Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Music and Burlesque

Music and Burlesque
by Burgundy Brixx

A musical arrangement can make or break a burlesque performance.
It’s not enough for a performer to like or even love a song or a piece of music. It has to have structure and impact for stage performance. You have to really analyze it. Is there an arc to it that takes you on a journey? Does it have drive and dynamics that inform your movements and gestures? Does it have excitement? Are there phrases of music that really speak to you as musical impressions of moments you’d like to express in your piece? A great musical arrangement should never force you to add "filler" to your piece. It should lift you up and help carry both you and your audience through a dynamic performance.

Friday, January 21, 2011

The quest for persona and individuality in burlesque.


The quest for persona and individuality in burlesque.
by Burgundy Brixx
1/13/2011

As burlesque is a unique art form, it’s natural to struggle to find your place within it. Especially since such a foundation for it is the preservation and tribute to the history and heritage of the form. It’s easy to feel stuck in a rut in terms of style, and it can be incredibly difficult to break that pattern. It’s a concern for any artist, of course, but as burlesque is a solo art form, the quest for a personal identity and sense of style will always be a challenge since our individual stage personality is such a large part of our craft.