burlesque

An opera singer with stage fright, a stay-at home mother who’s tired of seeking societal approval, a dark and twisty virgin, and a young woman who has struggled with body hatred and bulimia are among the ten women who seek out Miss Indigo Blue’s Academy of Burlesque for an opportunity to change their lives in just six weeks—and Deirdre Allen Timmons’ A Wink and a Smile captures their transition on film. The first movie to explore the process of becoming a burlesque dancer, this musical documentary shows that Burlesque is more than just a campy striptease. It’s about embodying a powerful persona, mocking traditional gender roles and sexual scripts, exploring sexuality through a teasing playfulness, and having a wicked sense of humor. A Wink and a Smile is full of delightful surprises that uncover both the history of the art form and its modern day incarnation through a handful of today’s popular performers. Burlesque is about the creativity of the reveal, not the reveal itself, so here’s a brief interview with Timmons intended to whet your desire to see this film.