Shimmy Your Way to Happiness: Potential Mental Health Benefits of Burlesque

When you hear the word burlesque many things may come to mind: exciting, erotic, beautiful, comedic, fun. But you may be surprised to hear another term associated with burlesque: mental health. Yes, that’s right, this provocative type of performance might actually improve mental health. Burlesque can help audience members, performers, and amateur participants have a better sense of well being, more confidence, and feel more empowered. There are even some scholarly articles looking at potential research and scientific evidence behind the idea that burlesque improves mental health (The Rise of Recreational Burlesque: Bumping and Grinding to Empowerment). So let’s dive into why this might be, and how you could make use of this information for your own well-being. 

We know that movement benefits our mental health. Numerous studies have shown that physical activity improves mood, decreases stress, and increases self esteem (National Library of Medicine). It also seems that finding forms of physical activity that are enjoyable and fun is an incredibly important aspect of movement and mental health. Some experts call this ‘joyful movement,’ and you can read more about it in this article by registered dietician Sarah Glinski. Instead of exercising to change and manipulate our bodies, the point of joyful movement is to have fun and feel good. Burlesque is a type of dance that is meant to bring joy and pleasure and it can be done by anybody, which makes it an excellent form of joyful movement.

Beyond being a fun way to get moving, burlesque is often described as an empowering experience that improves self esteem and provides a space for self expression. Across the pond, there are even some troupes that perform burlesque specifically for the purpose of improving mental health. The Invisible Cabaret in London is a theatrical troupe whose tagline is ‘stripping away the stigma around mental health.’ They believe that burlesque is uniquely able to tackle often considered taboo topics like mental health in a bold and playful way. In Scotland a troupe called Bump N Grind formed around the idea that performing burlesque would help them all improve their physical and mental wellbeing. The performers express that burlesque offers them a chance to work through difficult feelings and helps them love their bodies exactly as they are (BBC News). 

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Burlesque may specifically benefit: 

1. Body Image

Dancers, specifically dancers we are meant to find attractive and sexy, are often thought of as thin, white, and able bodied; they are supposed to meet the requirements for our culture’s rigid beauty standards. So it might surprise you to see dancers of all shapes and sizes performing burlesque, and to very excited and enthusiastic audiences. Seeing people of all different body types on stage getting naked, being vulnerable, and being celebrated by the audience can be an inspiring and transformative experience. You can watch self identified fat burlesque performer Lillian Bustle talk about the power of burlesque to change the way we think about bodies in her Ted Talk: Stripping away negative body image. 

2. Sexual and Gender Identity

Burlesque is historically an artform on the outside edges of our culture, it pushes boundaries and redefines rules. So it should come as no surprise that burlesque is a space that often celebrates queer identities. Specifically, burlesque is an artform where gender can be explored and played with. It can be a chance for someone to embrace their gender identity and be seen, reaffirmed, and validated. It can also be a chance for someone to challenge ideas around gender and subvert the cultural norms. You can read more about this topic in an interview titled The Beauty of Queer Burlesque. 

3. Sexual Shame

Many of us carry around sexual shame whether from a strict religious upbringing, a traumatic event, or just living in a culture that teaches us to feel ashamed of our bodies and our sexualities. Burlesque is a public celebration of sensual, erotic movement. Participating in this type of celebration (by watching or performing) can help eradicate that shame. You can read one woman’s story in this article: Sexual shame destroyed my mental health - here’s how burlesque helped. 

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Some suggestions if you want to try using burlesque to boost your mental health: 

• See a show! There are so many incredible burlesque shows in the city of Chicago, and all over the country. If traditional burlesque is not your thing, you might enjoy checking out some niche burlesque acts. Whether watching people in larger bodies strut their stuff with the Fat Cat Cabaret, or a more comedic performance like the Star Wars parody The Empire Strips Back (performing in Chicago and other cities around the world), it seems that there is likely something for everybody out there in the burlesque world. You can also check out the Black Burlesque Directory to find Black burlesque performers all over the world. 

• Take a class! There are one day workshops and ongoing classes available at various spots around the city of Chicago like the Newport Theater and House of the Lorde.  If burlesque isn’t quite to your taste, try another type of sensual dance class. A heels class can feel very sexy, and a jazz class might be just the right tempo and amount of sensuality for some. Diva Dance can be found all over the country and offers ‘a sweaty, sexy, stress-free dance experience’ that is inclusive of all bodies, races, and genders. Honestly, any type of dance that helps you feel connected to your body is fantastic. 

• Strut your stuff in your own space! If you feel not quite ready to participate in public, putting on some music and trying out some dance moves in your own space can always be a safe and easy way to start exploring. You can find suggestions online, or just move in whatever ways feel freeing and sensual for you. Whether trying it with a partner or friend, or on your own (maybe looking in the mirror), exploring movement in your own space can be a great place to start. 

Shadow Side of Burlesque

Like most things in life, there is more than one side to burlesque. Not all experiences are positive and empowering. Burlesque traditionally incorporates stripping and nudity, and while this can be incredibly freeing and confidence building, it is also something vulnerable and can potentially be objectifying and triggering. Many burlesque spaces are focused on empowerment, inclusion, consent, and safety. However, it is important to do your research and make sure the space you're walking into holds these values. It may be helpful to attend your first performance or class with a trusted friend who can offer support if the experience is not all positive. And remember, if something doesn’t feel right, trust your instincts; it is always ok to leave a situation that doesn’t feel good. 

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Conclusion

Many people find burlesque to be beneficial to their mental health: it is a type of movement that is joyful and fun, and it often brings feelings of empowerment and increased self confidence. Burlesque may be especially helpful for people who struggle with issues of body image, sexual and gender identity, and sexual shame. If you think burlesque may be something you would benefit from, try attending a performance, taking a class, or trying out some burlesque moves in your own space. It is so important to find ways to connect with our bodies, especially in playful and pleasurable ways. Give burlesque a try, and see if you can shimmy your way to happiness! 

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Sources 

• The Rise of Recreational Burlesque: Bumping and Grinding to Empowerment by Kaitlyn Regehr 
• Role of Physical Activity on Mental Health and Well-Being: A Review by Aditya Mahindru, Pradeep Patil, and Varun Agrawal  
• A Beginner’s Guide to Joyful Movement by Sarah Glinski
• Burlesque helps us fight life’s challenges by BBC News 
• Stripping away negative body image by Lillian Bustle
• The Beauty of Queer Burlesque interview with Jake DuPRee 
• Sexual shame destroyed my mental health - here’s how burlesque helped by Sharon Walker 

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