A little bit of burlesque

"We've also got a businessman in his 70s who absolutely loves it and dresses up in all the gear and the heels.

"The burlesque world is so diverse. Young, old, fat, thin, black, white, man, woman – it doesn't matter who you are it's all about having fun and boosting your confidence."

The feathered-and-fishnetted women around Divine, aka Maggie Palmer, nod in agreement. One is a 43-year-old office worker, one a teenage fitness instructor and another a 54-year-old former care worker who was made redundant – but the one thing they all have in common is that they're brimming with confidence.

They also wanted a shot of glamour in their normal lives, a splash of red lipstick or a flash of thigh to break up the days of deadlines, meetings and school runs. And, inspired by movies such as Moulin Rouge and Chicago and stars including Dita Von Teese and the Pussycat Dolls, turned to burlesque. Mother-of-one Tracey Holt is an office worker from West Bromwich.

"I've always been interested in the old fashioned showgirls," she says, dressed in frilly French knickers and a Can Can-style corset, David Rose's The Stripper playing in the background.

"I can't tell you how many times I've seen Moulin Rouge and I tell you what else I liked, even though it was a bit naughty, Showgirls from the the nineties.

"The stockings, the hats, the costumes – I've always thought 'I'd love to do something like that'. But I didn't know what to do or where to go. After all, West Brom isn't the most glamorous of places is it?

"But I plucked up the courage and went to one of Maggie's workshops after finding it online and that was that. I love everything about it, it has really built up the confidence in me and how I see myself."

But what do her friends, family and eight-year-old daughter think of it all?

"They think it's great, they say 'Go for it Tracey!'. I think everyone's got something of an exhibitionist in them, even us normal day-to-day mums, and this brings it out. It doesn't matter what size you are, how old you are, what colour you are, it's just fun."

Burlesque is booming here in the West Midlands and it seems women are turning to it for a variety of reasons, spurred on by often life-changing events. Divorce, cancer, big birthdays, bad relationships, body issues: 48-year-old Maggie says all play a part in tempting women through the doors of her studio.

"I have taught hundreds and hundreds of women over the past few years," she says. "And confidence is key to all this. Many women come to me when they have just got out of a relationship or don't feel so good. Some of them are at rock bottom. Some of their ex-husbands or boyfriends put them down over the years and have taken their confidence away.

"But this makes them feel better about themselves. It's all the girls together, it's a laugh and there's good music and fun clothes. Plus, it's great for toning you and works wonders for cellulite."

But burlesque is not without its critics. There has been a backlash, including from feminist groups, that the practice is little more than glorified stripping.

Camden Council hit national headlines when it classified burlesque venues in the same bracket as strip and lapdancing clubs, saying they needed adult entertainment licences to operate. But that was a decision that brought more than 100 women out on to the streets in protest. A further 1,500 also signed a petition. Sam Roddick, daughter of the late Body Shop founder Anita Roddick, was among those who marched in the capital – in full costume – against the move, which was later reversed.

At the time, she went on record as saying: "Burlesque is not part of the adult entertainment industry. Banning burlesque is like banning comedy. It's a genre which contains a wide spectrum of performances, which should be judged individually."

Maggie, who teaches classes and workshops around the region, agrees. "There has always been, and probably will always be, a stigma attached to it," she says. "But it's an art form. There is flair and skill to it. Burlesque is not about taking your clothes off, that's not what we do at all. It's all about building confidence, learning something new and celebrating the female form."

Angie Hart – aka The Gyrating Geranium – is a former care worker from Hazelslade, Cannock, who has been practising burlesque for three years.

"There is a nostalgia to it," says the 54-year-old, readjusting her feather boa. "There is music from the 1950s and old-style cabaret halls. It is an art form and it's one with strong historical links. I love the classic moves, like the cheesecake and the bowler hat and long gloves routine.

"But people of all ages can relate to it. I've been in classes with 18 and 19 year olds and also women in their 70s, really established businesswomen who are still looking fab and really keep themselves together.

"I would advise anyone to try it. At the very least, it'll teach you how to walk properly in heels – I've never worn stilettos as much in my entire life.

"I know lots of women who have done it after going through a divorce and they are looking for a little excitement or to build up their self-esteem. It also gives them a chance to relax and talk to other women who have gone through similar situations. We may be in bras and basques, but we can still bond."

At this point, Maggie, who hails from Willenhall, starts up the music again. Her mirrored studio is dotted with little extras to get the women in the right frame of mind, there's a black feather boa draped over one of the mirrors and a painting of a woman's perfect posterior on the wall. The ladies in the class, including 19-year-old Georgie Palmer-Edmunds from Willenhall and 43-year-old Lindsey Searby from Featherstone, get into a chorus line and start to show off their moves, the Gyrating Geranium in particular leading the pack and quickly pulling off one her orange full-length gloves with her teeth, sending the others into fits of giggles. There is a sense of fun and nothing is taken too seriously. No one is looking at bingo wings or baby bellies, everyone's just laughing and having a good old time – and looking pretty fantastic, it has to be said."I had another dance studio in Wolverhampton back in 2008," Maggie recalls a little later. "It was very successful and specialised in line dancing. Then I relocated to Tettenhall and thought my students would come with me but they didn't. They came from the pub and working men's club scene so I don't think a proper studio was for them – I lost a lot of customers. Aafter that I was thinking what to do next. I've always enjoyed stage and theatre and any art form with a little flair so I did some research and found the Ministry of Burlesque online."

The Ministry has been dedicated to the teaching and promoting of burlesque since 2002. It conducts research, produces events, trains teachers and nurtures artists. Maggie was one of the first instructors it trained up fully in burlesque and cabaret.

"It's gone from strength to strength since then and become more and more mainstream thanks to the likes of Dita Von Teese and the Pussycat Dolls. I now do burlesque 40th birthday parties or hen parties. Women love it. Some of my students are now instructors themselves, they've excelled so much. It's all about building up ego and self-esteem and it's rewarding to know I'm helping women do that. It's quite a specific thing to do. There are not many places where you can go to learn a full chair routine or dance in a chorus line. I use lots of props too, bowler hats, gloves, stockings, you name it.

"One of the next big trends that is emerging now is the Can Can. I've just started a Can Can class because that's what women have their eyes on next."

Maggie already has some of the fabulous skirts ready and raring to go, but can these super sexy costumes be a little intimidating for the uninitiated? After all, stockings, corsets and high heels are enough to make even the most super of models balk.

"I tell people if it's their first time to come in their trackies or leisure wear," she explains. "The only thing I do ask is that they wear heels. They don't have to go straight into the full look, unless they want to of course. You soon find as their confidence builds, they get more and more into it."

"Absolutely," agrees Angie. "Just look at me. I love it and go all out. Today I've got on my black stockings, my blue and black basque and orange silky gloves and I feel fantastic. And that's what burlesque is all about – feeling good about yourself and having fun.

"Like me, it's a little bit naughty, a little nice."

For more details visit triplemadanceacademy.co.uk