‘The art of the tease’: Body positivity, self expression at burlesque bingo

Carolyn Slingluff, Contributing Writer

Burlesque performer Ellie Quinn hosted a monthly “Burlesque Bingo” at Basic City Beer Co. in Richmond on Sept. 27. The event takes place on the last Friday of every month and has been a fixture for about two years, according to Curtis Lee, owner of Basic City.

“Burlesque Bingo” combines a live burlesque performance with a show-themed game of bingo, according to Lee. Instead of numbers, audience members must check-off things like “did the splits” and “played a Lady Gaga song” to get bingo. A mix of local and visiting burlesque artists rotate performing at the event, so each week varies.

Lee said “Burlesque Bingo” attracts fun crowds that are also great for business. Basic City provides free parking and a bar where guests can get food and drinks before enjoying the show in a private event space. The venue plans to continue holding the event for months to come.

“There’ll be good music, good dancing, laughing and good times had,” Lee said.

Drawing inspiration from similar productions around the country, this iteration of “Burlesque Bingo” is organized and produced by Quinn. She aimed to make the event more interactive by making bingo spaces show-themed, Quinn said.

Burlesque is most simply known as “the art of the tease” because it combines striptease with all kinds of storylines and narratives, Quinn said. Performances can be funny, sexy, scary or sad, subtle or not-so-subtle.

“It’s really hard to fully explain it without someone seeing it — people probably don’t take a chance on it because the stigma of nudity, especially of the female body in our society, and just the unknown,” Quinn said.

Quinn, who has always had the “entertainment bug,” fell in love with the art of burlesque because it empowered her to become happy in her own skin, she said. Hoping to spread body positivity and her love of the art, her favorite memories as a performer are when audience members said they felt represented by what they saw.

“We’re inundated with all these images of people on Ozempic and diets and things like that, and it’s just not the reality of the world that we live in,” Quinn said. “I love the mirror that burlesque uses to reflect true society back.”

The show on Friday consisted of two acts, with an intermission in between. Each performer brought their own piece of art to the stage, complete with music, costumes and choreography. During the acts, the performers interacted with the audience, embracing the joy of live entertainment, Quinn said.

“We’re in front of screens all the time, and the beauty of being able to be in a space, gathering with others, is not something that should be lost in the world,” Quinn said.

Attendee Katie Zanowicz is a fan of burlesque but a first-timer at Friday’s event. By the end of the first act, she had already won “tatas,” the “Burlesque Bingo” equivalent of a bingo, and was in good spirits awaiting the second act, Zanowicz said.

“I love the energy, I love the body inclusivity — lots of different shapes and sizes that I think is great,” Zanowicz said.

Richmond local, Brent Wood, also attended with a friend, he said. It was their first burlesque show, but not their last.

“It was just fun. They were able to kind of express themselves, and nobody cares, and they were having fun too,” Wood said.

The next Burlesque Bingo is Oct. 25 at Basic City Beer Co. in Richmond. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door. Open to all adults ages 18-plus.