What the hell is nerdlesque?
Nerdlesque is a form of burlesque that parodies pop culture, particularly beloved geeky territories like comic books and video games. Nerdlesque has its roots in classic burlesque parody and the neo-burlesque movement. It celebrates and empowers performers and audiences of all shapes and sizes. Nerdlesque is daring, sexy, intelligent, humorous, and isn’t afraid to get a little weird and wild.
Nerdlesque has become incredibly popular over the past twenty years thanks to the increased popularity of burlesque and the dominance of all things nerdy in pop culture. There are even multiple festival around the world dedicated to nerdlesque, including a festival that the folks behind Nerdlesque NYC produced down in New Orleans!
Wait, what’s burlesque?
A type of performance that’s been popular in the United States since the 1800s! And they parodied pop culture back then too! The word actually means to parody or ridicule. There are a lot of great books if you really want all the details (no offence to the many wonderful burlesque blogs out there). Throughout its history, burlesque has been characterized by subversion of norms, especially gender and sexual norms. For over 100 years, strip tease has been a key part of the art form, and you’ll often hear the artform described in layman’s terms as “classy stripping,” which is close enough.
And what’s neo-burlesque?
Burlesque has had its ups and downs, largely due to government regulations shutting it down across most of the country for a few decades. In the late ’90s, a new wave of burlesque sprung up. This new wave and the performance style that arose from it are known as neo-burlesque, a phrase used to distinguish it from classic burlesque. Modern nerdlesque grew out of the neo-burlesque movement.
Where can I see nerdlesque?
Well, you’re in the right place. Our shows take place monthly at the Slipper Room, an acclaimed New York theatre that has burlesque shows most nights of the week. There are other nerdlesque shows at Slipper such as our good friends Hotsy Totsy Burlesque, and other shows throughout the rest of New York City in venues of all sizes!
-Vincent Gallant
