At a school known for its liberal politics and committment to feminism, it might seem strange for a group of more than 20 women to strip and shimmy as part of the annual Madame Bouffante’s Burlesque Show, which was performed five times this past weekend. But directors Laura Catana ’07 and Jackie Cruz ’07 believe the performance is a positive addition to student life on campus.

“I think that from a feminist perspective it’s really empowering to be able to get up on stage and say, ‘Here I am with all my flaws and I’m still sexy and in control of my body,’” Cruz said.

Participators feel that, while not stereotypical “bra-burning feminism,” the show offers them a constructive outlet nonetheless.

“I appreciate the different forms of feminism and I respect them,” said musical director and performer Lillian Ruiz ’08. “I think that we are playing full into feminism with our show and we too should be respected because we work hard. We’re not backing down and being meek despite the fact that there’s a whole culture out there designed to make us feel that we’re not pretty enough and not good enough. Isn’t that a major tenet of feminism?”

Created four years ago by Kimberly Lippman ’06, the show has been a constant fixture on campus ever since. Lippman started the show because of her interest in burlesque culture. Originally, the show had only two choreographers. This year there were more than 15 choreographers.

Cruz and Catana first performed in the show during their freshman year, and enjoyed it, so they decided to continue it after Lippman graduated.

Organizers point out that humor is one of the show’s essential qualities, and one that is often lacking in conversations about sexuality.

“[The show] gives us and Wes the opportunity to take ourselves and sex and sexuality not so seriously for a moment and have fun with it,” Ruiz said. “It gives us all a chance to embrace it, poke fun at it, flaunt it, bend it.”

Cruz agreed, calling the show “tongue-in-cheek.”

Although in past years the show has not been explicitly humorous, Ruiz and Cruz feel that this year’s performance successfully expressed the tone they wanted.

“I think this time around we’ve got the right mix of vaudeville, slap-stick comedy, Kieran Kredell [’08] and sexuality,” Ruiz said.

During the performances this weekend, Emcee Kredell helped to tie the show together and add silliness, in addition to the requisite provocative dances. Kredell and Molly Gaebe ’07, with the aid of an enormous dildo, combined for an interpretive dance that may have been the show’s most hilarious number. The duo leaped and danced around the stage area in an exaggerated and satirical ballet to Meat Loaf’s dramatic song “I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That).”

Kredell and Gaebe performed a similar skit last year to Styx’s “Mr. Roboto.”

“Everyone knows that the only way to top dancing robots is dancing with an 18 inch double sided dildo to Meat Loaf,” Gaebe said. “So we did that.”

Audience members agreed that Kredell and Gaebe’s dance was a highlight of the show.

“I especially found the ballet performed by the host and Molly Gaebe to be astounding in its elegance,” said Tess Smagorinksy ’09.

Around 60 or 70 people tried out for the show this year. The final cast was chosen more for attitude than for performance skills.

“Some people have dance experience but I’d say that most don’t,” Ruiz said. “All of them have tremendous presence and self-awareness.”

Although the focus was on fun, the directors of the show were careful about restricting cameras, to help protect the girls’ privacy.

The performance was enhanced by the Burley-Q Band, which provided live music for several numbers. In true burlesque fashion, most of the musicians performed shirtless.

Next year’s show directors will be Sacha Green-Atchley ’08, Marina Kastan ’08 and Ruiz.