Behind the Sparkle: SexyBack, A Neo-Burlesque Performer Debut

It started with a deep-bass tone that moved me from the inside out. The Ilkan Gunuc remix of Justin Timberlake’s SexyBack had my jaw clenched, my fist bunched, and a jolt of energy pulsing through me. A guttural “YES!” tore out of me before I even realised what was happening.

From that spark, SexyBack became my very first neo-burlesque solo act.

And my very first time on a stage.

In my early conversations with my burlesque teacher, Ruby D’Woo, I spoke at length about my “why.” As an empowered, confident woman - and a certified sex coach and registered yoga teacher by day - I’m no stranger to exploring the darker edges of feminine sexuality, power, and sensuality. Creating this burlesque performance felt like an extension of everything I stand for.

The act conjured a single mood

Sit back. Shut up. Watch me.

This was about commanding attention, not for validation, but because I know how I want this to play out.

It was personal, of course. I wanted people to know that yes, I’m kind, warm (and funny!), but I also know my own mind. I can walk into a room and own it. More than that, though, I want other women to feel that too. That’s a thread that runs through all my work -performance, coaching, or otherwise.

SexyBack is a celebration of the fact that none of us are two-dimensional. We can be soft and strong, cheeky and commanding, silly and sexy. We can embrace every emotion and still be whole.

The poem The Guest House captures this perfectly, and yep, here we are quoting Rumi in a blog about shadow femininity in burlesque!

The Costume

When designing the costume, I kept these themes front and centre. (I’ll be writing a separate, image-heavy post that focuses on the costuming of SexyBack—watch this space!)

As a creative soul, the costume process lit so many different sparks in me. Every element told a story.

The tailored waistcoat-style dress gave a nod to professionalism and power, career-wear reimagined for the stage. The hat, meanwhile, was a double wink: one to the world of BDSM and kink, and one to the bold aesthetic of 80s LGBTQ+ nightlife. (For sheer mischief, I almost added a fake dark Freddie moustache!)

To balance the strength with softness, I incorparted a layered black tiered tulle in the skirt. It brought texture and movement giving a touch of ‘girlie’ glam with a menacing edge.

And then the main reveal: vibrant emerald green underwear beneath the black. A sudden burst of colour, energy, and luxury in one flash. Of course, rhinestones, sparkle, and shimmer were non-negotiables.

The Music

My family got involved too - my husband and eldest son, both DJ enthusiasts, helped me extend and rework the track to better suit the act. Together, we created a custom remix with an extra verse and a slowed-down tempo. It gave me more space to move and built tension in all the right places.

The Performance

Some of my favourite burlesque choreography moments in this act are the unexpected ones, like holding intense eye contact with an audience member as I remove the hat, or the boldness of mimed oral sex at the word “VIP.” These moments aren’t just about shock value, they’re about playfully confronting expectation, which is one of my favourite things about neo-burlesque.

Interestingly, SexyBack wasn’t intended to be funny, but I found it incredibly hard not to smile on stage - I just loved performing it so much. My debut was in February 2024 at The Big Bang Cabaret student showcase. I didn’t feel nervous, just hugely excited. I was cheering on the other performers so loudly from the back that I could have missed my own cue! In their show photos, you can see me beaming, whooping, and loving every second.

SexyBack has evolved since I first performed it in 2024. I’ve adapted it for different venues - from runway-style stages to more intimate cabaret nights. I’ve played with pausing, adding space for expression and connection. As I’ve grown as a performer, I’ve learned to hold character more deliberately and use my face and stillness as part of the movement vocab.

As my very first solo burlesque act, SexyBack will always hold a special place in my heart - but I must admit, the song has officially been retired from my sex playlist. The risk of bursting into facial expressions or pelvic thrusts mid-intimacy is just too high!

with Sass & Sparkles,

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