One night, I took my camera out to go see my friend’s band. I’d heard there would be burlesque dancers performing alongside them and I was intrigued. Little did I know that several years later, I would still be shooting their shows…and still be inspired by all they do.

The show is called Burlesco! It’s a combination of growly grooves provided by Grit & the Double Knit intermingled with scintillating burlesque performances. They now have a residency at Virgin Hotels Chicago; the third Friday of the month, you can catch the fever with Burlesco! upstairs in an intimate room that has a bar and outside patio.

Recently, Virgin Hotel invited me to show a selection of my burlesque images in their Commons Club, a lounge on the 2nd floor. The images are hanging in the “Shag Room”, a swanky circular room outfitted with low couches piled with pillows and fur throws, shag carpeting, and a swirly colored LED light ceiling. The photos will be shown throughout the summer. But my best recommendation is to get yourself to the Virgin Hotel a little before a Burlesco! show so you can see the photos and then go experience the live show for yourself.

If you want to learn more about burlesque and the history of Burlesco!, be sure to read this post on The Virgin Voice, Virgin Hotel’s blog.

We had an opening reception for my photography last month, and I want to share some of the photos that I shot during that evening’s Burlesco! show here with you.
If you weren’t there, here’s a song by Grit & the Double Knit so you can *almost* feel like you were. 😉