If your sex life seems more lifeless than lively -- you might want to look to the stage for inspiration. The burlesque stage, that is.

Burlesque is a old-school erotic art form. Originally popular in the 1860's through the 1940's, these stripteases combined glamour and humor in a sizzling show format.

Now it's back in a big way. From perfomer Dita Von Teese's sold-out shows to Cher and Christina Aguilera's bawdy film Burlesque, the once-forgotten sensuous stage shows have become "the ticket" for men and women alike looking for an original experience. There is something special about burlesque.

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"I think that it is refreshing to see art and entertainment that is not mass produced or over produced and so can speak to individual viewers," states Seattle-based burlesque artist Lily Verlaine. "When we (burlesque artists) manipulate an audience, it is simply with the intention of delighting or shocking them, not to sell something."

Verlaine's path to burlesque started with a very different form of self-expression: classical ballet. "After my career as a ballet dancer came to an end, I attended a burlesque show, started a conversation with one of the performers at the bar afterward, announced that I was a dancer and the following month, I was opening for Dita Von Teese! In hindsight, it was a truly magical and fortuitous series of events."

Now Verlaine is a star in her own right-- headlining shows herself. She thinks every woman can incorporate some of the tenets of burlesque into their own lives. Drawn from what she's learned as a burlesque artist, Verlaine shared some sexy tips with us.

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