where there’s smoke there’s fire

Misty Vie Va Voom and her feathers waiting by the stage door about to go on at Jaks.

Today’s guest post “Backstage Portraits Of Burlesque Dancers” by Harvinder Sunila contains some images that are NSFW (Not Safe For Work). In order to see some of the NSFW photographs, you will have to click on the indicated links at the bottom of this post and by doing so agree that you are at least 18 years old.

 A variety show, typically including striptease, that’s the dictionary definition of burlesque. To me it’s something else. To me it’s about the dancers, their art, their passion and how much it means to them beyond the ten minutes you get to see on stage.

I’m a portrait and music photographer based in the UK, I’ve been working on a series of backstage portraits of burlesque dancers, and here’s a small insight into the project.

Most of the burlesque photographs you come across are either pin up style glamour or live stage shots, they serve a purpose but I have no interest in those type of images. For this series I wanted to photograph what you don’t see, what you don’t get access to, maybe what the dancers don’t want you to see. It’s been a difficult series to organise, sometimes frustrating, but also enjoyable and rewarding. I’ve met some wonderful performers who have been so understanding, so accommodating and so helpful, I can’t thank them enough for allowing me to photograph them in such an intimate way.

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