What's Burlesque all about?

You've heard about the growing trend, and you've seen the Burlesque Hens Night Package advertised at Hens Party Perth... Maybe you've seen films like Moulin Rouge and Burlesque and you're a little curious about how you can be a part of it? Join us on a glamorous journey, perfect for your hens party, birthday celebration, or next girl's night!

Where did Burlesque start?
Burlesque has existed in a range of forms for hundreds of years - with roots stemming from literary or political parody, Burlesque evolved during the Victorian era and over the years it slowly became associated more and more with the striptease performance we are familiar with today.
Your Hens Party Perth hostess will give you and your guests some fascinating information about Burlesque's roots, as well as some of its most popular stars today - including style icon Dita von Teese, the incredible Dirty Martini, and even Australia's own Imogen Kelly. Your hostess is a professional Burlesque artist herself - it's the perfect opportunity to ask her questions about what it's like to perform!

What's a Burlesque name?
Your hostess will discuss 'Burlesque names' with you and your guests. A performer's name is a vital part of establishing their onstage persona, which can be very different to their real-life personality! Burlesque is all about expressing yourself, telling a story, and teasing the audience - a saucy or funny Burlesque name can help establish what kind of performer you are, whether it be cheeky, flirty, sexy, funny, or just plain tantalising. You and your guests may choose your own Burlesque names for the night - you might just be surprised at what you come up with!

What are some Burlesque essentials?
The bride-to-be or birthday girl will receive a special gift bag filled with some of the essential props and accessories needed to be a burlesque starlet for the night! Don't worry though, your guests won't miss out.. during the dance lesson portion of your Burlesque Hens Night Package, your guests will receive their very own Burlesque prop to use!
Things like feather boas, lacey garters and luxurious gloves all help to make you and your guests feel extra glamorous as you shake and shimmy your way through a classic bump'n'grind routine - complete with sexy vintage music!
You may want to add to the glamorous atmosphere with your own props and decorations - things like shimmering pearl necklaces (you can cheat with some affordable options from your local discount store!), glamorous feather headpieces or fascinators (maybe even white for the bride-to-be!), fishnet stockings, frilly tutus or knickers, and of course glittering sequins!

If you're having your party at a private home, why not decorate the space with more feather boas, luxurious lace (you can pick some up at a fabric store, or even an op shop), glitter and sequins, or even posters of vintage burlesque stars and pin-ups!

What should we wear?
Your hostess will provide some props and accessories for you and your guests to wear while dancing, but you can always team them up with your own costume! Why not wear some sexy fishnet stockings and heels? Hot tip - heels with ankle straps can give that extra bit of support while you dance! Many guests like to get in the vintage glamor feel with frilly tutus or skirts - even frilly knickers or bloomers are great to dance in! You can purchase affordable vintage-style corsets from lingerie stores - plastic boned corsets are very flexible and easy to dance in.
If you're not so sure you'd like to dress up that way, why not try a cute vintage dress or 1950's circle skirt and fitted blouse? You can team your outfit up with vintage hair (there are plenty of online tutorials for styles like pin and victory curls, as well as cat-eye eyeliner), plus, you may even get to hear styling tips and tricks first hand from your hostess!

What music should we choose?
You are required to provide a stereo for your hostess to use during the evening - she'll bring along a playlist packed full of classic bump'n'grind tunes, however before or after your party package, you may choose to play your own vintage-inspired tunes! Browse iTunes for some vintage inspiration, or choose cheeky classics from Cab Calloway or Henry Mancini, or maybe even something more soulful like Peggy Lee's Fever. 

What sort of moves will we learn?
All Hens Party Perth packages are suitable for complete beginners - whether you've never tried Burlesque before, or even if you've never even danced at all! You'll learn an easy bump'n'grind routine (you can always ask us for something trickier!) incoporating all sorts classic moves, including everything from the essential 'burlesque walk', to the shimmy and the glove peel!
Burlesque dancing is relatively low-impact, so it's suitable for all sorts of ages and body types - it's a fun chance to experiment with expressing your sensuality and emotion, so you can be as theatrical and dramatic as you like!

Who is this party package suitable for?
Not only is Burlesque dancing fun and achievable for all sorts of body types, but this package is suitable for a range of ages too!
The Burlesque Hens Night Package is a great option for those who want to have a cheeky or sexy night with friends, but who don't want to go as sexy as the Boudoir (Lapdance) Package (which is restricted to 18+). It's also a good option for those who have a few guests who aren't yet 18, or even guests who are older but still want to have some cheeky fun! Burlesque is sexy, but not so sexy that you can't include your younger or older relatives and friends.

I love Burlesque! Where can I find out more?
There is growing interest in Burlesque all throughout Australia, and Perth is no exception! Hens Party Perth's hostesses don't just host hens nights, they regularly perform at shows around Perth, and some even teach lessons in Burlesque!
You can catch Burlesque events regularly around Perth, and our friends at Lady Velvet Cabaret even offer short and long classes in Burlesque dancing and Pinup modelling! You can join a six-week Pinup Bootcamp course or the Burlesque Starlet course (Starlet graduates are eligible for the Advanced Burlesque class!). Lady Velvet Cabaret also runs ongoing classes in Cabaret or Modern Burlesque, for those who are interested in a more modern style of dance (think sexy group choreography like the Pussycat Dolls!).
At the end of your course, you can even choose to participate in a Graduation Show - a real life cabaret show!

How can I book my Burlesque Hens Party?
It's simple! Email us today at info@henspartyperth.com.au, or fill in an easy contact form on our website. Scroll down to find information such as cost, requirements and terms & conditions!

We can't wait to join you at your special celebration - whether it's a girls night, birthday party, or hens celebration! Contact us today to find out more about the Burlesque package, or any other Hens Party Perth packages that interest you!

#PartyInspo: Decorating on a Budget

It's #PartyInspo time! Today we're sharing five top tips for cheap or even free party decorations that look a million bucks. 

 1. Canned light
Cheap, cheerful and easy! Grab yourself a clean empty can and a drill (electric is easier but hand drills are good too). You can be fancy and try shapes and patterns, or you can keep it simple and go for a random pattern of holes – either way, you’ll get a great effect, especially if you place your can somewhere near a wall. The great thing about this project is that you don’t need to get involved in any complex electronics – it’s as simple as filling your can with string lights, or even candles (do watch out, as your can will heat up!).

 2. Paper puffs
We’ve all seen the coffee filter pom poms made famous by domestic divas like Martha Stewart – but they can be a lot of work, especially if you want a colour other than the standard white filter paper. Why not try this cute paper pom pom project? You can purchase paper in any colour you like and fold a few sheets into a simple concertina. Add a ribbon (don’t forget to do this first or you won’t be able to hang your puff) and then it’s as easy as a few snips with a pair of scissors! There are plenty of great tutorials available on YouTube, so get clicking, and get inspired!

 3. Get creative with balloons
Balloons have so much more potential than we give them credit for! Sure, you can go standard helium balloons, but that takes extra time, cash, and organisation. Why not cheat a little, all it takes is some creativity and some blu tac! You can fake the effects of helium by simply sticking the top of your balloons to the ceiling (another tip – play with the lengths of your ribbons and size of your balloons for a cool effect). Alternatively, you could break the mould and hang yours upside down! Try sticking the ends of the ribbons to the ceiling for a funky teardrop effect – almost like a big colourful chandelier!

 4. Backdrops
As photobooths grown in popularity, photobooth backdrops continue to amaze us with their creativity! We’ve seen backdrops made out of leftover invitations for the wedding or party, hand printed fabric backdrops, and more! We love these cute ideas:
Feathers – you can dip your feathers in paint or glitter for an extra-cool effect.
Ribbons, string, or fabric strips – easy to hang from a tension rod, rope, or even PVC pipe frame (you can rig one up in an afternoon).
Records – funk, funky and vintage. You can hang real records, or make simple ones out of coloured card, or you could stick your records straight on the wall behind your photobooth!

 5. Mason jars, so many mason jars
We know that mason jars have been a huge trend over the past year or so – but why not think outside the box a little? Mason jars can be used for more than just vases, so why not try out some creative ideas:
Candle holders – pop a candle in a mason jar and it makes for a cute way to add light to your table or venue. Kick it up a notch by rolling your jar in glitter, or filling it with sand for a beach theme. You can leave your jars on tables for simple lighting, but you can also wrap them up with twine or ribbon and hang them too!
Paint your jars - pour some enamel or plain house paint inside your jars, seal them up, and roll them around so your paint spreads all over the jar. Once it’s dry, you have yourself some cute colourful vases which are cheap and easy enough to have match a range of colour schemes!
Glow stick lights – this one’s an oldie but a goodie.. Cut open a couple of glow sticks and shake the the liquid on the inside of your jars – you’ve made some little glow worm-inspired jars! Obviously you’ll have to make sure you don’t re-use your jars for food or drink, but every now and then you’ll have to top up your glow-juice when it fades.