ABSTRACT

This chapter considers some of the ways in which burlesque has reemerged as a popular form of live entertainment and has also changed significantly since its 'Golden Age' (the 1920s to the 1950s), focusing on two groups within the larger burlesque community: the 'Living Legends' and students/hobbyists. No longer primarily a job for working-class women, today's burlesque constitutes a hobby for most participants; it is a full-time occupation for only a select, skilled, entrepreneurial few. 'Exotic dance' emerged in the United States in the late 1950s and continues to this day. Michelle and the other instructors at Studio L'amour bring students into the burlesque world rather gently, wanting to ensure that they feel comfortable during their first experiences with striptease. In addition to strategic and level-appropriate feedback, Michelle provides another layer of security for middle-class hobbyists through sartorial restrictions.