Props are a bit part of burlesque, love them or hate them there is no avoiding them.
Personally I love burlesque props. I feel they bring a whole new life to an act.
Don’t get me wrong, they are not easy and certainly have a mind of their own, however they also give you something to interact with no matter how enthusiastic your audience are.
The truth is in burlesque anything can be a prop. Literally anything you can think of.
Any item you find in your house can be used as a prop for an act.
I have had a think and narrowed my favourite props down to five.
1 – Balloons
This one will not be a surprise to anyone who knows me.
Balloons featured in my first ever act – Bubble Delight.
I remember planning my act and asking Bitsy Sunshine if she thought using balloons would be a bit too ambitious and she told me to just go for it.
Now… I won’t lie, balloons are tricky.
They have to be the most unpredictable prop ever.
If they don’t want to stay attached they won’t, if they want to deflate or pop at the wrong time, they will.However they are so much fun.
Balloons are bound to get an amazing reaction from the audience and when they behave (and even when they don’t) they look fantastic.
2 – Fans
Fans are a classic prop and one many people instantly think of when they hear burlesque.
Whilst many people will picture gorgeous giant ostrich feather fans used by burlesque’s biggest star, fans are a prop that can be used by anyone.
They come in all sizes, styles and colours.
You can get small feather fans perfect for a glamorise, goddess act, lace fans that suit a sultry slow routine and even sequin fans if you want a disco feel.
Many fans are very easily available and are very versatile so can suit all different dance styles.
3 – Chair
Ah the chair. Possibly the easiest prop to get a hold of and there is so much you can do with it.
My first ever burlesque routine I learnt with Love You Burlesque involved a chair – a fantastic routine to All That Jazz from Chicago.
Ever since then I have been obsessed with dancing with chairs.
Chairs are another prop that can suit many different styles.
They are brilliant for a real sexy number as well as being a perfect aid to a flexy, trick filled routine.
Dancing with chairs definitely takes practise and patience.
If you want to give it a go make sure you have a sturdy chair and are on a surface where it’s not going to slip.
4 – Boa
The boa is another classic burlesque prop used by dances across the world.
Whilst the standard boa is made from feathers, you can also get vegan boas made from materials such as chiffon or organza.
One of the main reasons I love boas so much is because they are big so you have a lot to work with.
You can swing them, wrap them around you, grind on them and so much more.
Boas are also pretty versatile when it comes to size.
You can get thinner boas that are easier to work with and perfect for beginners or you can get massive, voluminous boas which can cover your body when you need to so you can only show the audience what you want to.
To dance a boa routine, you don’t even actually need a boa. Whilst practising, or befor you want to buy one, you can use a scarf in its place.
5 – Gloves
If you want to learn how to perform a fantastic strip tease then gloves are a great way to start.
Removing gloves is a perfect way to get your audience excited for what’s to come, but without revealing too much.
Even though you are only revealing your hands – something that you have on show every day – glove peels can be extremely sexy.
There are countless ways to take a glove off including with your teeth, with your feet and even with your thighs.
Gloves are also great because they are inexpensive and very easy to get a hold of when you want to start learning.
Of course they can be glammed up too with the addition of feathers, frills and of course lots of rhinestones.
These are just a few of my favourite props to use, but the options are endless.
Seriously, pick up whatever object is closest to you and give it a go – you can almost definitely use it as a prop. Who knows, you may get an idea for an incredible act.
Keep sparkling,
Magenta xxx