I have been doing burlesque acts since 2002
and i have puposely avoided doing the FAN
dancing act because there are so many out there

but i get requests all the time -
i know i'd be great but would i be stepping on others toes?
or should every burlesque babe have fans in they're repetoire?

i know that workshops are teaching the new comers the fan dancing so its not as if there will be a shortage -

surely :
it isn't about WHAT you do its the WAY you do it
?
?
what do people think ?
i'd really like some fans
but i don't want to piss anyone off...

cheers babes

Well, to me, Burlesque performers thesedays really have no right to 'copyright' an act unless its completely original from scratch...after all, we are all pretty much just paying homage to those who did it back in the day.

Fan dancing is one of the most well known of acts, obviously, but its also one of the most visually stunning. Kittie has her own take on it, as does Gwendaline, Cocoa etc etc...so its all about personal interpretation. I say go get a pair of fans and teach yourself rather than learning off someone else. Try and get a few videos of fan dancing from the 30s and 40s and see if you can pick anything up from that.

I hope ive helped a little rather than just prattled on!

Elektra.
:x

Good points Elektra.

I agree that anyone who is willing to put in the time and effort should indulge in a nice pair (or 10!) of fluffy feathered fans.

It is indeed the case:

"It aint what you do, it's the way that you do it - and that's what get's results...."
la la lalala

Im working on a some new fan ideas. Two unusual pieces that are very contrasting and these will add to my red fandance that I do 'en pointe'.

I am hoping to pair up with Cocoa Mae this Spring/Summer to develop a double fan-dance of contrast.... oooooohhhhh.

Go for it! It's all about having fun primarily so why not?

Besides you can't step on my toes - i already do....

I completely agree with both Elektra and Kittie - if you make it your own, who can really say anything to you about stepping on anyone's toes ?

I personally consider fan dancing to be my speciality and is one of the things i find people tend to recognise me for - so ive taken time and effort to craft my style of fan dancing and make sure its the best it can be. But i am not the first to fan dance, and i certainly wont be the last ! Its a very useful number to have in your repertoire in my opinion; and who doesnt love holding a big fluffy pair of ostrich fans ... hmm ... :wink:

And after all - none of us actually invented the fan dance, so i don't think any modern performer can claim to hold the rights to it. Like nipple tassel twirling and the balloon popping routine - its just one of those things you have to make sure you do as differently as possible to everyone else; then you wont have to worry about stepping on anyone's toes !

Good luck babes. XXX Cocoa XXX

- and to Kittie : cant wait to start building our new fans !!! Should be a very interesting collaboration aswell ... X

Yipeeeeeeeee !!!!

thanks for your encouraging words oh wise and wonderful ones.... so refreshing..
i'll be putting in an order for some fans with cocoa soon.. x x x ( and lessons, maybe a swap?will e mail you )

mind at ease
creative juices flowing . .

hope i'm not allergic -
maybe i am and i'll have a comic sneezy fan fall about (joke).

anyway more views on the subject welcome..

many thanks
lushy curves

Sneezy fan dance? Could be a great act!

No doubt men will read the flyers:

"Tonight Only - Sleazy Fan Dance"... heehee

Oh, how confused they'd be!

Cocoa- Yay!!! Our collaboration will be great. I have some great moves in mind and we will need a fairly big rehearsal studio......

x

Heya

I made sure that I had a good stock of classic
solos first to be able to use in any situation
before I started working on more unique
acts... so classic striptease, fandance,
balloon dance, chair dance. They seem to be
the ones that I am requested to do more often.

of course my interpertaion is different to
everyone elses. my solo fandance is a cutesy
character piece and my double fandance with
the stunning Missy Malone is a very somber,
slow, dark, yearning piece to heavy classical
music.

So my advice, get the fans, they are fab, they
are fun, have a play with them and see what
you come up with. inevitably when they are
combined with your choice in music, your
costuming, corography and styling it will be
your own unique interperation of a classic.

have fanciful fluffy fantastic fun
from fabulously flamboyant Foxy. x