover on Amazon.
Learn more about how you burlesque with Dirty Martini and Julie Atlas Muz.
Burlesque: A Living History
(Image from Amazon)
This burlesque book does what it says on the cover: it charts burlesque’s history and doesn’t stray too close to modern takes on striptease.
Burlesque: A Living History focuses on some of the movers and shakers who created and defined the art form while momentarily tipping its hat to modern day classic burlesque performers who are keeping the tradition alive.
To get a head start, read our history lesson in Guide to Showgirl Burlesque with Bettsie Bon Bon.
The Queens of Burlesque: Vintage Photographs from the 1940s and 1950s
(Image from Amazon)
This pictorial essay depicts the beautiful images from 40s and 50s burlesque. The American adverts, cards and posters from days gone by celebrate the female form in all its curvaceous glory.
With plenty of Lili St. Cyr to boot, flicking through The Queens of Burlesque will prove how much society’s idea of beauty has changed. Enjoy reminiscing about when women were women and showing a little less was teasing a little more.
Burlesque Beauty
(Image from Amazon)
Burlesque Beauty showcases eight current burlesque performers from the rejuvenated UK burlesque scene. The book aimed to choose a variety of burlesque dancers who are keeping the vintage inspired genre alive.
The featured artists include friends of Burlexe, the lovable firecracker Amber Topaz and cheesecake burlesque goddess Anna Fur Laxis alongside Khandie Khisses, Domino Barbeau, Sensu’Elle, Ally Katte, Mysti Vine and Carrie-Ann O’Dell.
With some of the most beloved, funny and wonderful burlesque dancers in the UK at the moment, you can’t help but be charmed and your coffee table would be worse off without it.
Find out about Amber Topaz’s Burlesque Story and Cheesecake Burlesquewith Anna Fur Laxis.
Burlesque Poster Design: The Art of Tease
(Image from Stella Polaris available at Amazon)
`The man behind the curtain’, Chaz Royal is the producer of the London Burlesque Festival and champions both classic and avante garde burlesque. As a neo-burlesque performer himself, his book celebrates modern performers and the women who led the way.
The majority of Burlesque Poster Design is given over to current burlesque dancers and with plenty of photography books cherishing yesteryear on the market, it makes a refreshing change.
The images, however, do show the evolution of poster designs with plenty of Phyllis Dixey and Tempest Storm in there too, making it a brilliant mix of inspiration.
Find out more about the seventh annual London Burlesque Festival 2013.
The Happy Stripper: Pleasures and Politics of the New Burlesque
(Image from Amazon)
Now lets get serious for a minute. Author, Jacki Wilson, discusses the heavily debated role of burlesque in a ‘post-feminist‘ era. This book is the thinking-woman’s burlesque read, so all of us then.
It’s the perfect burlesque book to see the art form from a different angle, to start a dialogue, get political and look at the resurgence of burlesque. You can also have a look inside on Amazon.
Pretty Things: The Last Generation of American Burlesque Queens
(Image from Amazon)
Liz Goldwyn certainly did her homework. The writer spent eight years researching, interviewing and even getting lessons from some of the great living legends of burlesque.
The book sees bump ‘n’ grind heroine, Betty Rowland known as ‘Ball of Fire’ for her flaming locks, the raven-haired Sherry Britton and Zorita the snake dancer, among its subjects.
Pretty Things looks back at these women’s personal careers with a bevvy of archive imagery. Immerse yourself in the stories of fleeting fame and glamour.
Take a look at our interviews with the Las Vegas Burly-Q Queen, Satan’s Angel.
Burlesque and the New Bump-n-Grind
(Image from Angus & Robertson and available at Amazon)
Michelle Baldwin, otherwise known as Vivienne VaVoom, released this introduction into neo-burlesque almost ten years ago in 2004. She charts the forgotten 90s burlesque and rise of the wave.
At this point, Burlesque and the New Bump-n-Grind serves to show the latest generation how they began. From the bottom, wink.
Learn about the new inspirations from punk and comic to circus and queer. This is a great edition for burlesque fans, burlesque history enthusiasts and emerging talent.
Tease
(Image from Burlesque Magazine, available at Amazon)
Unlike other burlesque books on our list this fabulous bonkbuster follows the fictional character of Tiger Starr from the alluring mind and dame of UK burlesque, Immodesty Blaize.
The winner of Miss Exotic World 2007 told Burlesque Magazine, “I just fancied writing bonkbusters. I think a lot of them are glorious, well-observed pastiche.
“With that being so prevalent in burlesque – exaggeration, tongue in cheek, sending up cultural references – the idea of the bonkbuster appealed to my sense of humour.
“Plus I have experienced so many absurd, eccentric, bizarre, surreal things in my job that [I could channel into fiction].”
Though, Tease is not the famed burlesque dancer’s first work of fiction. She has also released a second novel, Ambition, which is pure Las Vegas escapism. This duo is the perfect, salacious partnership for holiday reading.
Find out more about Immodesty Blaize‘s burlesque documentary Burlesque Undressed.
Burlesque and the Art of the Teese
(Image from Myspace and available on Amazon)
Of course no list (ahem Burlexe list) would be complete without the LA burlesque force that is Ms Dita Von Teese. Her book introduces you to the roaring 20s, the headline honeys of the 30s, through to 40s burlesque and its return to form in the 50s.
Dita Von Teese begins her introduction to Burlesque and the Art of the Teese with wit and sass by saying, “I advocate glamour. Every minute. Sweatpants (at least spiritually) chafe me.”
The hourglass striptease sensation takes you through her perspective on burlesque, stripping and her rules for the stage before we delve into burlesque history. Take another peek beneath the cover on Amazon.
Catch up on all her latest news with Dita Von Teese Watch April 2013.
Burlexe is a sensational London burlesque show inspired by the women who created the genre and perform the art. It fuses burlesque performance with storytelling, dancing with acting.
We look to influential and successful women as our inspiration and these are all some such women. Join us for the Burlexe show by booking your ticket.
Article from http://www.burlexe.com/ten-must-have-burlesque-books/
