COOL STUFF
Burlesque for beginners, or, embracing the pole
By Christopher Schobert; photos by Lee Lulek.

Eye Candy, from left: Sweet Tart, Bit O’Honey (Chelsea Celotto), Pixie Stix, Razzle, Lollipop, and Starburst.
Chelsea Celotto is used to people having misconceptions about her business, Pole Play, and her burlesque troupe, Eye Candy. But no matter how many times she describes the health and fitness benefits of pole dancing and burlesque, not to mention the sheer fun, the first thought in the minds of most has to do with what WNYers affectionately (or not) dub the “Canadian ballet.” “There is a negative stereotype about exotic dancers connected to pole dancing, for obvious reasons,” Celotto says. “My clientele get a kick out of it when people think I only train strippers, and that they’re coming to my class to learn skills to work in a gentlemen’s club.”

The reality is something much different. The women who take Celotto’s classes are mothers, wives, girlfriends, and everything in between—including grandmothers—ranging in age and weight. “My patrons are professionals—teachers, doctors, lawyers, bankers, business owners, hair stylists, students,” she says. “No one is planning on leaving their career to dance exotically, although we often joke about it. What my classes teach is how to get in great shape, and feel comfortable in your own skin and in touch with your femininity. Pole dancing makes you strong, fit, confident, sexy, and powerful over the opposite sex.” It certainly is a fun way for women to exercise, and Celotto says the effect is often “transformative” in body and in mind. “Women learn so much about themselves here,” says Celotto. “A lot of them tell me that their bodies have transformed in shape and size, and they’ve developed a confidence and sense of sexiness that was either lost or that they never had.”

Located at 1444 Hertel Avenue (near the North Park Theater), Pole Play offers pole dance, burlesque dance, lap dance, and hoop dance classes. There are also monthly workshops for those who wish to try a one-time class, or for bachelorette parties, birthdays, and other occasions. “I do get some complaints that girls leave my classes sore, but that’s the sign of a great workout—it takes time to build strength on the pole,” says Celotto. “Weight loss and muscle toning are the biggest health benefits. Pole dancing sculpts your entire body. It’s like two workouts rolled into one. You get the calorie burn of an aerobic workout such as step or spinning, and the body-shaping results of Pilates.”

Chelsea Celotto.
While the pole dancing classes are for anyone, only a select few have what it takes to be a part of Celotto’s much-acclaimed burlesque troupe, Eye Candy. “You have to be a ham and uninhibited, and you can’t be afraid to walk around in your underwear,” she says. Celotto, a former gymnast and teacher, danced locally and in Las Vegas for ten years, and was inspired by the burlesque acts that are popular in most large American cities. She brought the idea back to the Queen City—fitting, since Buffalo was once home to the famous Palace Theatre burlesque house—and put together Eye Candy in 2006. It was a case of great timing, since the concept has made something of a comeback thanks to performers like the Pussy Cat Dolls (the dancers, not the band) and Dita Von Teese.

Eye Candy shows incorporate striptease, troupe choreography, and comedy in a striking and bold way. “It’s an outlet for me to continue dancing and performing the art of the striptease, but in a manner that’s not so taboo—there’s no nudity in our performances,” Celotto says. Interestingly, she says their biggest response has come from straight women, who have taken to what she terms the “female empowerment” angle. “It’s very inspiring to see women on stage who exude confidence and sensuality, and other women want to learn how to do this. It entices both sexes. Women admire us for embracing our femininity, while there’s no bigger turn-on for a man than a woman who is in touch with her sexuality. The only ‘prudish’ people we encounter are those ignorant to the concept of burlesque. Unfortunately, a lot of people don’t know what burlesque is. We’re hoping to change that.”

Celotto, who is happily married, says it can be hard to find places to perform, since most clubs don’t have the proper licensing. But Eye Candy, which currently numbers eleven women, has developed a devoted following by performing everywhere from events like Artists and Models to private parties. “I’d love to see Buffalo embrace burlesque the same way other major cities have already done over the past few years,” Celotto says, adding that even though almost every major casino in Las Vegas features a burlesque show, she has had no response from local casinos on either side of the border. “There’s nowhere in Buffalo to get the kind of live entertainment Eye Candy offers. We already have a wide, diverse audience.”

For more information on Pole Play, visit www.poleplaydancestudio.com or call 832-0511, and for Eye Candy info, visit www.myspace.com/eyecandydance.

Spree associate editor Christopher Schobert dances at weddings, but that’s pretty much it.


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