Burlesque is liberating

A NORTH Cork burlesque dancer, who is ‘very comfortable with nude’ is getting set for her first production in Cork city this week.

Emma Finn, 26, who hails from Mallow, will also take part in the renowned Miss Burlesque Ireland competition next month.

She was not always so confident about her body, but things have changed for the former Chemistry student at UCC.

Burlesque dancing, says Emma, is the ‘art of revealing and teasing’ that sometimes includes strip tease, depending on the venue and the audience.

She said: “Sometimes I will strip to the g-string or just something covering the front, but generally Ireland is still quite conservative when it comes to strip tease.

“I am totally comfortable doing nude, it depends on the audience and the venue. It is all very classic.”

She has performed many times in Cork but will be bringing her own production to the city this Friday, which she is very excited about.

She said: “I can’t wait for the show in Cork.”

Giving up her Chemistry course and moving to St John’s College to study photography carried her into a world of photo-shoots including World War II re-enactments and vintage fairs.

Becoming a runner up in Miss Pin-Up Ireland in 2016 and later becoming a mentor for Miss Pin Up International gave her huge confidence to embrace her curves. She says that one of her many goals is to perform in Las Vegas for the Hall of Fame weekend.

Emma, is a busy burlesque dancer, who will be the host for her first show produced by herself at The Emerald Lounge in Cork, this Friday, August 31, with several renowned burlesque dancers performing acts, from the UK and Ireland.

In early 2017, she began to realise one of her lifelong dreams and turned to burlesque dancing, with a performance in Limerick city.

Ms Finn says that she never thought that she would have the confidence, but has never looked back.

Now residing in Leeds in England, with her boyfriend David Hayes, also from Mallow, and their dog Dexter, she misses Cork and says that there is a very vibrant burlesque scene in Cork city, and she misses the community there.

About six months ago, the couple moved to England, spurred on by exorbitant rental prices in Cork city, and she was eager to expand her photography experience.

However, her heart remains in Cork and her passion is for burlesque.

She said: “I really miss Cork, the burlesque scene in Ireland is great at the moment. We found that the rent costs in Cork are very high and that a lot of our wages went towards paying rent.”

Emma celebrates her curves, she is 5ft 3in and a size 16. She wants to ensure that women everywhere celebrate their body size and are confident.

Ultimately, she would like to return to Cork and teach women how to dance burlesque. She also would like to set up her own photography studio in her home county.

The reaction from people, and the support she has received has been very positive, she says.

“I have not had any issues with negative reactions, all my family and friends are very supportive. My boyfriend always comes to the shows,” she said.

However, she admits very few people go into burlesque for the money and so she works in an administration job in Leeds nine to five, Monday to Friday, and at weekends she transforms her wardrobe to become a dancer in the UK and Ireland.

Emma said: “We are trying to fight for better pay and conditions. Very few are full-time burlesque dancers.”

A lot of preparation goes into a show with doors usually opening at 8pm, Emma goes to the venue about 6pm, getting her make-up, hair and costumes ready, and shows finish before midnight.

During the week, she doesn’t follow a strict diet or exercise regime.

She said: “I don’t really go to the gym. I dance around the house. I take the dog for a walk.”

She feels that, despite burlesque and Miss Pin Up competitions celebrating curves, there are still many women under pressure by mainstream media to have a skinny and unnatural body size.

She said: “Being on stage and performing is a great way to show the audience what we can do, a person of my size may not be the typical person you would expect to see. There are more ways to be beautiful. Seeing someone of my size showing off on stage may give women the confidence to wear a bikini on the beach.

“I am very excited about competing in Miss Burlesque Ireland this September, it is a very prestigious competition. I am confident in my own body, growing up I struggled with body image.”