DO-IT-YOURSELF DIVA

From About Guide to Brooklyn New York
October, 2006

Victoria Libertore's foray into the world of burlesque began in her living room. "I had friends on the burlesque circuit," the Brooklyn-based performance artist says, "I wondered what it would be like to do a striptease. I thought if my friends could do, so could I." For Libertore who had been writing a show about archetypes, incorporating burlesque into her work was surprising and empowering. "For me, it became liberating, like a reclaiming of my own body. We're so sexualized anyway, I wanted to bring humor, fun and power into it."

Beginning Tuesday, October 10th, Libertore is leading a four-week burlesque class through the Brooklyn Arts Exchange (BAX), where she will help women leave behind their inhibitions and create a 3-5 minute performance piece that is unique to their personalities. "The class is a way to celebrate the body and push personal boundaries." Participants range in age from 20s to early 50s and some are even repeating the class to further develop their piece. At the end of the class, the participants perform for other class members. Libertore's classes have sold out the last two sessions and she is scheduled to teach more through BAX.

"I encourage women to look into themselves and find an area they always wanted to explore," Libertore says. "Burlesque allows us to be creative, be afraid, be silly and follow through on our creative impulses. It's normal [for participants] to struggle or cry over a piece. But if you can get through that period and make it through to the end, it's exciting to see the results."

For more information on Victoria Libertore's burlesque workshops, e-mail info@bax.org or call (718) 832-0018. Also, visit Libertore's Web site at www.howlingvic.com.

- Wendy Zarganis

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