Roxi Dlite: Using Burlesque as a Source of Female Empowerment

Burlesque is a form of theatrical entertainment involving parody and exaggeration. It's rooted within nineteenth century vaudeville theater and was later resurfaced in the early twentieth century as a blend of satire, performance arts and adult entertainment.

Dayna Renaud, or better known by her stage name, Roxi Dlite, is Windsor's leading Burlesque dancer. She blends performative art, elaborate costumes, old-timey music, story lines and even aerial acts into her shows. She has been performing since 2004, and since then she has been featured in many Burlesque shows and festivals all over Canada and the United States.

Roxi Dlite's shows, consist largely of a female audience. She claims that "Burlesque has become gender friendly....I think the main reason why women are drawn to burlesque is because it's a form of empowerment." Burlesque is also constantly redefining beauty because women of all body sizes are featured.


Thanks to Kate Hargreaves for allowing me to pick out some information and quotes from her article, "Roxi Dlite Shakes It Up By Stripping Down," which was featured in the October 2008 issue of WAMM magazine, as well as her feminist zine, "Hysteria."

You can find out more about Roxi Delite from her website or watch videos of her live performances on her youtube.

But, if you want to check out her performance LIVE, she's playing TOMORROW night, January 16th, 9:30pm at The Chubby Pickle with punk band, The Gutter Hearts and Ska band, Brass Knuckles.