Brown Suga Burlesque empowers black women to embrace their sexuality

When Brandi Rei performs in front of an audience, she no longer uses her official name. Instead, she adopts her alter ego, Madame. As the leader of her dancers at Brown Suga Burlesque and overseer of everything, Rei makes sure the audience knows she is in control.

“I am a very passionate and very direct dancer, and I am very in tune with my sexuality,” said Rei, founder of Brown Suga Burlesque, a performance-driven, narrative show. “And when I do that and perform, I connect with the audience through my aura and my confidence. So I just wanted to be able to bring who I am as a dancer into a physical form, into a show.”

Rei, a former Temple student from North Philadelphia, found refuge in her body through Dare2Dance, the university’s dance team. The diverse and supportive environment gave her a level of confidence she had never known before. She dropped out of college and moved to Los Angeles, where she fell in love with dancing and eventually returned to Philadelphia ready to start BSB.

In burlesque shows, dancers taunt and tease the audience, slowly guiding them through an experience that is both entertaining and sensual. While nudity can be an element of burlesque, BSB dancer Gigi Penn emphasizes that it is not the only factor that contributes to its success.

“It’s really about making everyone in this room feel like there’s no shame,” Penn said. “Because at the same time we’re showing something sexual for people to watch. People also have a certain feeling when they watch something sexual, or even non-sexual, happen. [The performances] do not have to be explicitly sexual, and [the audience] still discovering things about yourself.”

BSB has become a true Philadelphia institution since opening in December 2023. But even with a team of 12 regular performers and dozens of other dancers and supporters, things didn’t always go smoothly.

Their biggest challenges are not resources or booking shows, but misunderstandings and judgment, Rei said. Bars and venues that feature all-white dance acts have kicked out Brown Suga for “vulgarity.”

As a black woman who performs erotically, Rei knows that the reaction will not always be positive.

“They always automatically assume we’re taking off our clothes,” Rei said. “It’s not the same. We have different intentions and different purposes, and it’s more of an art form and a creative expression than just about money.”

Rei hosts her dance classes at Bodies in Motion Performing Arts and Dance School, just a few blocks from Temple’s campus on 10th Street near Diamond. When she’s not teaching classes, her fellow dancers meet her for a drink at her nearby apartment. Rei emphasizes the importance of building community beyond dancing by hosting regular barbecues, painting and painting parties, and apartment get-togethers.

Not all members of the company dance either. When Daeja Davenport first discovered the community, she was extremely shy and insecure. As BSB content editor and behind-the-scenes contributor, Davenport slowly gained confidence through Rei’s encouraging energy and support.

“[Rei] “It allowed me to stand out and do the editing and background work, things that I really enjoy and things that I want to do in life,” Davenport said. “So I’m always very grateful for her giving me this opportunity and allowing me to shine in a way that I’ve never been able to before.”

Penn remembers being sexualized from a young age, which she attributed to being treated older than her age because of her blackness. She uses BSB to reclaim her body in an environment where the other women understand her struggles. She credits Rei for building an unashamed community where black women are vulnerable and build confidence together.

“It’s really about fighting for our right to be heard and valued,” Penn said. “Because black women are our primary audience, but it’s literally for anyone who wants to recognize a black woman who was invited to BSB. And we’re just making sure that the girls feel empowered and it’s not done in a way that feels exploitative.”