14 Portraits Of Burlesque Performers That Reveal Their Remarkable Transformations

    Sean Scheidt took pictures of Baltimore burlesque artists before and after their stunning metamorphoses. NSFW.

    Scheidt's photo project juxtaposes images of burlesque performers dressed how they are in everyday life with portraits of their stage personae.

    1. Kay Sera

    Sean Scheidt / Via seanscheidt.com
    Sean Scheidt / Via seanscheidt.com
    Sean Scheidt / Via seanscheidt.com

    Scheidt said he hopes his project humanises the performers by making it clear they are no different from anyone else.

    2. Fox Martin

    Sean Scheidt / Via seanscheidt.com
    Sean Scheidt / Via seanscheidt.com
    Sean Scheidt / Via seanscheidt.com

    3. Kiki Allure

    Sean Scheidt / Via seanscheidt.com
    Sean Scheidt / Via seanscheidt.com
    Sean Scheidt / Via seanscheidt.com

    4. Dolly Longlegs

    Sean Scheidt / Via seanscheidt.com
    Sean Scheidt / Via seanscheidt.com
    Sean Scheidt / Via seanscheidt.com
    This project took me by surprise. I've always had friends in burlesque and had gone to burlesque shows… [I] found myself fascinated by what occurred backstage and seeing ordinary people transform themselves completely in various ways.

    5. Dr Ginersnaps

    Sean Scheidt / Via seanscheidt.com
    Sean Scheidt / Via seanscheidt.com
    Sean Scheidt / Via seanscheidt.com

    6. Ruby Rockafella

    Sean Scheidt / Via seanscheidt.com
    Sean Scheidt / Via seanscheidt.com
    Sean Scheidt / Via seanscheidt.com

    7. Maria Bella

    Sean Scheidt / Via seanscheidt.com
    Sean Scheidt / Via seanscheidt.com
    Sean Scheidt / Via seanscheidt.com

    8. Marla Meringue

    Sean Scheidt / Via seanscheidt.com
    Sean Scheidt / Via seanscheidt.com
    Sean Scheidt / Via seanscheidt.com
    For those unfamiliar, burlesque can, on the surface, seem no different to stripping. While striptease is also used in burlesque, there is a distinction between the two. In burlesque, performers use their bodies as a tool to confront an audience, often using the striptease to challenge sexual objectification, orientation, and other social taboos.

    9. Mourna Handful

    Sean Scheidt / Via seanscheidt.com
    Sean Scheidt / Via seanscheidt.com
    Sean Scheidt / Via seanscheidt.com

    10. Nona Narcisse

    Sean Scheidt / Via seanscheidt.com
    Sean Scheidt / Via seanscheidt.com
    Sean Scheidt / Via seanscheidt.com

    11. Paco Fish

    Sean Scheidt / Via seanscheidt.com
    Sean Scheidt / Via seanscheidt.com
    Sean Scheidt / Via seanscheidt.com

    12. Valeria Voxx

    Sean Scheidt / Via seanscheidt.com
    Sean Scheidt / Via seanscheidt.com
    Sean Scheidt / Via seanscheidt.com

    13. Viola Van Wilde

    Sean Scheidt / Via seanscheidt.com
    Sean Scheidt / Via seanscheidt.com
    Sean Scheidt / Via seanscheidt.com

    14. Short Staxx

    Sean Scheidt / Via seanscheidt.com
    Sean Scheidt / Via seanscheidt.com
    Sean Scheidt / Via seanscheidt.com