WHAT IS A STRIPTEASE? - Delicious Male Revue

WHAT MAKES STRIPTEASE AN ART FORM

Striptease is a specific genre of performance which incorporates all the signifiers of such: costume, music and character within a thematic concern. It is a highly esoteric ritual drama, predicated on or under-pinned in psycho-drama, wherein as the performer disrobes (‘strips’), they project signals and codes, and interpret the responses. In doing so they deconstruct their audience’s sexuality.

The stripper, like the therapist, ‘teases out’ the strands of interpretation (through their craft), always with a watchful eye awaiting the responses, providing further cues. By reacting to the disrobing, the audience betrays their sexual predication to the stripper. Every response or reaction he/she makes, verbal or physical (no matter how much he/she endeavors’ to hide it), furthers the codes transmitted.

IT IS IN THE EYE

Thus it is, in the moment they stand naked, it is their audience (individually and collectively) who are fully exposed before an omniscient gaze. It is the cerebral exposé of the individual, even whilst surrounded by other people, which makes the experience so intensely personal. “It is as though they see into my soul”. It is “in the eye”.

STRIPTEASE IS NOT PROSTITUTION

Contrary to the urban myths, the stripper does not cross over into prostitution, for to do so would be to abrogate the power they attains through their performance. The hard work that goes into preparing their performance, the hours of rehearsal, costuming, developing the spatial relations necessary to acquire the ‘all seeing eye’, are not things to be thrown away by allowing the audience to invade their sacred space and body. To the contrary, striptease relies on maintaining that sacred space, that is its defining point.

STRIPTEASE COMPETITIONS AND THE S.T.A.R. AWARDS

The Voodoo Lounge has played host to all the great and legendary striptease artists in this nation. We continue to develop the art-form here and tour national and international artists, as well as, play host to some of the most prestigious striptease competitions in Australia today.

Our commitment to this unique genre of performing arts is demonstrated by the fact we have secured the rights to the prestigious S.T.A.R. Awards (Striptease Artists Recognition Awards), which we hold every year in June. At this Black Tie, industry event the best striptease artists and other industry stalwarts all gather to pay tribute to the best performers of the past year, with the winners taking home the iconic STAR Award Trophies.