Dating as a Burlesque Superstar with Jessabelle Thunder

Navigating Relationships as a Burlesque Performer

• 💔 Many partners initially claim to be okay with burlesque, but later reveal it's a significant issue, leading to conversations that Jessabelle has never successfully navigated.
• 💡 Jessabelle shares that her current partner was aware of her profession from early on and didn't make it a big deal, which she found refreshing.
• 🎭 When dating, Jessabelle prefers to disclose her burlesque career upfront, often on the first date, to gauge the other person's reaction and ensure transparency.

The Journey into Burlesque

• 🌟 Jessabelle was introduced to burlesque when a former partner signed her up for a class in 2009, despite her initial shyness and self-perception as not being a "theater kid" or "dance person."
• 🚀 The experience of taking the class, and seeing a diverse range of bodies and people, was a pivotal moment that led to her pursuing burlesque for 16 years.
• 🤝 Taking classes is highlighted as a great way to meet people with shared interests and build confidence.

Worst Date Experiences

• 🇮🇪 A particularly bad date involved a white Irish DJ in London who argued he was justified in using the N-word when singing along to music, and also claimed Irish people were more oppressed than Black people.
• 🚩 Red flags on this date included the DJ's profile picture being only half his face and his dual profession as a DJ and poet.
• 🗣️ Jessabelle found herself trying to escape the date, but was stuck in a large park, enduring his justifications for his problematic views.

Performing and Overcoming Injury

• 💥 Jessabelle broke her ankle performing in a dance heel at a bar she had never performed at before, requiring emergency surgery.
• 🤕 Nicole also recounts breaking her ankle after a tumble down the stairs, experiencing shock and pain, and the challenges of recovery, including navigating hospital care and painkillers.
• 💪 Both performers emphasize their determination to return to their craft after their injuries, highlighting the mental and physical resilience required.

The Evolution of Burlesque and AI Concerns

• 💃 Burlesque styles include classic, cheesecake (pin-up style), and neo-burlesque (incorporating diverse bodies and inclusivity, like nerdlesque).
• 🤖 Nicole expresses significant anxiety about the future of AI, questioning its purpose, the potential for job displacement, and the environmental impact of AI farms.
• 🎬 Concerns are raised about AI-generated content in movies and the potential for actors and scriptwriters to lose their livelihoods.