How Burlesque Helped Me Tap Into My Sexuality
When I first moved to New Orleans, I worked at a jazz club in one of the nicest hotels on Bourbon St. In addition to hosting some of the city’s most highly acclaimed bands and musical acts, the club also hosted a weekly burlesque show starring New Orleans’ own Trixie Minx and her troop of glamorous burlesque dancers.
Every week, while I sat people at their candlelit tables and took their drink orders, I watched these beautiful women glide across the room in their feathers and rhinestone-studded dresses to the sounds of a live band playing classic Jazz hits that they’d move and sway to. As the song played on, they’d slowly remove an article of clothing one by one, sometimes allowing the audience to assist them in the removal—offering a fingertip of a glove as they seductively pulled away, or innocently offering the strings of their corset to be let loose revealing a whole new layer of naughtiness underneath.
They’d drift around the room exchanging flirty glances, leaving a trail of their gowns and accessories, until they were stripped down to nothing but their sexy underwear and a pair of glittering, tasseled pasties. As the song would finish, they’d head back to the front of the stage for their final shimmy, gyrating their hips and moving their torsos in such a way that their tasseled pasties swung in a synchronized circular motion. Once their act was over, the crowd roared with pleasure, whistling in approval and screaming for more. It gave me goosebumps.
These ladies weren’t so much younger or older than I. I had dance experience, a good body, a penchant for flirting and knew most of the songs they danced to. The only thing I was missing was a few great gowns and some feather boas. I could totally do that. And part of me wanted to muster up the courage to ask what it would take to be part of Trixie’s Burlesque Ballroom show. However, I used that energy to allow myself to open up and tap into my more flirtatious, extroverted side.
New Orleans was a new frontier for me, a fresh start, a chance to become a totally different person—an improved version if you will. Here, I would be more creative, I’d tap into my feminity, and I’d allow the charms of the South to turn me into an elegant woman full of confidence and charisma. As my life began to unfold in the Big Easy, I saw Trixie more, became friends with local burlesque dancers, and participated in all the wonderful festivities in the city, I stayed inspired by the beautiful performers of the Jazz club.
They helped me come out of a shell I never knew I had. They taught me how to tease and flirt, how to move with intention and sensuality, and of course, how to always dress the part. Fast forward to the days of COVID, when I was hosting virtual parties on the Naughty Members platform, I used that energy to channel my inner performer, charm the virtual crowd, and get them involved in our activities. We even had a strip game that allowed participants to be their own virtual burlesque dancers to any song that made them feel good. It was a favorite among the crowd and was later told to me that it really helped people open up and break out of their shells as well.
Burlesque is an art form. It’s not just dancing, it’s not just stripping but the art of seduction personified. It inspired me to tap into my sexual being while still maintaining an air of mystery. I am SO excited that for this year’s Naughty N’awlins (2022), we are introducing the Burlesque Brunch for our attendees. Not only will you get an authentic taste of New Orleans culture firsthand, but I hope it also helps inspire this year’s guests to tap into their seductive side, to break out and show themselves off with confidence and pride. There’s going to be a lot of sexy things going on at our event and it’s yours for the taking if you want it. Show yourself off, dance, tease, smile, and just be wonderful, fabulous, glittering YOU.
