KINGSTON TWP. — Women gathered for a burlesque workshop at The Silver Broomstick on Feb. 11 did much more than learn how to move. They learned how to appreciate their body and feel good about themselves.
Vivi Noir, who taught the class, said many first-time students come to her wanting to experience themselves in a new way.
“One woman wanted to give her husband a lap dance,” she said. “Afterward, she said she hadn’t spent a night like that in a long time.”
Her students have included women from 18 to 80, she said.
Kris Brennan, who has owned the business for two years, said classes are offered to bring area women together to have a good time and to get to know the shop and each other.
Brennan said the business has sponsored several burlesque shows, including a Valentine’s Day event the night before.
“The important thing to remember about burlesque is that it’s not about getting naked,” she said. “It’s about the mystery.”
Brennan gave the example of Gypsy Rose, a famous burlesque dancer who showed little skin, but was a sex symbol of her time.
Sisters Karen Ogin, of Wilkes-Barre, and Chris Josefowicz, of Nanticoke, attended the burlesque workshop for the first time.
Both had seen Friday’s performance and said they thoroughly enjoyed it.
“I think I came out to have fun and also to gain some confidence,” said Josefowicz.
Ogin said she also enjoyed burlesque from a historical perspective, as a throwback to the days of vaudeville and entertainment methods of that time.
Noir originally started her entertainment career as a ballet dancer, introduced to burlesque when she was asked to do a balloon pop dance, a strip tease in which balloons were popped, keeping the audience wondering what was beneath them.
“I went from tutus to tassels,” she said.
Noir said most of her students would not go on to perform in front of a large audience.
Still, she said, for many, the introduction to burlesque is life changing.
“I create little monsters,” she said. “They see themselves in a whole new way.”