Burlesque Performance 101 (1pm Jan through March)

This is a 6 week, 90-minute class.  This is a lecture / activity hybrid filled with information, community connections, laughter, and workshops to help build up performance and overall confidence. Each class will topics ranging from the following

• History lessons on burlesque from the 1860s to the 1960s

• The restoration of neo-burlesque

• The developing history of Midwest style burlesque

• Costume design

• How to own the stage

• How to join the community

• ... and more!

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This is a six week course that will go in detail with how to develop burlesque for the stage. Class is limited to 7 students for the entire course. All gender identities, body types, and ethnicities are welcomed. Students will be taught the history of burlesque in the United States as well introduced to the Burlesque Hall of Fame Legend Monquie Murray who will be making a special appearance for the class. This 90 minute class will also introduce students to the fundamentals of movement, costumes, story telling and character development for burlesque. Students will also be given the chance to debut their new found skills on stage at the end of the course.

The dates of the class are as follows

1/26

2/2

2/9

2/16

2/23

3/1

About the Insructor

Mercury Stardust (The Ambassador of Cheese & Tease) is a burlesque performer, instructor, emcee and producer. Bringing 12 years of performing experience to the stage, using her background as a clown, puppeteer, and an actor to make for a unique live experience. Earning her start as a professional cabaret performer for the national touring show "Chez Bouche': A Bawdy Blend of Comedy & Dance". In 2013 Mercury started their burlesque career and quickly made an impact in the Wisconsin Burlesque Community. Earning the titles from 2014 Iowa Burlesque Festival and the 2015 Wisconsin Burlypics Regional Champion. In 2015 they founded the Wisconsin Burlesque Association and became the executive producer of the Wisconsin Burlesque Festival. They were also the host of the popular podcast "The Art of Burlesque" on the Littlepodcast.com network. In 2017 Mercury appeared and competed at the Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekender in the category of "Best of Boylesque" in Las Vegas. Mercury is currently the host of Wisconsin's only weekly burlesque show, FIve Star Tease at Five Nightclub, every Friday Night.  She has had over 60 students make their debuts and has taught burlesque all over Wisconsin.  With her vaudeville style performances, Mercury has entertained audiences in 26 States and in over a 125 cities.

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As an instructor and mentor Mercury has helped over 60 performers to make their stage debuts. She has now produced over 100 burlesque shows in the state of Wisconsin. She was the founder and show runner of Mercury Stardust's Strip & Shout, You've Got Male (An all male idenfitied burlesque show), Show & Tease, The Wisconsin Burlesque Festival, Royal Tease the Burlesque Spectacular, and currently runs the weekly Friday night show Five Star Tease.