X Burlesque

"X" Girls mark the spot

By Caroline Fontein

Billed as “The Sexiest Show on Earth,” X Burlesque at the Flamingo showcases the talent of six beautiful women and their seductive dance moves, which span from slow and sensual to gyrating and upbeat numbers to create a titillating feast for the eyes.

Apart from the provocative topless dancing, special lighting techniques, video imagery and an intriguing soundtrack are also implemented for a night of eroticized entertainment in this unique revue produced by husband and wife team Angela and Matt Stabile. While some of the dance numbers are more contemporary, with music from Jessica Simpson, Toby Keith and Aerosmith, others emulate the traditional Burlesque-style shows where you are sure to see some shimmying fringe and flying feathers.

Intense heart-thumping music incites ecstasy as the theater darkens and the show starts. The suggestive visuals projected from two large flat screens on both sides of the theater provoke a heightened level of anticipation as the "X" Girls are finally revealed wearing glittery sequined thongs, black corsets and coordinating bras.

These exotic women look more like swimsuit models than the traditional stick thin, waify dancers that you might see in other shows on the Strip. The X Burlesque dancers are curvy in all the right places and their free flowing hair is just as wild as their dance moves.

The intimate 180-seat theater allows everyone a good view of the show. If you are seated front and center you might find yourself just inches from all the action as the dancers frequently come out into the audience throughout the show.

An elevated pink platform and pole is in the center of the audience where women perform at different times in the show. Their pole techniques are quite impressive and gymnast-inspired as some of the women effortlessly climb and spin themselves around the pole before they flip off of the platform and into the audience.

The edgy choreography and suggestive props are sure to get your heart racing as the women move from doing both group and solo numbers. For the first solo, a woman wearing only a barely-there thong, does a chair dance very reminiscent of a scene from “Flashdance” but without the water -- that comes later in the show. Her next prop is an electric guitar that she dances with while the wind, somehow blowing only in her direction, whips through her hair as she pulsates to the beat of the music.

This could very well be your wildest dreams come true. If you prefer a different scenario just wait for the next scene, as the various acts in the show take you through a whirlwind tour of several versions of the perfect male fantasy. Sometimes the mood is fast and straight to the point while other numbers convey a feeling of flirtatious fun and soft sensuality.

Women in army gear, consisting of mesh transparent bra-like tops, camouflage print briefs and black army boots, take the stage for a dance number using chairs and guns. It's a perfect set up for those of you who like a woman in uniform.

The art of innocence is portrayed by a woman and a bath tub where she slowly removes an article of clothing in sync with the music and lighting. Every time the stage lights go from completely black to seductive mood lighting, another piece of clothing disappears as she inches her way toward the tub. There is no complete nudity in the show, but the flesh colored thong could fool anyone. To top it off, another mysterious looking woman joins her on stage and later in the tub for a seemingly erotic rendezvous. It is quite possibly one of the most sensual scenes in the entire show.

Later, a woman appears on stage bonded by bungee cords on her arms and legs for a number called “No Strings Attached.” The cords become an innovative medium for her to levitate over the stage or twirl about in mid-air. Her movements are slow and haunting, yet intensely captivating, until finally she ends up free from the cords.

For the grand finale, Elvis’ “A Little Less Conversation” becomes the soundtrack as clips of his performances play on the flat screens. They won’t have your attention for long as the dancers soon take the stage wearing white rhinestone-studded costumes that leave little to the imagination. It is a celebration of the flesh in true Vegas fashion.

Just when you thought you’d seen it all, Vegas has one more trick up its sleeve with X Burlesque. It is a seductive night of entertainment where sinful pleasures are taken to another level of excitement.