Those days are long gone, and today’s sex-obsessed society uses raunchy visuals to sell us pretty much everything under the sun. We’ve become desensitized to sex. Nothing’s taboo anymore and everything’s on display. Makes you miss the days when what little you did see, made you wonder about what you didn’t.
Montreal Burlesque artist Countess Scarlett James also longs for those days. She launched the prestigious Montreal International Burlesque Festival last year and she’s coming back to scintillate crowds once again this weekend.
“Today’s culture loves to shock, but I love to take audience members on a ride,” she says. “I want people to be able to imagine themselves up on stage. Yes, the performers are beautiful, but most importantly they’re comfortable in their own skin.”
Having attended last year’s show, I can attests to being truly mesmerized by the classy, cabaret-style sensual performances. The crowd, many of them women dressed in gowns and feather boas, hooted and hollered along, as the performers came on stage.
“What I love about Burlesque is that it glorifies women,” Scarlett explains. “Not in a way that’s denigrating to men, but in a way that plays to our assets. We’re equal, but we’re not the same.”
“What I love about Burlesque is that it glorifies women,” Scarlett explains. “Not in a way that’s denigrating to men, but in a way that plays to our assets. We’re equal, but we’re not the same.” -
Scarlett fell in love with the art form 3 years ago, when she first saw it being performed. Faithful to its past and tradition, burlesque is a purely delightful seduction which mixes elements of modern dance, theatre and humour Already an artist with an avid interest in costumes, make-up, role playing and dancing, she finds it to be perfectly suited to her.
“I had an epiphany when I saw it performed and knew I had to bring burlesque here,” she says. “It took us a while to convince people to come out, but once word of mouth brought burlesque virgins to the shows, we can now have three-day festivals filled to near capacity.”
The Montreal International Burlesque Festival will enchant Montrealers for a second year, on September 23, 24, and 25 (Club Soda, 1225, St-Laurent blvd).
Three exceptional evenings will feature fashion shows of vintage clothing, sexy pin-ups, artists from all four corners of the world, and Burlesque legends. For more information on the festival and the Burlesque Express show to come this spring, go to: www.montrealburlesquefestival.ca
