Photo of Dita Von Teese by Albert Sanchez & Pedro Zalba

The Queen of Burlesque’s Modern Take on the Classic Tease

By JJ Snyder & Stacey Gualandi

The Queen of Burlesque has once again earned her crown. Dita Von Teese recently debuted her original stage show DITA Las Vegas: A Jubilant Review at The Horseshoe Las Vegas.

On opening night, the ceiling opened, and jaws dropped as the divine diva—who has dreamt of a Las Vegas residency for decades—teased the sold-out crowd as she descended and waved from a glitzy perch inside the Jubilee Theater.

The famously flawless beauty had finally arrived. Von Teese then took center stage, surrounded by nearly two dozen of her talented troupe of performers.

Her stunning opening number strikes right at the heart of vintage Vegas nostalgia as, one by one, the dancers donned the historic pink and orange feathered costumes plucked right from Jubilee, the long-running Las Vegas showgirl revue.

The legendary production ran from 1981 to 2016 in the exact same venue as DITA Las Vegas (formerly Bally’s). The iconic Bob Mackie and Pete Menefee-designed costumes appear in their original glory, but with a modern Von Teese twist: the Vegas kick line has gone all-inclusive.

Dancers of all sizes and genders now join those classic 5-foot 10-inch leggy “Showgirls” of yesteryear. Cue the Las Vegas “Showboys.”

“I realized that not imitating the past was the way forward,” said Von Teese before her show debuted. “I want to do the same thing with the best of Jubilee but put these showgirl costumes back on stage in a new way, a fresh way that feels inspiring, modern, and relevant.”

Von Teese—born Heather Sweet in Dearborn, Michigan—has always remained inspiring, modern, and relevant. As a young girl, she became fascinated by classic Hollywood films. She worked in a lingerie shop, and eventually, her fascination with movie-star glamour turned into a passion for pin-up modeling, a la Betty Paige.

She single-handedly brought Burlesque back and has kept it mainstream for decades. Now, as the main attraction in her very own Strip show, Von Teese continues to reinvent the bygone era of vintage pin-up heroines with absolute precision.

Her first solo number alone was surprisingly simplistic. It featured a blank stage, a settee, and the actress herself elegantly positioned as if nude. Sensuous music set the tone as an ever-evolving colorful light show projected onto her skin to make it appear she was changing costumes in front of our eyes.

But if you think this is a one-woman show, you’ve come to the wrong theater. Von Teese is an equal opportunity showstopper and doesn’t hesitate to share stage time with several outstanding performers, including a reimagined and very realistic Josephine Baker and a tassel-turning temptress named Dirty Martini.

From sweet to sexy, Dita Von Teese is a globally recognized performance artist who now calls Las Vegas home. If you like your tease high brow, the low down is she’s definitely worth staying up for.

Dita Las Vegas: A Jubilant Review runs through April 27^th, 2024, at The Horseshoe Las Vegas. Get tickets here.