Welcome back to my burlesque series!
This time around I am chatting with Colonel Ingus, a cis-male, straight burlesque performer with a story to tell!
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Welcome to the wonderfully weird world of burlesque performer Colonel Ingus.
I've followed burlesque for years, but some performances at the Colorado Burlesque Festival still managed to surprise me. Among my favorites was Colonel Ingus, a Denver-area burlesque performer who combines theatrical storytelling, comedy, and a healthy appreciation for the art and history of the culture.
After seeing him perform, I invited him onto Sex and the Solo Girl to discuss his career, the different types of burlesque, and why being sexy doesn't require taking yourself terribly seriously.
Trust me, there's much more to burlesque than you might expect.
Key Takeaways
- Burlesque celebrates individuality. Sensuality, theater, comedy, music, and satire all have a place onstage.
- Comedy is part of burlesque's heritage. Humor can be as important as the striptease.
- Male burlesque performers challenge traditional masculinity. Sensuality and feminine expression aren't exclusively for women.
- Modern burlesque includes many different styles, from science fiction and horror to circus arts and drag.
- Great performances require craftsmanship, including costumes, choreography, storytelling, and carefully timed reveals.
- Everyone can participate, whether by attending shows, taking classes, or supporting local performers.
Who Is Colonel Ingus? From Wildlife Scientist to Burlesque Performer
One of my favorite things about Colonel Ingus is how many seemingly unrelated interests he brings together onstage.
He's a wildlife biologist, invertebrate zoologist, and environmental educator with years of experience in theater, acting, and stage production.
His introduction to burlesque came through his spouse, who was already performing. He began helping her develop concepts, build props, and create performances until she encouraged him to try the spotlight himself.
After moving to Colorado, he became involved with Ooh La La Presents, initially working backstage as a kitten, the wonderfully named person responsible for collecting discarded costume pieces.
In May 2019, he debuted with an act set to Tom Lehrer's darkly comedic song Poisoning Pigeons in the Park, complete with a three-piece suit, park bench, and carefully constructed setting.
Clearly, subtlety was never going to be his defining artistic characteristic.
Even his stage name, Colonel Ingus, is a deliberate double entendre. He wanted something gentlemanly, playful, and just a little naughty.
His performances bring together everything he loves: science, theatrical production, character, music, and humor.
What Is Burlesque? More Than Just a Striptease
When people hear burlesque, they often picture glamorous women with feather fans, sparkling costumes, and strategically placed pasties. And yes, there is plenty of that.
But Colonel describes burlesque as dance theater that celebrates individuality, personality, and the sensuality of the human form. It can incorporate comedy, political commentary, satire, and elaborate storytelling.
Historically, burlesque has roots in parody and exaggeration. The neo-burlesque revival of the 1990s helped bring renewed attention to those traditions while expanding the possibilities for performers.
At the Colorado Burlesque Festival, I felt transported into a world where people could be glamorous, provocative, imaginative, and utterly ridiculous.
For a few hours, I forgot about everything outside the theater.
Part of the appeal is having absolutely no idea what someone might do next.
Comedy in Burlesque: When Laughter Becomes Part of the Seduction
We tend to treat sexiness as terribly serious. Some people think being seductive requires mysterious expressions, slow movements, and smoldering eye contact.
But humor can be incredibly attractive. Playfulness creates connection, and someone comfortable looking a little ridiculous can be wonderfully confident.
Colonel has built his performance identity around that combination.
The Disco Snail That Stole the Show
At the Colorado Burlesque Festival, Colonel debuted an act inspired by a song called Disco Snails.
He'd been developing the idea for more than a year, drawing on his love of invertebrates and wildlife documentaries.
The performance began with a documentary-style introduction before transforming into a disco number featuring a giant mirrored snail shell strapped to his back.
A disco-dancing snail. At a burlesque festival. I absolutely loved it.
The brilliance was his commitment. He delivered the choreography, theatricality, and sensuality of burlesque while embracing a completely absurd premise.
Colonel has earned recognition in burlesque competitions for his comedic performances, and humor remains central to his work.
How an Unusual Idea Becomes a Burlesque Act
Colonel explained that inspiration can come from almost anywhere: a song, costume piece, character, or familiar story begging for an unconventional interpretation.
For a production inspired by The Wizard of Oz, he played the man behind the curtain, performing to Freddie Mercury's version of The Great Pretender.
He also helped his spouse create a magic-themed act featuring a rather unconventional rabbit pulled from a hat: a bright pink rabbit vibrator they'd won at a party!
What interests me is how performers can take something recognizable and transform it into a completely unexpected experience. The striptease becomes part of the storytelling, rather than the entire point.
Male Burlesque Performers and the Freedom to Be Sensual
Although I've attended burlesque performances for years, I've encountered few cisgender male performers.
Colonel Ingus identifies as a cisgender heterosexual man, and he intentionally incorporates sensual movements traditionally associated with femininity.
Challenging Traditional Ideas of Masculinity
Men are often encouraged to express sexuality through strength, dominance, or conventional masculine confidence.
There's considerably less encouragement to experiment with softness, fluid movement, playfulness, or simply enjoying being desirable.
Colonel Ingus embraces those qualities without questioning whether they belong alongside his masculinity.
He's had couples approach him after performances, including women who appreciated seeing a man confidently express his sensual side. Some hoped their partners might become more comfortable doing the same. I find that absolutely delicious!
As someone who works with people navigating dating, relationships, and intimacy, I'm fascinated by the expectations we bring into our romantic lives. Attraction is much more varied than the narrow roles we're often taught to perform.
A man can be masculine, feminine, sensual, funny, and confident. Those qualities aren't mutually exclusive. And there's something undeniably appealing about someone who feels free to explore them.
Different Types of Burlesque: There's Something for Almost Everyone
One of the biggest surprises for people unfamiliar with burlesque is the sheer variety of performances available.
Modern neo-burlesque includes overlapping styles that stretch far beyond glamorous costumes and feather fans.
Nerdlesque and Gorelesque: From Superheroes to Horror
Nerdlesque draws inspiration from fandoms, science fiction, fantasy, video games, and pop culture. Imagine burlesque inspired by Star Wars, The Legend of Zelda, or even a Transformer. Colonel's scientifically inspired disco snail fits rather nicely into this category.
Gorelesque takes its inspiration from horror, incorporating theatrical blood, monsters, slasher films, and macabre imagery. It might seem an unusual marriage of horror and sensuality, but that's part of the creative freedom these artists enjoy.
Circus-Inspired and Aerial Burlesque
Circus-inspired burlesque, sometimes called cirlesque, combines traditional circus skills such as juggling, clowning, and acrobatics with burlesque storytelling and costume reveals.
Aerial burlesque introduces silks, hoops, trapezes, and other apparatuses.
I saw extraordinary circus-inspired performances at the Colorado Burlesque Festival. The strength, coordination, timing, and technical skill involved were remarkable.
These artists are doing considerably more than removing a few articles of clothing.
Draglesque and the Joy of Blending Genres
Draglesque combines elements of drag performance and burlesque, bringing together two artistic traditions with their own histories and identities.
Colonel mentioned Denver performer Penny Spectacular, whose Legend of Zelda-inspired act blends draglesque with nerdlesque.
What appeals to me about modern burlesque is that these categories aren't rigid. A performance can be funny, nerdy, glamorous, sensual, and theatrical all at once. After all, if a wildlife biologist can become a sexy disco snail, the possibilities seem pretty extensive.
Why Everyone Should Experience a Burlesque Show at Least Once
Something Colonel emphasized during our conversation stayed with me: the audience is part of the burlesque community, too.
You don't need to perform or wear an elaborate costume to participate. Attending a show supports the artists, producers, and venues that make this creative world possible.
Audiences also contribute to the atmosphere. Performers thrive on the laughter, excitement, and enthusiasm coming from the crowd.
Personally, I think burlesque makes a fantastic date-night activity.
You get creativity, entertainment, surprises, and a sensual atmosphere. Colonel pointed out that an evening of playful, teasing performances can make for some great foreplay.
He's certainly not wrong.
If you'd like to explore your own sensuality, consider taking a burlesque class. I've taken a few myself and know others who've loved the experience.
You don't need ambitions of becoming a performer. Learning new movements, experimenting with self-expression, and allowing yourself to be playful can be rewarding experiences in their own right.
If a class feels intimidating, start with a local show. You might be surprised by what's happening in your community.
A Little Laughter, a Little Tease, and a Lot of Possibility
What I appreciate most about Colonel Ingus is his willingness to bring all his interests into his art: the scientist, theater enthusiast, comedian, and sensual performer.
His performances remind me how much fun it can be to challenge conventional expectations about attractiveness and self-expression.
Sensuality doesn't have to follow a prescribed formula. There is room for humor, absurdity, beauty, creativity, and whatever makes you feel wonderfully yourself.
And you don't need to strap on a disco-ball snail shell to explore those possibilities. Although I admit, it does sound fun.
Want to hear more? Listen to my full interview with Colonel Ingus on Sex and the Solo Girl, "This Is Burlesque: An Interview with Colonel Ingus." We explore his performances, the Denver burlesque scene, and stories that are even better when you hear them firsthand.
You can also follow Colonel Ingus on Instagram for information about his upcoming performances.
And please, go experience some burlesque! Bring a date, bring a friend, and support the artists creating this wonderfully entertaining combination of sensuality and creativity!
where you want rope to take you. You can start by finding out what feels good.
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