Burlesque and the reappropriation of bodies Not just a number of entertainment, but a complex artistic language

Burlesque is a complex artistic language, born as political and social satire, which over time has evolved into a space for emancipation, irony, and reclaiming the body. "Burlesque started as a satirical and political sketch, combining art, stage skills, and nudity. Nudity is never an end in itself: it is a theatrical gesture, a means. From the beginning, it has been an art tied to the assertion of the body and political spaces, but also to satire in a broader sense."

Speaking is Ella Bottom Rouge, performer, teacher, and producer, active for over ten years in the Italian neo-burlesque scene and founder of the Rouge Academy in Milan. Her approach is inclusive, queer, and gender-free, where every body is legitimate and every story deserves to be told. "Historically, it has been an art practiced mainly by women, but over time it has opened doors to all types of people and bodies. This is why burlesque is naturally inclusive: all body stories can take part."

Contemporary neo-burlesque in the words of Ella Bottom Rouge

In contemporary neo-burlesque, the stage is no longer just a space for seduction; it becomes a narrative and political place, where the body speaks even before undressing. "Often, people think burlesque is linked to whiteness or a stereotype of very beautiful and attractive women. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth. Bodies are attractive because, through their stories and movements - even seductive, even explicit - they bring a reality to the stage that belongs to all of us." Seduction, then, is not the ultimate goal but a tool. "Seduction is a means, just as a seductive body is a way to speak about inclusion, struggles, sometimes even suffering, sensuality, and sexuality. In a burlesque act, irony, anger, pleasure, and pain can all coexist."

Burlesque and inclusion: a long road ahead

In Italy, the path toward true inclusivity is still fragile and uneven. "We are still quite far from being truly open, not only to diversity but also to mixing. In recent years, however, progress has been made, opening not only stages but also schools to people with very different stories." The issue, however, is not only access but also the legitimization of non-conforming bodies. "In Italy, we have a huge problem with bodies that fall outside the norm. If you get on stage with a non-conforming body, even just curvy, you must be excellent. If you’re mediocre, you’re not forgiven. This is a very violent dynamic. Whether you are a professional artist or simply a burlesque enthusiast, through movement, music, dance, and acting, you can express your story, your assertion, and sometimes even your anger. That is what keeps burlesque necessary."

Where to see burlesque in Rome

"In Rome, I recommend the Conventicola degli Ultramoderni. It’s a timeless gem, a true variety show: satire, songs from past eras, performers from around the world. Everything happens live, with a band playing while performers strip and express what their bodies carry." According to Ella, Rome retains a strong authenticity but is also more resistant to change. "Here you find shows that are very regional, very real, but also more rigid." A few steps from Piazza del Popolo, in the elegant heart of the Tridente, among historic cafés and luxury ateliers, lies Valentyne, a restaurant and club offering a different and unexpected idea of entertainment. Once inside, you leave behind the evening bustle and enter a space inspired by kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing cracks with gold. Light porcelain panels with metallic veins, three-arm Murano glass chandeliers, antique wood paneling, French maple parquet, brass details, feathers, and exotic animal sculptures create a suspended and refined atmosphere. Every evening, live jazz accompanies the experience until two in the morning. Burlesque arrives later, but becomes a key element and pervasive presence: a subtle play between eroticism and fantasy that complements Valentyne’s multifaceted soul and shows how burlesque language can adapt to new contexts without losing strength.

Where to see burlesque in Milan

"In Milan, I recommend Maison Milano. It is a historic space for burlesque, combining cuisine, contemporaneity, and retro flair. Here, a show unfolds mixing music, variety, and international burlesque." Milan, however, presents other contradictions. "Here you find more inclusion, but also a more fashion-forward, Milanese taste, which is not always truly body-inclusive. Milan has pushed hard because it needed to, but not everything contemporary is automatically radical."

A space still to be conquered

The assessment remains clear, realistic, yet open to possibility. "Body positivity in Italy is still fragile and inconsistent. But structural change is always slow. It makes no sense to just say ‘everything in Italy is awful.’ There is much to be done, and if we don’t start, who will?" Burlesque remains a space where bodies don’t ask for permission but claim their voice.