Bella Beautiful

by Claire Williams on 18.08.09

Having featured the craze of burlesque in our last issue, 4Q takes a closer look and talks to the creator of the Slippery Belle Burlesque Show to find out a little more about the concept of beauty and body confidence.

If you go down to Alexander Park today you’re sure of a big surprise.
Forget the teddy bears because today’s the day the Burlesque Beauties have their picnic. May’s Bank Holiday Monday saw sun and polka dots as Manchester’s top Burlesque performers wined and dined with a feast of homemade cakes, champagne and strawberries.

Leading the festivities was Bella Besame, the North West’s answer to Dita Von Teese and star of The Slippery Belle Burlesque Show. Bella took the time to speak to us at 4Q to tell us all about the alluring world of Burlesque, a variety show including glamorous costumes, theatrical parody and strip teasing.

If you ever meet Bella you’ll know she is as captivating in person as she is on stage. She has the full figure, full confidence and her personality sparkles. Formerly known as Bella Taylor the bar maid in Leeds made the impressive transition to Bella Besame the ‘Burlesque star in Manchester’ and hasn’t looked back since.

Bella believes variety is the spice of life in a Burlesque performance and at The Slippery Belle the girls come in all shape and sizes. Counteracting the media’s archetype of beauty these Burlesque ladies know the importance of accepting what they naturally have and how to flaunt it.

There is no attack of the size zero clones here. The girls are voluptuous, unique and sexy but most importantly of all they are happy and healthy.

Bella doesn’t believe that beauty comes straight from a bottle.

She said: “The acrylic nails, fake tan, extensions… First of all, it is totally unreal and I know a few girls who aim to look like that and it takes a lot of upkeep. But burlesque isn’t about that, burlesque is about who I am.

“It’s about saying ‘this is my shape and size’ instead of trying to change everything about myself with diet and exercise and getting rid of cellulite and wobbly bits. It’s about embracing them and saying do you know what. So what if I’ve got cellulite. So what if I’ve got stretch marks and bits that wobble when I don’t mean them to. “That’s what makes it fun, and that’s what makes it sexy, because it’s about getting up there and just being yourself, and having fun with it and performing in a style that you want to perform in. Burlesque doesn’t have to be about taking your clothes off.”

Burlesque isn’t strictly tailored for the young and the thin. Neither is it specifically for females. This is the real beauty of Burlesque; their doors are open to everyone. There’s no age bracket, weight restrictions or gender discrimination, meaning men and women of every description have a chance to shine on centre stage.

The unlikely pairing of Burlesque and men may lead to a few pulled faces but Bella assures us they are just as good as the girls.

“All the moves used in burlesque can be done by guys,” she explained. “There’s no problem about that. It’s much more about the delivery. In fact I think a lot of guys want to perform on stage more than women. When women take lessons it tends to be as a confidence boost and if they perform at the end of it, then that’s a bonus.”

The Burlesque performer should not be confused with the average stripper. A pumped up blonde gyrating tediously around a pole is a far cry from an act Burlesque has to offer.

Burlesque has character. From feisty redheads and foxy blondes to raven haired seductresses and bubbly brunettes it offers variety that doesn’t just get you gawping – but smiling.

Raunchy strip teases are combined with comedy routines, fire eating, singing and poetry reading. And the list goes on – creating a whole line of diverse entertainment that never loses originality.

Bella said: “Some shows are literally just one fan dance, after another fan dance and one strip tease after another strip tease. Eventually you get desensitized to it and it becomes a bit dull. But with my shows I always try and have a really good variation.”

So at one of Bella’s shows expect the unexpected. The element of surprise is one of the main thrills.

“One performer could be dressed up in a gorilla suit and then strip down to be covered in bananas,” said Bella. “The next one could be a classical extremely graceful fan dance – then a balloon could pop, and someone might come on stage with martinis and do high kicks and Vegas style acts. It’s all sorts of different things. We have musicians, singers, comedians, burlesque performers obviously and more or less anything you can think of.”

Another way it differs from the local strip joint is that audience participation is actively encouraged; for dressing up is as much fun for the audience as it is for the performers.

“It’s a great excuse to dress to the nines and become part of the atmospheric vintage glamour and beauty. We want to promote the idea of body confidence not just with the performers but with the audience as well.”

Bella says, the audience never fails to impress her.

“We’ve had all sorts,” she laughs. “People come in vintage outfits, head to toe. Ladies arrive in Moulin Rouge style clothes with suspenders, stockings, frilly pants and corsets on and anything in between. Guys come dressed in 1920’s gangster style with the black and white and the trilbies, we get a lot of Lindy Hoppers, ring dancers, drivers, so there really is a cross between all kinds of different sub-cultures.”

Bella herself is a lady of many guises and surprises, especially when it comes to her ever changing style.

“My style is schizophrenic,” she said. “I mean one day I can be in diamonds, long black upper-length gloves, and high heels, and the next day I can be in flip-flops and a blue and white spotty dress.”

“I don’t feel the need to have to dress up a certain way every day because one thing that burlesque has shown me is that if I feel like wearing something one day that’ll make me feel good then I will wear it.”

And from her performances you can tell Bella feels fantastic. She is seductive and slightly tongue in cheek which is what makes Bella is a true professional that pulls in the crowds. Her favourite act at the moment is where she takes to the stage with a martini covered in pink balloons.

Teasingly, she pops each balloon one by one to reveal an eye popping corset all the while pretending to become increasingly tipsy by her drink. The act ends on a saucy number with a spot of tassel twirling, much to the delight of the anticipating audience.

From meeting these ladies at their annual picnic the general feeling is one of pride and passion for their art. There are no petty disputes or artistic differences in this troupe, instead they spur and support one another and become inspired by each other’s contributions and influences.

Bella too has her own personal moguls of Burlesque.

She said: “Anna Fur Laxis is an amazing performer – really cheesecake in the style of performances and she is very talented with great facial expressions and lovely costumes. Miss Polly Rae, who is also a London based performer, is cracking. She is beautiful, and very classic and sophisticated in her style.

“There are so many! We’ve had Mister Mistress who is very kind of Berlin in the 20’s, 30’s cabaret style, and Miss Kandy Kisses, who is wonderful and her energy is just so contagious. The list is endless really.”

Burlesque is about confidence. After all, strutting your stuff on stage is not for the faint hearted. But it is also about self acceptance. This is where Bella’s master classes come in. They are designed not only to teach you about the art of Burlesque but to boost your confidence sky high.

For those wallflowers or the insecure Burlesque could be the holistic and therapeutic device you never thought of to get you holding your head high again.
“Come to my burlesque workshops!” said Belle. “Burlesque really does help. It’s almost a self-fulfilling prophecy. If you tell yourself that you’re unattractive or not worthy, then eventually you start to believe that.

“I think simple things like when you walk down the street keeping your head up, chin held high, shoulders back and smiling at people. At first you may get a few people who look at you like you are just odd – but you’d be surprised by how many people react back and smile at you.

“And just wear stuff that makes you feel great, doesn’t matter what it is, just wear what makes you feel comfortable and happy.”