Burlesque dancer Alexandra The Great 48 was one of the industry’s top performers at the peak of her career in the sixties and seventies. Working with greats such as Tempest Storm and Sally Rand, to name a few, Alexandra The Great 48 elevated the art form to its current status during a time when many confused burlesques with the striptease.
Today’s burlesque has spread throughout the country with states like Texas also taking a peek behind the velvet curtain.
Texans are known for making everything big, and this might be the case with the burlesque scene as well. In January, Houston’s Bayou City and Circus Arts Festival provided residents with traditional burlesque performances and other side acts. Later on, this year, Houston hosted the Houston Burlesque Festival at the House of Blues.
In 2020, Austin’s Texas Burlesque Festival-held in Rollins Theater at the Long Center-is a two-day act featuring Vaudeville, Cabaret, and Burlesque performances. The show is a bit of a performance and a competition with performers vying for Best in Show, Best Soloist, Best Ensemble, Most Original, Best Costume, and Best Tease Factor awards. The show is also a chance for performers to network within the state and with other dancers across the country and internationally.
