Burlesque Basics Cheat Sheet: Awaken Your Confidence, Embody Your Power
Welcome, gorgeous! You’re about to step into a new kind of freedom and confidence, one that lets you be fully seen and celebrated, just as you are. Burlesque isn’t about perfect technique—it’s about feeling alive, sensual, and truly YOU. This guide will introduce you to a few classic burlesque moves designed to ground you in your body and reconnect you with your powerful, feminine energy.
As you explore these moves, remember: burlesque is a dance with yourself first. Take your time, savor each movement, and feel what rises within you. The more you allow yourself to feel, the more magnetic you’ll become.
1. The Slink & Sway
Description: The Slink & Sway is all about moving with intention. This movement will help you feel both grounded and fluid, setting the stage for deeper self-connection.
- How-To: Stand with feet hip-width apart, knees slightly bent. Take a slow, deep breath, and allow your hips to gently sway from side to side. Imagine the movement starting in your core, radiating out to your hips and legs. Let your arms relax and sway naturally as your hips shift.
- Feeling Focus: Savor the sway. Let the gentle movement remind you that your body has its own rhythm, a current of energy you can tap into any time.
- Sensory Tip: Visualize your hips tracing a figure-eight pattern. This shape is symbolic of infinity, hinting at the limitless, powerful energy within you.
2. The Gaze & Glance
Description: Burlesque is as much about attitude as it is about movement, and The Gaze & Glance is where we bring that attitude to life. This move is a practice in self-assurance, inviting you to express confidence in the simplest gesture.
- How-To: Stand tall, shoulders relaxed, and look at your reflection in the mirror. Hold your gaze for a few seconds. Now, slowly look away, perhaps down to the side or over your shoulder, then return your gaze with a little smile or smirk.
- Feeling Focus: Own your presence. This glance isn’t for anyone but you. Feel the power in your gaze, as if you’re letting yourself be seen for the first time.
- Sensory Tip: Imagine you’re catching a glimpse of something irresistibly beautiful in the mirror—and that beauty is you. Allow that realization to bring out a smile or a glint in your eye.
3. The Shoulder Roll
Description: Shoulders carry a lot of tension, but they also carry a lot of sensual energy. The Shoulder Roll is about shedding layers of stress and stepping into ease and flow.
- How-To: Start by standing tall, arms by your sides. Take a deep breath, and as you exhale, lift one shoulder, rolling it back in a slow, circular motion. Follow with the other shoulder, then do both together. Continue this rhythm, letting your body feel lighter with each roll.
- Feeling Focus: Feel your shoulders releasing. Imagine each roll peeling away the expectations, judgments, and doubts that have been placed on you. Feel freer with each motion.
- Sensory Tip: Visualize your shoulders as wings unfurling, releasing anything that’s weighed you down. Allow yourself to embody this lightness.
4. The Hip Dip
Description: The Hip Dip connects you to the power in your hips, often considered the seat of feminine energy. This move is grounding, allowing you to embody your sensuality with strength.
- How-To: With feet slightly wider than hip-width apart, bend your knees gently. Shift your weight to one hip and dip down as if tracing a low half-circle, then lift back up. Repeat on the other side, finding a slow, steady rhythm.
- Feeling Focus: Imagine the center of the earth pulling gently on your hips, rooting you with each dip. You are strong, grounded, and completely at ease.
- Sensory Tip: Visualize your hips as though they are dripping with honey—slow, luxurious, and mesmerizing. This is your power, beautiful, deliberate, and endlessly alluring.
5. The Feather Touch
Description: The Feather Touch is a gesture that’s both playful and mysterious. It’s about adding a touch of intrigue to your movement and inviting a deeper level of self-awareness.
- How-To: Standing with hands at your sides, slowly raise one hand and gently brush your fingers across your arm, collarbone, or cheek, as if trailing a feather. Let your fingers linger before they pull away, leaving a gentle tingle.
- Feeling Focus: Let the light touch remind you of your own tenderness and strength. This gesture is about treating yourself with care and reverence, inviting every part of you to feel cherished.
- Sensory Tip: Imagine your hand leaving a trail of sparkles on your skin, marking the path of your touch. This is you celebrating the power of sensation and the mystery of touch.
6. The Slow Spin
Description: The Slow Spin is about inviting freedom into your movements, allowing your body to open up and feel fully expressed.
- How-To: Stand with feet shoulder-width apart. Take a deep breath, then slowly start turning in place. Let your arms extend naturally, fingers loose. Spin gently, feeling each part of your body in motion.
- Feeling Focus: Feel the space around you as yours to command. Let go of any thoughts of perfection; this is about being fully present in your movement.
- Sensory Tip: Imagine your body as a magnet, pulling in confidence, joy, and self-assurance with each spin. Your movements attract whatever you need most.
Reflection & Integration
Take a moment to pause after practicing these moves. Close your eyes and place a hand over your heart, taking three deep breaths. Allow any sensations or emotions to surface, honoring them without judgment. You’re stepping into the essence of burlesque: embracing each part of yourself, with grace and audacity.
Burlesque is a reminder that your power doesn’t come from anything external. It’s within you, waiting to be discovered and celebrated. Keep exploring these moves, adding your unique flair, and let the beauty of your presence shine.
Thank you for letting burlesque be part of your journey. I’m thrilled to have you with me on this path to connection, confidence, and magnetic energy. Remember, you’re not alone in this. Each movement, each glance, is an invitation to be seen and celebrated—by yourself first, and by the world next.
See you on the dance floor, Annie