I've been photographing the local scene for the past three years and the performers are fabulous, the fans generally great and the haters... well the less said the better.

I actually put out a book of photos from Seattle performers last year called Tassels and Emeralds. There's a website and ordering info up at http://www.tasselsandemeralds.com

I missed the opening and, ironically enough, I'll miss Saturday's showing because I'll be shooting a show. Timing!

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Of course there are haters. There are (rightfully) haters for any flavor-of-the-moment, hipster fad.

I'm sure there are women who have been doing burlesque in obscurity for a long time before it hit the scene, and there will be women doing it for long after the ironic masses have moved on to their next cultural toy. These people have a passion.

The rest of the "scene" can fuck off.

whew! millions of burlesque establishment patrons will sleep soundly tonight.

Q - What's the difference between a stripper and a burlesque dancer?

A - Fifty pounds.

(Hey, I didn't write it.)

And by your definition, of course, "fat" is any woman with a BMI of over 18.5. I mean look at all those fatties in that picture. Disgusting.

(the cost of academy of burlesque classes is what makes me puke a little in my mouth)

Gitcher ironic flavor-of-the-month-fads off'n my lawn!

Yeah...I particularly like the guts on the two women in the foreground. Sexy.

Whatever, though. I'm a pig. Oink.

I wasn't addressing my comments to you. But I'm not sure of any other ways that straight women are supposed to feel sexy. One's sexiness is supposedly based on what the object of your desire thinks, yes? And it seems like most of these women are taking the classes for their own personal amusement, not to try to become professionals.

@22,

Whatever. It's your choice. You're the one who isn't getting laid.

Maybe women who participate in burlesque do look down on strippers. I don't really know and I don't really care. It does seem, however, that women in burlesque, whether they do it professionally or not, seem to enjoy what they're doing. I don't know if the same can be said for most strippers.

@26: clever.