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Performing While Pregnant
Photo from Eva's Menagerie, March 2025 (about 4.5 months pregnant here!) When I debuted in 2017, it had everything to do with being a...

Bebe Bardeaux
Mar 12, 20253 min read


Black Burlesque History Timeline, 1940-1949 (Part III)
If you haven't already, be sure to check out the Black Burlesque History Timelines Part I: 1880-1929 and Part II: 1930-1939 . These...

Bebe Bardeaux
Feb 5, 20254 min read


Black "Soft-Femme" Icons
What does it mean to be a soft femme?* Tender, radically vulnerable , dainty, "girly", gentle, peaceful, nearly maternal. In the realm of...

Bebe Bardeaux
Nov 21, 20243 min read


Burlesque and Sex Work
Recently, a performer made a controversial statement online that threw the burlesque community into a tizzy. Check it out: Prostitutes do...

Bebe Bardeaux
Nov 14, 20244 min read


A Deep Dive into Ohio Shake Dancers
Recently, I was connected to a wonderful burly historian in Columbus, Ohio named Silky the Body . Silky focuses on Black entertainment...

Bebe Bardeaux
Oct 24, 20241 min read


The "White Fantasy" of Black Movement
While Shake Queens mainly focuses on femme shakers, there was a straight cis male shaker named "Snakehips" Tucker that revolutionized...

Bebe Bardeaux
Oct 14, 20244 min read


This Charmed Life: I Contain Multitudes!
Hi everyone! Bebe Bardeaux here, and I have super exciting news for you all! clears throat, waits for folx to gather : I'M HAVING A...

Bebe Bardeaux
Sep 18, 20244 min read


Burlesque Plagiarism: Is This Still a Thing?
What exactly is burlesque plagiarism to an art form steeped in history and inspiration?

Bebe Bardeaux
Apr 24, 20245 min read


"Do Women Enjoy Watching Shake Dancers?" A Modern Shake Dancer Responds
Earlier this week, I transcribed the1956 Afro-American newspaper article called "Do Women Enjoy Watching Shake Dancers?" for my Patreon....

Bebe Bardeaux
Oct 27, 20234 min read


Popular Shake Dancers in History, Part 2
Hi again! Here's another short video featuring five more popular shake and burlesque dancers. This one showcases dancers from films in...

Bebe Bardeaux
Jun 7, 20232 min read


Popular Shake Dancers in History, Part 1
Hi everyone! I'm still hard at work finishing Shake Queens. If you're interested in what I've found while digging around in online...

Bebe Bardeaux
Jun 3, 20231 min read


On Motherhood, Burlesque, & Self-Worth
It's International Women's Day, and I'm tired. As a woman and an artist, I ask... who am I if I'm not proving my worth to anyone and...

Bebe Bardeaux
Mar 8, 20223 min read


Black Burlesque History Timeline, 1930-1939 (Part II)
To view the Black Burlesque History Timeline: 1880-1929, click here . I've previously mentioned this, but I think it bears repeating: my...

Bebe Bardeaux
Jan 28, 20223 min read


Remembering Miss Topsy
Since finding out that Miss Topsy passed away, I've been a bit of an emotional wreck. Because I never actually met Miss Topsy, she is...

Bebe Bardeaux
Nov 30, 20212 min read


Rest in Peace, Miss Topsy
Yesterday, Miss Topsy's family friend commented on an older blog post I wrote about her, letting me know that she had recently passed...

Bebe Bardeaux
Nov 19, 20211 min read


BurlyPod 2021: Getting S*xy with Burlesque History & Education
Although I try my best not to broadcast too much of my personal life on my blog, I can't help but to show certain aspects of my "true...

Bebe Bardeaux
Nov 12, 20214 min read


Is it a Nod or a Steal: On Imitation, Flattery, and Keeping Up With the Burly-Joneses
Pic for Algorithm! Photo: David Lawrence Byrd A very introspective White guy who loved making up quotes once said " Art begins in imitation and ends in innovation." I think about this quote a lot when I write, dance, or create anything. This girl from Little Mix wore a knock-off version of Pamela Anderson's 1999 MTV VMA's look and totally gave no credit, so a whole generation of teenyboppers thinks she originated it. BOOOOOOOO For instance, I've loved writing horror stories

Bebe Bardeaux
Nov 4, 20216 min read


It's a New Dawn, It's a New Day, It's a New Life...
Ooo-wee, I'm on fire!! Two posts in one week? I told y'all the Burly Blog is back! (Happy Halloween, brought to you by this creepy...

Bebe Bardeaux
Oct 29, 20213 min read


Bebe's Burly Blog is Back!
Hello friends, old and new! I started this blog to document my burlesque and vaudeville journey. I wanted a personal and intimate record...

Bebe Bardeaux
Oct 27, 20214 min read


Burlesque is a Battlefield: On Showing Up
I recently had an existential burlesque crisis. Perhaps, looking back through this blog, I'll discover that I've had many existential...

Bebe Bardeaux
Mar 18, 20215 min read
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