The meaning of ‘Burlesque’ varies, depending on whom you ask. The word can be traced back to 16^th Century Italy, when composer Francesco Berni used a version of it (burleschi) to describe the satirical opera he had written. The English took the idea and ran with it. Their early burlesque was basically a mockery of celebrated literature, delighting in the ridicule of sappy, sentimental drama. It stood out from cheesier forms of comedy in that it achieved uproarious laughter through caricature and distortion, lacking end-of-story morals or ethical elements. Think Will Ferrell as opposed to Sandra Bullock.

As time progressed, British burlesque relied less on making fun of books and more on the use of naughty puns and shapely, underdressed women. Shock value became necessary in order to keep audiences interested. In the Victorian age, when “proper” women went to great lengths to hide their bodies beneath bustles, hoops and frills, the idea of hot chicks appearing onstage in tights was a powerful challenge. This rebellious type of show gave the middle finger to political correctness. Clever musical numbers were performed to help drive the silliness home.

Leave it to the good ol’ U.S. of A. to put an even more vulgar spin on things. “Burleycue,” as it was affectionately dubbed, made its stateside debut in the mid-1800s and was characterized by filthy dialogue, broad comedy, and uninhibited behavior from the performers and audience members alike. In the 1900s, bawdy entertainers such as Sophie Tucker, Mae West, and Fannie Brice began their entertainment careers in burlesque. It became more commonly known as a “strip-tease” show, creating stars out of women like Gypsy Rose Lee.

Today, burlesque can consist of many different variables, but one thing is certain: people love it. If you’re someone who pounds Natty Ice and has jerk-off contests with your frat bros, go to your local titty club for a five-dollar lap dance from Xstacy, a crack-addicted single mom of five; however, if you’re someone who enjoys a little vintage culture and a lot of variety, find out when and where the next burlesque show is taking place in your town. Don’t worry – clothes are still coming off. Unlike stripping, however, burlesque is about the art of the tease. An aura of suspense and intrigue builds throughout audiences of men and women alike. The women of burlesque put together huge productions that involve dance, acting, comedy, sex appeal, and sometimes singing, aerial stunts, and acrobatics. They are proud of their bodies and prove with every seductive number that a woman doesn’t have to be model-perfect in order to feel empowered and leave everyone in the room wanting to jump her bones.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Miss Kelly Ann Doll back in October, 2009. Kelly Ann is an Australian entertainer who often utilizes male dancers in her routines to achieve a dynamic that is simultaneously sizzling and comedic. She’s taking the world of burlesque by storm and is well-worth checking out on YouTube…that is, if you can’t make it to one of her shows in person.

Britt Warner: What did you dream of being when you were a little girl?

Kelly Ann Doll: A princess of course, and then working in a check out for a supermarket were highlights I can remember. I [was also] obsessed with being in the Police Force. I loved forensics and the thrill of catching the bad guys. Then that became a distant memory when I started to learn to dance.

BW: What is your earliest memory of feminine glamour?

KD: When I was about seven, I watched the 1956 version of ‘Carousel’ with Gordon MacRae and Shirley Jones. She was so effortlessly beautiful, so raw and natural as a dancer, a singer and an actress. I was obsessed with that movie, but mainly because the music was so beautiful and I had never seen a perfect woman such as her, which was the start of my fatal attraction to Silver Screen goddesses.

BW: There are some pretty far-out stage names in the world of burlesque! How did you choose yours?

KD: When I started getting into the [burlesque] scene, my style was anything but seductive, and in Australia, I was the first to take on a different approach to defining ‘sexy’. I was cute, sassy, and anything but intimidating. My nicknames over the years had always involved little, doll, pocket… something along those lines… so it just seemed easy to run with ‘Little Kelly Doll’. After about three years of using that name, though, I realized that it made me feel small. Plus, I was competing with a three-inch rival in the form of a collectors’ doll of the same name. Already being established, I didn’t want to change it too much, so Miss Kelly Ann Doll suits me just fine. I just didn’t feel comfortable with using something that every body has already tried. And it’s my real name, so that helps (except for ‘Doll’, maybe one day I’ll change it).

BW: How do you come up with ideas for your performances? Where does your inspiration come from?

KD: I have always been a big fan of four things: Love, Drama, Dance and Laughter. If my act doesn’t embody all of these things, I don’t feel like I have given my audience what they came to see. Cyd Charrise has always been a massive mentor for my style. I love her elegance and her emotion. Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire made dreams reality through dance, and most of all, made people smile. Although I’ll never be close to being as good as them, my acts always have an essence of silver screen magic.

You will never see [me perform] the same routine twice. I freestyle most of my performances, which I think is important in order for the act to seem believable. The song choice is always important, and if you are a true performer, your act will never fail when you believe in the story of the song.

BW: Do you ever get nervous before a performance? If so, how do you keep the jitters under wraps and exude so much confidence?

KD: It’s funny, I get more nervous dancing solo than when I am doing ten-foot aerials in the air. I think I put so much trust into my dance partners that they absorb all of my jitters, and I have no time to get nervous as I have to be ‘on the ball’. But when I dance solo, I pace and I pace… and I don’t speak… but then I get very talkative, and listen to my track just mere minutes before I go on. I had a bad habit of [drinking] a glass or two of wine [before a show], but now I don’t drink until after my performances (okay maybe half a glass). People are always so shocked at how nervous I still get after seventeen years of being on stage… and I say the day I don’t get nervous is the day I quit this business. Nerves are the fuel of separating stars from the clouds.

BW: Have you ever had one of those shows where everything seemed to go wrong? Describe your worst show and how you bounced back from it.

KD: Every single performance I do, something goes wrong. That’s the beauty of performing from the heart – it’s real. But nine times out of ten, if your audience is in your world, they don’t even notice that your stocking is falling down too early, or your shoe just flew into the crowd, or your costume is stuck to your garter… pfft… it’s all good fun, and I work with it. I make mistakes look great, and the crowd appreciates you continuing without a fuss.

BW: What do you love most about your job? Alternately, what are some of the downsides?

KD: There isn’t much I don’t like about my job. The people, the music, the places I have performed, the traveling to beautiful places… I never would have believed I would be seeing all of that. The most important part is the inspiration of all the other acts that I have the pleasure of performing with. Australia has some of the most diverse burlesque talent in the world, and is a force not to reckon with. I am so grateful that I get to wake up and do this day after day.

The hard [part of this] life is that you are alone most of the time. I moved from my hometown in Sydney to continue my career in Melbourne. Although it was the best thing to happen in my life career-wise, I have missed out on a lot of special moments with my friends and family because of being away and traveling so much. My family and friends understand, but unfortunately, when you pursue your dreams, they always come at a cost. So I always love making it back home to see them and have them come to my shows. They are all so proud of me.

BW: When your career revolves around sensuality, one would presume that you have to be a woman who is very comfortable in her own skin. What advice would you give to women who have difficulty loving their bodies?

KD: It actually took a long time for me to be able to feel comfortable with nudity. I am a size six and only 5’2” (barely), so at that point in my life, I hadn’t seen “small and petite” as sexy… but I did feel that I had something different [to offer]. My boyfriend at the time was on tour with his band, and I was booked with my dance partner for a huge east coast tour called the ‘Absinth Club’, which was a very sexy show with a lot of old-style-south feel. My dancing had to fit the part, and at that stage I had only just been discovered after years of dancing lolly-pop ‘50s style rock and roll. My boyfriend made it quite clear that he didn’t feel comfortable with me dancing that way, but after three months of him being away, I started working on my style, dancing in my underwear to slow blues, and feeling sexy in front of the mirror. It was the first time I had ever seen myself move as a woman. I then got my dance partner to start working out our new-found style… and in Sydney, we got to perform in front of 1,100 people. It was exhilarating, and I loved it. It made me realize that the crowd didn’t care that I was little – I made them sweat! And since then, the smaller I was, the bigger I felt.

BW: Even though self-love and confidence start from within, what item(s) should every woman have in her wardrobe to help her feel fabulous?

KD: Ooo, man, if you saw my wardrobe you would think I need help. Seriously, I have a problem. I love vintage clothes and showgirl costumes and I have a passion for lingerie, but I only wear it for shows and shoots. I normally live in my jeans and have daggy pyjamas – haha. But I love suspenders [Editor’s Note: Also known as garters.]. I know they are over-used now, but seriously, seamed silk stockings and suspenders, a nice g-string and matching bra, worn under your favourite little black dress, even if you are just having dinner on your own or going out with your partner… it makes you feel so sexy, you should have your own bodyguard! You will exude femme fatale appeal even if you’re not out on the prowl.

BW: If you could only eat one meal or cuisine for the rest of your life, what would it be?

KD: Haha… MacDonalds, for sure. It would be a dream… but I think I wouldn’t be able to dance again!

BW: Is there such a thing as comfortable, yet sexy stilletoes? If so, where can we find them?

KD: No… I’m sorry. They don’t exist. However, the best cure for sore feet is champagne… and a boyfriend that will massage your feet while you’re sick in the cab ride home… that’s perfect.

BW: What are your biggest pet-peeves?

KD: In this scene, I suppose the one thing that annoys me the most is women’s self confidence where stepping outside of the box is concerned. It’s not enough anymore to look at beautiful acts like Dita [Von Teese] and Immodesty for inspiration. As much as I admire all the big names, I’ve never once wanted to follow in their footsteps, nor be compared to Bettie Page, or anyone else.

Burlesque is not meant to be easy, and it’s not just about being beautiful and taking off your clothes. I hate seeing pretty girls wasting talent because they are too scared to look within and try something new. I am so grateful for burlesque getting so much exposure, but audiences are getting bored, and the female body is just being painted up and pushed and winced and busting out. Media and promoters need to focus on the acts doing something out of the ordinary, not just for what they look like. Remember the famous line from ‘Gypsy’: ‘You gotta get a gimmick to be a star.’  Let’s keep burlesque alive!

Hmm… that was a little Dr. Phil… sorry. But other than that, nothing really upsets me in life, I usually laugh off everything that annoys me. It’s easier that way.

BW: What are a few of your favorite things?

KD: My husband – he is a keeper; my iPod keeps me inspired during my working week; my Blackberry is an addiction; and my friends and family. If I didn’t have them, I would never have gotten as far as I have today.

BW: If you weren’t an International Burlesque Star, what other roads might you have taken? What are some of your other talents and skills?

KD: Before I turned professional [as a dancer], I was a graphic designer. I landed an apprenticeship straight out of high school and worked my way from a junior to art director in nine years. In the end, my boss realized my mind was focusing on another passion and gave me the option to continue with the company, offering me a very nice promotion. But I turned it down. I decided I would rather dance and be poor than sit at a desk. I had wasted so much time, but I was very lucky to have done my degree so young, because I can get a job [in that field] anytime if I want to.

Since leaving, I found my love of hospitality, and have worked in many areas, but most of all, I love being a barista. Mmm, I love coffee.

BW: What were the last ten songs you listened to?

KD: Mmm… my iTunes is on shuffle, so this could be interesting:

‘Remember’ – Aerosmith

‘Donde Estas La Vida’ – a beautiful ballad. Not sure who sings it. My husband is Cuban, and he has a lot of music on here.

‘Moonchild’ – Chris Cornell

‘Fever’ – Ella Fitzgerald

‘Ain’t No Grave’ – Snow Droppers

‘Cherry Red Wine’ – Luther Allison (FABULOUS blues track)

‘Until We Fall’ – Audioslave

‘Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps’ – Doris Day

‘I Want A Little Boy’ – Lavay Smith

‘Assassin’ – Muse

Man… that’s a mixed bag!

BW: What is one of the most romantic, considerate things a man could do for a woman?

KD: Make her breakfast in bed the morning after a big fight (that was her fault, no less),

which is what my husband did for me this morning. I felt so bad, but he loves me very much and shows it even when I forget.

BW: Advice you ignored but wish you’d followed?

KD: I wish I had looked after my body when I was younger. I have a lot of injuries from competition that are starting to haunt me now, which could shorten my career. I was young and stubborn and I thought I was invincible. But you can’t turn back the clock.

BW: Anything else you’d like people to know about you?

KD: I did seven years of Italian class… and can’t speak a word of it! Much to the dismay of my Italian family – and my husband – I am a terrible cook, as well… eeep!

(Editor’s Note: Miss Kelly Ann Doll can be found on YouTube, MySpace and Facebook.)

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