10 Unforgettable Burlesque Shows Worldwide You Need to Experience
And How You Can Step Into The Spotlight
From Chicago to Paris, New York to London — this is more than entertainment. Burlesque is storytelling through silk and sequins, boundary-breaking through shimmy and stage lights.
If you want to watch a show.
If you want to learn the moves.
If you’re ready to become the spotlight.
Here’s your invitation.
The Evolution of Burlesque
Burlesque began as cheeky satire of society’s rules, then blossomed into vaudeville glam, golden-age showgirls, and now the neo-burlesque revival is alive and radical.
Today every shimmy, every strut, every stocking peel carries story. For me, the story starts in Chicago—with Vaudezilla!, a show I founded and danced in for over a decade. Classic tease meets radical self-expression. vaudezilla.com
And now? It’s your turn.
10 Burlesque Shows That’ll Leave You Breathless
1. Vaudezilla! Burlesque Spectacular – Chicago, USA
At the beating heart of Chicago’s burlesque scene. Founded by me, Red Hot Annie, back in 2008. Legacy acts, community-centered performers, original choreography. A must for the Chicago burlesque pilgrim.
Vaudezilla Official Website
2. The Slipper Room – New York City, USA
This ain’t your grandma’s burlesque (unless your grandma was a stone-cold legend). The Slipper Room mixes burlesque with circus and cabaret, serving up some of the most outrageous, avant-garde acts you’ll find. It’s gritty, it’s gorgeous, and it’s New York through and through.
Slipper Room Official Website
3. Crazy Horse Paris – Paris, France
Parisian chic at its most sinful. Crazy Horse has been around since the ‘50s, turning the art of the tease into a damn-near religious experience with precise choreography, jaw-dropping lighting, and dancers who move like liquid sex.
Le Crazy Horse Paris Official Website
4. House of Burlesque – London, UK
This show flips traditional burlesque on its head, mixing glamour with guts in a way that’s as much about the message as it is the moves. Expect bold, interactive performances that have you questioning what’s real and what’s fantasy.
House of Burlesque Official Website
5. Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekend – Las Vegas, USA
This is where legends are made, baby. A four-day event that pays tribute to the past, present, and future of burlesque. If you love this art form, you owe it to yourself to make this pilgrimage at least once.
BHoF Weekender
6. The Lalas – USA / Worldwide
The Lalas bring high-energy choreography, rock-n-roll charisma, and a women-led power vibe to every stage they hit. Blending comedy, classic tease, and modern attitude, they’re one of the most recognizable traveling burlesque troupes in the world. Their shows celebrate confidence, humor, and unapologetic sensuality — the ultimate girls’ night with sparkle and soul.
The Lalas Website
7. Burlesque & Chill – Los Angeles / Virtual
Burlesque & Chill is a modern burlesque collective offering live shows in Los Angeles and virtual experiences worldwide. They mix performance, workshops, and digital connection to make sensual empowerment accessible from anywhere. Perfect for newcomers wanting to explore confidence, movement, and community through the art of tease.
Burlesque & Chill Website
8. House of BurlesCLE – Cleveland, USA
House of BurlesCLE is a fresh, inclusive troupe re-igniting the Cleveland nightlife with empowerment, storytelling, and body-positive performance art. Founded by local performers with a mission to celebrate all shapes, identities, and expressions, they embody the true spirit of modern burlesque. Expect equal parts sass, self-love, and sisterhood.
House of BurlesCLE Website
9. The Box – New York City, USA
The Box is infamous for its raw, provocative fusion of burlesque, theater, and underground nightlife. Known for shocking, erotic, and boundary-pushing acts, it’s a must-see for anyone craving performance art at its most daring. Expect velvet decadence, whispered secrets, and a night that’s equal parts art and anarchy.
The Box NYC Website
10. Black Cat Cabaret – London, UK
Black Cat Cabaret offers a darkly elegant blend of burlesque, cabaret, circus, and live music set in London’s most atmospheric venues. With vintage glamour and a hint of mischief, it channels the smoky allure of Montmartre with a British twist. A perfect stop for lovers of old-world decadence and theatrical seduction.
Black Cat Cabaret Website
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