Behind the Sparkle: The Pleasure Principle
Welcome to the sassiest classroom you’ve never been taught in.
Behind the rhinestones, flip charts, and one very large inflatable banana lies a burlesque act with a message. The Pleasure Principle isn't just glitter and giggles (though there’s plenty of both) — it’s sex-ed, reimagined. In this post, I’m pulling back the curtain on how she was born, what she teaches, and why I think pleasure deserves a front-row seat.
Class is in session. Let’s go behind the sparkle…✨
The Spark
This one’s been bubbling away inside me for years. Not as an act, per se - but as a message. As a sex coach, I’ve lost count of how many women (and men) have told me they never had proper sex education. Or that they’re still unlearning shame, myths, and Madonna/whore nonsense well into their 40s and 50s. Think about it; who actually teaches you to have sex??
So, naturally, I thought: What better way to display giant genitals, desire, and consent than on a glitter-soaked stage in my underwear?
This concept was actually one I shelved when I was planning my neo-burlesque performer debut in February 2024 - spoiler, check out SexyBack! Salt-N-Pepa’s “Let’s Talk About Sex” is instantly recognisable as cheeky, sassy and barrier-breaking. When I started thinking about it, my brain lit up. I could see her - the sexy, slightly unhinged teacher, mortarbard on her head, pointer in hand, twirling between diagrams of clits and condoms. A burlesque TED Talk with sass.
From that moment, she was born: part educator, part temptress, part fed-up-with-the-patriarchy icon. She’s the star of ‘The Pleasure Principle’ - a standout UK burlesque act that turns taboo into tease.
The Message
This act is a love letter to education - but the right kind. One that focuses on pleasure not just the finger-wagging “don’t do this’s”! Yes, I have educated and spoken in schools about pleasure, masturbation, lubes and vibrators.
Honest, inclusive, pleasure-focused sex ed that doesn’t feel like a biology textbook or a cold warning about disease and disaster.
It’s about reclaiming our bodies, desires, and boundaries. And doing it with humour, heart, and maybe a few unexpected diagrams.
I want the audience to laugh. To feel a bit turned on. To learn something they didn’t know they needed to know. It’s interactive burlesque meets sex-ed rebellion – and yes, it’s absolutely available for booking!
I want them to think, “Hang on - why the hell wasn’t I taught that?” and maybe even book a Discovery Call with me to make their mattress mambo a tad more exciting. I planned to make and hand out glittery clipboards with multiple choice questions and my coaching website hidden in a QR but that ended up not fitting with the act and the choreography.
But mostly, I wanted the audience to leave feeling a little more powerful.
Pleasure is a principle. And it belongs to everyone.
The Costume Journey
Ah, the costume. Equal parts schoolgirl fantasy, headteacher menace, and classroom chaos. The base look is a black pencil skirt and a white blouse. classic office chic with a twist, making it instantly recognisable and easy to adapt for a variety of burlesque venues and stages across the UK. Deliberately plain and a little bit boring - but I still couldn’t resist adding rhinestones in a discreet way so the light bounced around in a cheeky way. I open in a full academic gown and a mortarboard covered in rhinestones (I like to imagine Professor McGonagall’s saucier self).
I mean, after my creation of my epic wearable giant disco ball burlesque act, I’d sworn off large-scale costume creation for a while!
My intention of the act was to have it clearly delineated into theory and practical and for the practical, I wanted to go with simple, understated sexiness of a plain white man’s shirt and heels. Underneath I made the bold decision to perform without a bra for the final reveal, wearing simply a rhinestoned body chain.
The Music & Movement
The act opens with a school bell - just enough to jolt the audience into attention - and I voiced over the intention of my lesson and then I dive into “Let’s Talk About Sex.” That track is iconic and playful. Midway through, and with a dramatic reveal, I shift in to the practical element and shift into an instrumental from Two Feet’s “Go F*** Yourself” - a sensual, strut-worthy soundtrack.
The act lends itself beautifully to both large burlesque showcases and intimate cabaret nights. It’s perfect for producers looking for acts that blend choreography, education, humour and audience connection.
I pushed my boundaries here with some floorwork, which isn’t normally my strongest suit but, encouraged by my teacher, Ruby D Woo, I made it all about sex and made it as “awkward AF” (her words 😄) for the audience as I could.
I choreographed with intention. Every slow swivel, every pause, every eye contact moment. And I enjoyed breaking the fourth wall. I use a flip chart with anatomical diagrams (yes, with glitter).
Phrases like “Are you taking notes??”, “See me afterwards!”, and “Don’t make me come over there” are peppered in for comic timing. There’s a wink in everything - education with a raised brow.
The First Reveal
The act debuted in a venue full of strangers and a few burlesque friends who knew I was up to something…educational. Even as a fairly new neo-burlesque performer in the UK, I don’t get nervous. But I still wondered, Would people get it? Would they laugh? Would I end up looking like a horny geography teacher with boundary issues?
And the pièce de résistance of the act? My oversized inflatable banana and condom prop, handmade from wadding, opaque fabric, and a lot of sweat and swear words. The audience engagement point is next level and I take my hats off to the poor lad I picked on in the front row! It’s so absurd I can’t help but giggle every time I use it.
It’s weird, wonderful, and very memorable – the kind of moment that makes this a show-stopping neo-burlesque act for adult audiences.
And disasters? Yep, I knocked over the whole flipchart in the 30th second of the act, taking out a bit of the set. “Fachk it!” I exclaimed, in my first breaking of the fourth wall!
Styled it out, babe!
And I felt electric. Like I'd cracked something open. I wasn’t just entertaining - I was sharing a message I deeply believe in.
Thankfully, they did laugh. They howled. I think I fell in love with the crowd that night - they definitely got an A+ that night.
The Evolution
Since that first performance, I’ve debuted another act, Once Upon A Time, but I’m already thinking of tightening the transitions, experimented with props, and streamlined the act to work in different spaces. In some venues, I’ll definitely amp up the comedy. I’m really interested to act as an event host or compére, especially for events that want bold, sex-positive performances with real heart and wit.
I’m still adding touches. I’d love to film an online version someday, or even take it into spaces where adults need a bit of re-education in the most fabulous way.
Why I Love It
This act is me to the core. A little naughty, deeply passionate about truth, playful, sparkly, and unafraid to poke fun at outdated norms.
Every time I perform it, I feel a wave of mischief and purpose. Like I’ve been let loose in the classroom with glitter and permission to rewrite the syllabus.
And honestly? That moment when I hold up the A+? That’s why I do this.
Pleasure is not extra. It’s essential.
And if I can make you laugh while you learn something that changes your life - or at least your next orgasm - then I’ve done my job.
If you’re looking to book a UK burlesque performer who brings sparkle, sex-ed, and a whole lot of sass, ‘The Pleasure Principle’ delivers every time.
with Sass & Sparkles,
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