1/26/11
Cultural event
A Modicum of France and Frisky
As I do with most things I just say “yes” and follow my feet. This first cultural event comes to me as no surprise. Being 21 now I can frequent the many fine establishments around DU and down town. This last night was just one of those many nights but a little special.
I found myself down town at the Kings Bar, (I believe it is called) right next to Indy Ink. I went with my friend Elliot and his lovely girlfriend who’s name is not important. They had invited me to see a burlesque; something that I had not ever seen or really heard of before. I was told that it had to do with women, dancing and partial nudity. For obvious reasons I was compelled to investigate. A added bonus was that Elliot knew one of the performers.
On our way there I became slightly nervous. I was worried about being classified as a pervert, or going to a strip joint in general. I envisioned throngs of scraggly bearded men throwing money and beer bottles on the stage while girls barely out of high school jumped and contorted their bodies. What I was met with was the complete opposite, and honestly, very beautiful.
They were almost all in their late thirties. And they were all over weight. Each turn they were introduced by a openly flamboyant MC, and they all came out strutting their stuff; proud and tall, short and stout, bald and wigged. Yes, they generally undressed on stage in a provocative manner, one was even so nice as to grace me with locking stare as she removed her brazier. But that’s not why I and everyone else was cheering our heads off. It was the fact that these women were just happy to be themselves, onstage and partly naked.
I don’t do the event justice. It’s hard to explain what really happened there that night. I don’t feel perverted or like a degenerate having seen what I have. Honestly, even though the performers were practically naked I feel that I’ve seen more inappropriate cartoons. The only thing that I wish I could have changed was the fact that I was without a camera. And besides, what’s more cultural than yelling, “Bravo” as a large woman dances to Mustang Sally?
