Hip hop and burlesque – not your average pairing, but one that Perth-based show Burlesque Beats manages to mix together quite well.
It’s their first time touring their show outside of Fringe World in Perth, and Burlesque Beats is certainly a new addition to the enormous cabaret scene at the Fringe. The show alternates between daring burlesque performances, freestyle rap, and getting the audience involved in an updated rendition of “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”.
The burlesque performances certainly are talented. With gorgeous performers like Betty Bombshell and the show’s producer, Kenjai, the burlesque beauties strut their stuff to famous and original hip hop tunes – and it works! The hip hop and burlesque elements come together well in the numbers, and each dancer manages to work elements of traditional burlesque into the hip hop rhythms.
Similarly, the freestyle rap performances are incredible. Macshane and Dazastah work well to pump up the crowd, get them involved, and prove their hip hop and rap credibility with inventive and entertaining numbers.
The only misstep was a number called “Woody Woodpecker”. The song, which was ostensibly about a girl Dazastah knew in his youth that liked to ‘sleep around’, seemed out of place for a show filled with burlesque, which is traditionally applauded as a form of dance that empowers women to embrace their curves, sexuality, and to own their bodies. A song that essentially defames and humiliates a woman for doing just that didn’t gel with the rest of the show, and was something that this reviewer found a bit jarring.
However, aside from that one number, Burlesque Beats was an entertaining show that managed to cleverly mix two traditionally opposing genres of music. It’s only on for four more days, so be sure to grab tickets if you can.
Kryztoff rating: 4K
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