Burlesque: How did a form of old-fashioned strip-tease become a mainstream theatrical art form?

Burlesque is everywhere and has arguably never been more popular. Alongside the live performances of burlesque and DVDs of these, burlesque has a clear influence on other cultural activities from music videos and advertising to graphic novels and fashion. TV shows such as Dancing on Ice and Gok Wan's How to Look Good Nakedhave also harnessed its appeal.

Starting as a theatrical form, burlesque has become associated with many kinds of performance today that stylistically reinterpret the various aesthetics of the period between the mid-nineteenth century and the early 1960s.

Two things about burlesque that particularly set it apart from forms of stripping, such as lap-dancing and pole-dancing, are its broad popularity with women and the reputation it has of being the celebration of real women's glamour. In our "hypersexualised" society, where pornography is a click away and shops have been forced to withdraw padded bras for children from sale, burlesque stands out as an expression of sexuality that is both respectable, and respectful of, women.

The mainstream debates about burlesque have so far been reactive and inadequate, so The Brighton Salon is delighted to present a discussion that will investigate the rise of burlesque and its popularity with the help of a distinguished panel of experts:

Stella Sims is a DPhil student at the University of Sussex studying 1950s' revivals. She has interviewed many women fans of the iconic pin-up Betty Page, whose photographs and films provide an aesthetic reference point for many burlesque performers.

Erika Szostak is a DPhil student at the University of Sussex where she is studying the language of plastic surgery. Erika is a former stripper of many years' experience and a burlesque performer with a fascination for the private and public spaces described by being onstage. She is also a photographer; see www.photomadly.com

Each of our panelists will speak for a few minutes before the audience is brought in to ask questions and make contributions from the floor. The panelists will have the opportunity to respond. At the end of the evening they will be able comment on what we have heard. We then invite everybody to stay for an informal drink and further discussion at the end.