Burlesque is undergoing something of a renaissance in popularity in Ireland.
Not so long ago, the dance form was considered by many to be sleazy.
The performers were too scantily dressed for it to be considered a respectable artform.
For Dominique DiVine, a producer with the Dublin Burlesque Festival, there a huge amount of history and depth to their performances.
“I think the biggest misconception is that it is just a striptease - it’s not,” she told Sarah Madden for The Pat Kenny Show.
“Burlesque is essentially a really intelligent artform; there’s a huge amount of effort and energy that goes into not just the story around an act but the costuming, the prep, the dance moves, the choreography.
“There’s a massive amount of time, energy and effort that goes into each and every one of those acts.”
Some great shots of last night! https://t.co/jl5HOO8eW0 pic.twitter.com/jclLHcewUx
— DublinBurlesqueFest (@DublinBurlFest) November 3, 2018
While it might be a relatively new practice in Ireland, Ms DiVine said the roots of burlesque can be traced back centuries.
“In the 1800’s, you’d have acts that were comedy acts that exaggerated people in power,” she said.
“Obviously, you’ve got the Moulin Rouge in Paris which brought in a lot of the dancing and the can-can acts that came in.
“Burlesque has always been quite a brilliant mix of riotous shows but usually with an agenda and a slightly political agenda.”
In recent years, burlesque has become increasingly popular in Ireland and Ms DiVine believes the Emerald Isle is now “one of the best hotbeds of burlesque in the world”.
“We have developed so much as a nation in the last two decades when it wasn’t really seen as something you bring your mother to on a Saturday night - although, it kind of would be now,” she said.
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The Irish Burlesque Academy was set up by Lisa Byrne in 2009 - a time when many people still felt suspicious about the practice.
“When she [Lisa] first started in 2009 and she wanted to open up the Burlesque school and get some studio space, people saw that burlesque name and she was turned away from doing it,” manager Niamh Flynn said.
“It was something that was maybe considered a bit more obscure or taboo to something that’s very mainstream and accessible for everyone.
“It’s great to see that burlesque does have a place in Ireland today.”
Main image: Burlesque dancers. 05/04/2024. Image: Newstalk
