365 Things to Do in Memphis #95: See a Burlesque Show

365 Things to Do in Memphis #95: See a Burlesque Show

If you like pretty ladies, good music, impossible moves and the occasional firey baton, assignment #95 in the 365 Things to Do in Memphis will be easy for you - you're going to a vintage-style burlesque show.

Memphis is home to three burlesque troupes, which makes catching a performance easy. Between the of the Memphis Belles, the Tennessee Tease and Sock It to Me Burlesque (and the occasional visiting troupe like Southern Lush and Lace or Pretty Things Peep Show), it's possible to see shows almost monthly. 

Sock It to Me's Madonna Putana describes burlesque as being "like a theatrical performance or going to see a band. It's not sleazy. It's just good, positive fun."

Fan Dance, Sock it to Me Burlesque, Memphis, Tenn.

The Belles and the Tennessee Tease have both been around for a few years, and Sock It to Me Burlesque had their first-ever show at the Brass Door tavern last weekend.

Like most burlesque shows, Sock It to Me's show included singing, dancing and classic burlesque acts that were more subtle and sexy than sleazy. A dancer named Lady Doo Moi did a fan dance to the Velvet Underground's "Venus in Furs", there were red fringey underthings and a risky looking (only because of the upholstery) fire dance by Aenya Little Fyre.

Sock it to Me Burlesque, Memphis, Tenn.

The variety is one of my favorite things about burlesque shows. The performers create their own acts (and often make their own costumes). "You get to see all types of beauty represented," Madonna Putanna told me. "I had the pleasure once of an audience member thanking me after a performance because we made her feel more confident and positive about her body, simply because we were, with all of our "flaws", getting up there and owning our bodies, loving what we are doing, being sexy and rocking it. And I think that is one of the great things about seeing burlesque."

To find burlesque in Memphis, keep an eye on the schedules for Sock It to Me Burlesque, the Tennessee Tease and the Memphis Belles.

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Nonie Maines
I am coming to Memphis January 18–20 and wondering what kind of burlesque business I can see or be part of? TIA I noticed that all of the troops you mentioned in this article have disbanded. I did reach out to Lady doo moi. She was the only name I could find active. … So thank you for this article.
January 1, 2016 9:02pm
Holly Whitfield
Hi Nonie! Unfortunately, I'm not sure we have a lot of active burlesque still happening, and I don't know of any on that particular weekend. If I find out any, I'll definitely add it to the blog's calendar.
January 4, 2016 11:26pm