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Striptease or art? The question for burlesque taste police
Simon Wroe and Rashid Razaq28.04.09
A North London council today ignited a debate over whether burlesque is an art form or simply titillation.
Camden council is banning its entertainment venues including the Roundhouse and Koko from holding burlesque nights involving nudity or strip-tease unless they apply for the same licences required by lap-dancing bars.
Officials said the shows should be classed as "adult entertainment of a sexual nature", prompting a backlash from burlesque performers, who claim that their performance is art.
According to Camden's policy, performers can be on stage wearing nothing but nipple tassels and a g-string, but cannot take their clothes off. The rule would threaten large-scale burlesque shows like Miss Behave's Variety Nighty at the Roundhouse and Koko's The Tease Show featuring Immodesty Blaize.
The stance echoes controversy in Soho in the Thirties over how naked women could appear on stage at the Windmill Theatre. If the performers did not move, they would be classified by then-censor Lord Chamberlain as art, similar to life paintings. But if they moved, their shows would sexually charged and therefore banned.
Alex Proud, the owner of Proud Camden art gallery, which has a regular burlesque night, said: "The letter of the law rather than the spirit of the law is being enforced. It seems lacking in common sense that it is illegal or lewd for burlesque girls dancing to an obviously non-strip tease crowd. Proud is a million miles away from a strip club. The spirit of Paul Raymond does not live here. I do not intend to emulate him in any way."
Roxy Velvet, a regular dancer at Proud, said: "I've worked professionally for five or six years all over the country and never had a problem. The performances at Proud were classic burlesque, very innocent. It is nowhere close to a lap dance."
The council said it is not opposed to venues hosting burlesque, but new guidelines meant they must have the appropriate licence. A spokeswoman said: "Camden's licensing policy, which was widely consulted upon and approved in 2008, states any premises in the borough that wish to offer entertainment involving nudity, striptease or other entertainment of an adult nature will need approval from the Licensing Authority. Burlesque falls within this criteria."
Burlesque, which originated in 17thcentury Europe, has become more popular in recent years Performers, who in the mainstream include the American Dita von Teese, pictured left, claim its use of nudity is not intended to be provocative but is part of theatrical humour. Von Teese said: "I'm trying to bring back the original art form. In America they've lost all sense of what burlesque is. To them, it's just something very racy."
Reader views (27)
It seems to me like this is another classic example of men not being able to handle the notion of a woman's body as anything but a sexual object.
To pass off something which is based predominantly on silly fun and satire as being on a parr with the objectification of women in lap-dancing bars is pathetic.
We can have airbrushed skeletal semi-naked teens on page 3 of our tabloids, which any child can pick up but not women enjoying their bodies without compulsory connotations of exploitation?
Sorry for the incoherence but this makes me so angry, as a feminist and as a burlesque performer.
- Rhiannon Oliver, Leed, UK
More idiocy from authority figures who haven't the grapefruits to tackle real issues. Burlesque performances, when done right, are an art-form, plain and simple, and established venues such as the ones mentioned in this article are only ever likely to promote artistry and talent. Or did a councillor accidentally wander into Sophisticats and think that what they did was burlesque?
- Colin Smith, Leeds, UK
Its not often, but i find myself on the side of camden council on this one. Burlesque is adult entertainment, nothing wrong with it, but it should be subject to the same licensing laws as other adult entertainment.
- Sarath Palety, Aylesbury, UK
It's definitely an art but there's nothing wrong with titillation. But don't forget there is such a thing as male burlesque!
Its making a massive come back around London.
- Phil, Barking
What is wrong with titillation?
- Hatchet, Newcastle, Australia
Burlesque is a world apart from all the street prostitutes, brothels, clip joints, strip clubs, and sleazy pole dancing dens - why are they picking on this aspect of what is on the outer edge of the sex industry?
- Real, London
Who cares looks pretty good to me anyway!!
- Mike, London England
Didn't that lovely chap from Harry Potter appear completely naked with his leading lady in a west end theatre production? That never raised any eyebrows at all. I agree with all comments wholeheartedly. Burlesque is an artisic cheeky bit of wonderful fun and a brilliantly entertaining night out. Don't try and make us all A sexual!
- Rachel Dyer, London
As far as I can tell it is a form of body display that appeals to (sexual) fetishists - why shouldn't it be subject to licencing like all the other sexual display activities?
- Nora, London, Uk
This really is oblique thinking from a council that really should know better from what goes on in their manor - still, it doesn't really affect me, I've pretty much given up going to Camden unless I really have to now because I'm sick and tired of having to wade through a sea of drug pushers & panhandlers the second I leave the tube exit.
These artists, (for this is what they are, just like musicians, actors and poets etc) should be left to do the entertaining work they do in peace and not labelled as anything else just so as the paperwork is in order,
One more thing,I'm pretty sure they're not making millions doing this.
Making peoples lives easier to make a living should be considered here whatever the rules, we've all had enough of hearing of how 'our governors' haven't exactly been on the ball in a large number of cases, let's see less irresponsibility in meddling with peoples lives starting here maybe.
- Anthony, London
How can anyone can fail to see the humour, irony and sense of fun that Burlesque develops? The whole scene is the essense of English humour surely!
It is also a scene where the women are professional, intelligent, creative and incredibly strong. I've the honour of counting these people of friends and can in no way see how any of it even comes close to the legislation as it stands...
- Graeme, London
bloke london, shes gorgeous mate
- Mikeee, peterborough uk
the government have no right to mess with the rights of adults to go and see adult entertainment. this argument that these places lead to 'violence and abuse of women' and 'sexual encounters' have no basis, when you consider much violence goes on in the home and sexual encounters happen in pubs, clubs etc all over the country-should we be closing these too?!
Education and a rethink of attitudes is key here not banning something
- Selena, preston
Seriously, this is CAMDEN.
Amy Winehouse is out on the STREETS in less.
- Kellie, minneapolis
Dear Camden council.
Empty the dustbins, clean the streets, and mow the park lawns.
-and keep your kill-joy noses out of our nightclubs.
- Andy Parks, London, UK
I blame the Green one Frank; they are always causing trouble.
- Mickyinlondon, london
- John, london
I think perhaps others should check their facts first dear boy?
Camden Councillors:
Lib = 23
Lab = 15
Con = 12
Green = 1
However I concede that "Lindsay, London" makes a good point.
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
Well you sure told off Frank; Lindsay.
Are you a school teacher by any chance………LOL.
- Mickyinlondon, london
Amnusing and humiliating correction there of Frank by Jonathan. Frank - learn to check your facts before ranting!
- John, london
I think they should ban female impersonator shows as well; they are not what they seem; most are men in drag.
I was shocked at that news; I thought they were just ugly women that can’t sing at all.
- Mickyinlondon, london
With all this doom and gloom everywhere i think we could all do with a bit of tittilating.
- Mr S.Port, London
Dear Frank. I don't understand what you are getting at. It is the role of governments of every hue to 'control and manipulate' people's lives, to some extent - that's their job, and that's what we pay them for. But in this area, especially, Labour policies, most notably the Licensing Act 2003, which liberalised pub opening hours, have been pretty liberal thus far - making your 'prohibition' statement absolutely laughable. For example, the Licensing Act 2003 relaxed pub opening hours, and (probably inadvertently) made it a lot easier for striptease and lapdancing clubs to operate (although moves to change this are afoot). Those who wish to invoke their rights as 'adults' to visit adult venues have many to choose from - and from what I hear there are just as many in the 'Home Counties' as there are here in London, so you should be fine.
- Lindsay, London
Is making love a natural expression of deepest human emotion or an evil act?
- Bloke, London
I have to say, she is pretty cute...
- Hugh, Birmingham, UK
It is symptomatic of patronising politics. All parties are guilty of it in fact. Labour unfortunately have national control over policy making.
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
Frank - just so you know Camden Council is run by a Conservative / Liberal Democrat administration, so this is a local decision rather than anything to do with the Labour Party.
- Jonathan, Camden, London
Yeah and while you are at it let's bring in prohibition. After all socialism is about controlling and manipulating every aspect of our lives. Making decisions is for adults, not us children.
Thank you Labour for taking my right to think for myself away. What the hell was I doing thinking? So much easier just to take at face value what I am told instead.
Thank you for taking my right to vote away. What right have I to an opinion on the EU Constitution? That sort of thing should be left to my betters.
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
