Despite what you may have heard, “Burlesque” means “parody” and not “striptease”.   Some of the most famous American comics got their start on the burlesque stage. Burlesque has its roots in a long comic tradition — and a lot of modern comic traditions have their roots in burlesque. This class is a look at the evolution of burlesque from the commedia dell’arte of the 16th century to the modern day.  Through video, readings of actual burlesque comic scripts, and a discussion of the rise and fall of the comedian in the world of burlesque, students will gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for what burlesque was and can be.

NOTE: Many traditional burlesque comic routines used language and stereotypes which are offensive to a modern audience and not appropriate for a modern stage.  We may look at some of these facets in the course of the class in a historical context.

All workshops are taught via Zoom and registration is on a pay what you can basis. We suggest $10, but please pay whatever you can afford. We are accepting payment through PayPal (babe@studyburlesque.com) or Venmo (@studyburlesque). Please specify which workshop you are registering for and make sure we have your email, so we can send you the Zoom meeting information! 

Meeting login information will be sent out 1 hour before the workshop starts.