Burlesque in San Francisco

Burlesque can mean a lot of different things. It began in Europe more or less as a bawdy variety show, with the whole striptease and pasties thing not really being introduced until it picked up steam in America in the early 1900s. Purely as sex entertainment, it's been run out by easily available strip clubs and pornographic movies. However, the tradition survives in various forms of theater that combines the comic and erotic. If you aren't into either the meat market club scene or getting plastered in stinky dive bars, burlesque makes for a nice energetic alternative for getting out at night and having some fun.

San Francisco is home to an active and well populated burlesque scene. As you might expect, a lot of this is focused around gay culture and features trans-gendered individuals. This particular article does not focus on that aspect of burlesque, instead highlighting performances and venues that usually feature a cast of natural born females and have a hetero-friendly audience and focus. What follows are active regular shows in the San Francisco area and even places to take lessons!

The Hubba Hubba Revue proudly bills itself as "pasties, booze and pretty girls thumbing their noses at propriety", and can be found at the DNA Lounge (375 11th Street) the third Friday of each month, as well as at their weekly show on Mondays at 9 PM at the Uptown Club in Oakland. Aside from the pasties and shimmying you can also expect breakdancing vampires, German soldiers catching a beatdown from giant tigers and all manners of on-stage mayhem. The show is in the style of the old Bavarian burlesque acts with a modern touch, so it's probably the kind of thing you'll like if you were into Moulin Rouge. Just, y'know, with Moar Nudity.

Red Hots Burlesque is a show that offers both comedy and magic in addition to the purty ladies in the skimpy attire. You can catch the Red Hots every Friday at 7:30 P.M. at El Rio (3158 Mission), and they also operate the School of Shimmy at the Climate Theater (285 9th Street) which offers different classes on different days for a flat fee of $30 each.

Bombshell Betty does shows with the Burlesqueteers (check link for upcoming shows) and also does a range of classes and workshops such as Pinup Posing and her Burlesquercise combo burlesque training and workout. Check her site for more details.

Little Minsky's pays tribute to the Minsky Brothers who were burlesque pioneers in the United States. Shows are the second Thursday of every month at Club Deluxe (1511 Haight) and the cover is five bucks.

Bender's Bar (806 S. Van Ness Ave.) doesn't have flame-belching alcoholic robots but it does have the next best thing, which is the House of Burlesque 4th of July Extravaganza, and burlesque performances pop up on random Saturdays as well - check their calendar for upcoming stuff.

Annie's Social Club (917 Folsom Street) features the Barbary Coast Burlesque with Bunny Pistol once a month on Wednesday evenings. Check out their calendar for the next show.