The DC Traveler

Neo-Burlesque is a flashbaclk to the days of classic burlesque fating back to the first half of the 20th century. It’s a hodge-podge of bawdy humor, caberet, racy burlesque dancers (suggestive but non-nude striptease), side show performers such as fire eaters, sword sallowers, singers, jugglers, contortionists tied in with some audience participation — all in one show.

Le Scandal Burlesque is a New York-based group of performers that New York’s Village Voice asks the question, “One wonders why there isn’t a year-long waiting list to get a piece of this action.” At times bizarre and risqué at others funny and freaky. You never know just what you’ll get get at their show, but expect a good sampling of new burlesque.

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Click here to see a quick video of Le Scandal Burlesque.

Le Scandal Burlesque
The Birchmere
3701 Mt. Vernon Ave
Alexandria, VA 22305

Date and Time – Friday, May 25th, 7:30 p.m., doors open at 5:00 p.m., kitchen at 6:00 p.m.

Tickets -$19.50 and are available online.

Nearest Metro subway station – Pentagon City – Blue and Yellow line, then a 5-mile cab ride.

Parking – Free lighted, secure parking is available at the theater and included with the ticket service charge.

Some Burlesque Trivia

• The skits were called “bits”.
• For adancer to expose any part of her body was called “flashing”
• A “Sunday-school-show” was code to the dancers and comics to clean up their show as police or censors were in the audience.
• The strut before the strip was called the “trailer”.
• A dancer with a “swell set-up” meant she had a nice figure.
• When a comedy bit was not funny, it was said to “lay eggs”
• Burlesque was often called the “burleycue” or a “leg show”.
• Entertainers who got their start in burlesque include Abbott & Costello, Red Skelton, Al Jolson, W. C. Fields and Mae West.

NOTE: While all the shows at the The Birchmere are “all ages”, this show is probably not for kids.

Photos: All photos courtesy of Le Scandle Burslesque.

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