I'm currently working on a new routine, and I am being pulled in a two directions with it.

It's going to involve a fan dance at at first I wanted it completely seductive and elegant. But my barely contained inner comedian wants to keep popping out. The routine is a woman trying to seduce the man she loves (with a bit of a twist).

I'm just thinking of something subtle - the occassional facial expression, possibly a "I heart" t-shirt aimed at the object of the woman's affections. Would this be out of place?

Can I do both seductive and funny without it being too silly? Does anyone know of any seductive/elegant fan dances that also have a comedic edge?

Hi Tiger Tiger,

I think perhaps what you need to work out is what level of seductive or funny you want. If you want your performance to be mainly seductive then facial expressions could work well to give it a quirkier edge, particulary if the rest of your piece is following the elegant route. But then it would depend on what size venue you plan to perform it in, if its a smaller place then the audience will be able to see your expressions, whereas if it was a larger venue then your face may not be as obvious, but choice of costume would.

I have seen lots of acts that are predominantly funny but carry a sexy edge just with a subtle look in the eye. Afterall a performer could be wearing something as wonderfully ridiculous as a giant hot dog costume but still appear extremely sexy.....ahh the joys of the wonderful world of burlesque!

Why can't you be the first to do it? If it feels good when you do it, then do it.
xx

I think it will be hard to make it seductive and funny at once, sexy and funny works almost every time though Maybe you might want to choose a playful, kinda cheerful music? Then the whole act will have that kind of atmosphere..

This is one of the best examples I know of a fan dance that is both elegant and comedic:

Random. Brilliant.

Thanks for all the input ladies, and for the vid Honey, it's an amazing routine!

Will see what I come up with...

I love the sexy fan dance done by Trixie Little and Monkey...can't find video right now, am suffering from ME drowsiness.

For me sexy + funny = cute! also one hell of a good burlesque routine if done right

Honey beat me to mentioning the Nasty Canasta car alarm - although the absolute joy of this is that she does totally straight, as if she has no idea how funny it is and this often makes a joke even more brilliant, if she'd hammed it up (probably as I would if I'd ever had such a genius idea) it wouldn't have worked so well.

Here's the Trixie Little and Evil Hate Monkey one Claudia mentioned:


(you'll have to sign into youtube to view it as it's been identified as one for over 18s only....though I've seen far worse, it's not that naughty). It's so beautifully and effortlessly executed.

If you haven't checked out some of Anna Fur Laxis's routines yet she is fantastic at a sort of cheesecake seductive....it's sexy and funny at the same time - check out her Everything Stops For Tease and in particular...............though if you want to see moving from seductive to silly at high speed, you have to watch ....proof it can be done.

Hadn't seen Anna's Bettie page routine before but thats genius!