Burlesque: The Art of Stage Seduction

© 2026 Article by Clara Bruno – All rights reserved

Turin, Italy, 16 June 2026

Born in nineteenth-century European theatres as a form of sophisticated parody and a means of subverting social conventions, burlesque has travelled across eras and continents. Today, it remains one of the captivating forms of modern entertainment. To dismiss it as mere flirtatious amusement would be to overlook its rich cultural heritage: above all, burlesque is a theatrical language that intertwines irony, dance, and a refined aesthetic of performance.

Amid feathers, satin gloves, and sparkling corsets, the burlesque performer creates a narrative of the body that challenges traditional notions of both modesty and seduction. The act of revealing, far from being simple exhibitionism, becomes an exercise in stage control and a declaration of identity. From this perspective, burlesque is an artistic practice in which the elegance of movement and the intelligence of reference take precedence over provocation for its own sake.

Yet burlesque is also, and above all, about enjoyment. Its playful and ironic nature invites both the performers and the audiences to take part in a collective ritual of light-heartedness and complicity. Performers delight in surprising their audiences and telling stories through costume and movement, while spectators are drawn into a festive atmosphere that forms an essential part of the theatrical experience.

Revived in recent decades through the neo-burlesque movement, the genre continues to attract new audiences. It celebrates the glamour of the past while engaging with contemporary ideas of freedom of expression.

One of the most significant aspects of contemporary burlesque is its inclusive ethos. Stages welcome bodies of all ages, shapes, and levels of experience. In a cultural context still strongly influenced by rigid beauty standards, burlesque offers a non-judgemental vision of the body, in which sensuality is not the privilege of a select few but an expressive possibility available to everyone. Freed from the obligation of perfection, the body becomes a vehicle for storytelling, stage presence, and self-determination.

This perspective also embraces queer burlesque, which expands the boundaries of the genre by challenging stereotypes surrounding sexuality and celebrating the diversity of identities through the language of performance.

Among the techniques used in burlesque is floor work, which involves choreographed movements performed in contact with the floor, allowing performers to express sensuality and stage presence. This discipline requires considerable athletic ability, combining muscular strength, flexibility, and technical precision.

Turin plays an active role in this vibrant artistic scene thanks to performers such as Carmilla Lux and Bohemian Cherry, a duo active since 2011 whose backgrounds include classical ballet, belly dance, and improvisational theatre. Alongside their professional stage careers, the two artists are dedicated to teaching through a school that promotes burlesque as an open and mindful artistic practice. Their work helps foster a culture based on inclusivity, creativity, and respect for diversity. “Every woman has a diva hidden within her,” says Carmilla, and burlesque helps bring out that joyful, sensual, and confident side. Poise, attitude, gaze, self-confidence, self-irony, and female solidarity are among the values at the heart of the experience, all of which the school seeks to cultivate in its many students.

Finnish artist Lala L'More (32) tells me that she frequently tours internationally throughout the USA, the UK, Italy, and beyond. She began practising burlesque ten years ago and was among the youngest performers to dedicate herself to this form of artistic expression.

The group from the Turin school at a recent Cabaresque Project performance

Carmilla Lux e Bohemian Cherry, founders of the Turin Burlesque School.