Review date: 18/02/26

Review rating: Wowsers, 5 stars!

Adelaide is Australia’s festival city and one of the richest cultural tourism destinations in the country. Part of this is the strong population of local grown entertainers who thrive through a tradition of mutual support, mentorship and collaboration. This is especially true of South Australia’s burlesque and cabaret community. Feathers & Jazz Soirée is a show produced by the lustrous Selene Wilde. It is weaves the sultry magic of jazz music played by live musicians to with the glamour of burlesque dancing, hosted by the delectable Nona Mona. 

Burlesque is the art of the tease to distinguish it from stripping, helpfully defined as very expensive “t*ts and a**, though the dancers themselves may perform one, the other or often both. The point of difference is the gaze of the audience. Stripping is an art entirely directed towards pleasing the watcher while a burlesque dancer says “as it pleases me.” You may look but not touch these very expensive, um, assets. The performance is an energy exchange where the dancers give what they get from the audition, the dancer chooses to remove that opera glove at her whim.

As a dance form, burlesque probably best known in modern times from the dazzling spectacles created by internationally renowned dancer, Dita Von Teese. Dita has never hidden that she is an entirely self created beauty and that burlesque is an expression of empowerment for dancers. I have discovered the beauty and sense of strength by being surrounded by burlesque dancers for several fringes now, I have learned to love myself and my body enough to try it myself this year.

This is the power a burlesque dancer.

There is something rather splendid about an entirely live performance that includes music and dance, I was rather dazzled by the luxury of both the visually appealing elements of the sparkling dancers and the lush of the jazz band. Jazz is often seen as a niche genre but Feathers & Jazz Soirée overcomes this by using jazz themed covers of popular music as well as classic jazz anthems like “Fever.” Selena has curated some of not just Adelaide’s best local burly talent but in this reviewer’s opinion, but Australia’s dancing talent and its holding its own in opening week.

And it was pleasing indeed.