The subtle gaze that conveys throbbing desire, the shape her mouth takes while she removes those black gloves, the perfectly placed feathers that offer just a glance of bare skin. While every woman may have some sort of intuition when it comes to seduction, no one does it better than the burlesque performer, whose job relies on her ability to perfect the art of the tease.

Burlesque was first introduced in America in the 1870s as a risqué variety show with satire, performance art and slightly revealing adult entertainment. As shows began to focus more and more on the female form, uptight conservatives in the 1930s cracked down, closing clubs and forcing burlesque into the shadows for years. But a revival of old-fashioned tease became popular in the '90s, and today ladies all over the country are stripping down to lace and pasties, throwing their legs in the air and erecting the glory days of burlesque.

This weekend, Lili's Burlesque Revue of Minneapolis plays host to the Best of Midwest Burlesk (BOMB) festival at the Ritz Theater, with more than 65 performers featured over four nights. Women of all shapes and sizes will flaunt their curves and show off intricate costumes, choreography and never-ending sex appeal. The fest will also include variety and novelty acts, comedy and music, and a winter jump-start for your libido. These three featured women will perform throughout the weekend, each with a unique twist to her tease and an unforgettable, uh, smile.

Musette

• Age: 31.
• A member of: Le Cirque Rouge.
• Her own gig: The monthly Midnight Muse Revue.
• Day job: Illustrator for souvenir T-shirts and miscellaneous items.
• Whether she's eating fire or lying on a bed of nails with arousing ease, the hypnotic Musette is a classic entertainer with a dangerous bag of tricks. Her version of burlesque plays homage to the art form's beginnings, laced with cabaret elements and her own quirkiness. Her secret: The girl behind the makeup is quite a clown herself. "I like to put a circus spin on burlesque," she says. "A little less tradition and a little more sideshow." With wild music and creative costuming, Musette's act always includes a story line: a girl pampering for a date, or a doll coming to life. With wide eyes, flickering Betty Boop facial expressions, a perfectly placed mole and her stunning curvaceous figure, Musette has all the elements for a unique, mesmerizing tease.
• Her first burlesque experience: By chance, she attended a Le Cirque Rouge amateur night. "Three martinis to the wind, I decided to give it a try." She performed LCR's classic "Minnesota Striptease" -- imagine lots of layers.
• Why "Musette?" It was the proposed name for a friend's fictional all-girl rock band, meaning "little song."
• Why she likes striptease: For the performance aspect. "Stripping helps you loop the act. It gives you a start, clothes, and an end, no clothes."
• Her favorite character: Any that involves fire.
• The act that never hit the stage: "I ordered a bunch of fake spiders" to wear on her blouse (forcing her to strip). "When the spiders arrived, they were so scary and realistic that I've never done the skit."
• Her next feat: Walking on glass. She's currently collecting wine bottles to smash.
• Her surprise for Best of Midwest Burlesk (BOMB): The bed of nails.

Redbone

• Age: 28.
• A member of: Foxy Tann and the Wham Bam Thank You Ma'ams.
• Day job: Professional hip-hop dancer, break-dance teacher and choreographer, server.
• A dancer since age 6, Redbone is a mover and shaker in all styles. With most of her current dance work in the hip-hop arena, burlesque is simply a fresh venue for exploring her abundance of rhythm and skill. Redbone says the transition from breaking to striptease has been fairly smooth: The hardest component was learning to slow down the choreography and just pose. "In burlesque, less is more," she said, no pun intended. "You need to stop for a moment and let the audience enjoy your beauty." The inspiration for her erotic Redbone character stems from dramatized aspects of her real personality: always sexy, undeniably strong yet sensual. Whether she's dressed as a naughty nurse or head to toe in a green silk suit, her glittery red lips and playful eyes seduce nearly as much as her slammin' body does.
• Why burlesque? She auditioned first as support for a nervous friend. Then she started guest-soloing for fun until she met the ostentatious Foxy Tann and joined her Wham Bam Thank You Ma'ams. "I just fell into it. Burlesque found me."
• Why "Redbone?" It's a Southern nickname for light-skinned black people, acquired during her high school years in Texas.
• Why she likes striptease: "It's natural in a woman -- it's just the way you choose to express it."
• An embarrassing mishap: Her Afro fell off during an act.
• Why pasties? Redbone loves crafting her own pasties, figuring out how a pastie will complement a costume. "It's the last reveal -- your lasting impression on the audience."
• Advice to other performers: "Don't be afraid to stand still and let them see your booty."
• Her surprise for BOMB: A saucy tomato number.

Lola Bel Aire

• Age: 25.
• A member of: Lili's Burlesque Revue.
• Day job: Professional competitive ballroom dancer, ballroom dance teacher and stylist for Sugar Bomb Studios, model.
• With victory rolls and barrel curls in her electric blond hair, plump red lips and retro lingerie, Lola Bel Aire is a sexpot straight out of the 1950s pinup scene. No stranger to the camera or the stage, Lola's Barbie-doll body naturally finds itself in seductive poses, yet she never betrays her reputation as a classy dame. She elegantly swings her hips, throws her head back and offers flashes of her nearly naked body behind gigantic feather fans, with her handmade sequined bra and panties glinting in the light. Lola understands why some people have trouble drawing the line between burlesque and strippers, but points out a definite difference. "I don't go out and talk to people or do a lap dance after my stage performance. When I'm done performing, I'm done performing," she says. "But yes, we both take our clothes off and essentially, we're both performance artists."
• Why burlesque? "The combination of performing, taking one's clothes off in a safe environment and glitter -- it puts women in a gorgeous light."
• Why "Lola Bel Aire?" In homage to the song "Whatever Lola Wants" and her love of the 1959 Chevy Bel Air.
• Her motto: "You don't need a story or theme to disrobe."
• Her favorite asset: "I used to hate my butt -- now it's what I'm known for!"
• Favorite costume element: Big feather fans.
• Does she still get nervous onstage? Yes, but more about possible wardrobe malfunctions. "Like, I hope my bra comes off."
• How does she feel about pasties? "It's always weird to put glue on your boobs."
• Her advice to other performers: Shave your legs. Use lotion. Lots of makeup. And don't be afraid to look pretty.
• Her surprise for BOMB: A foxtrot striptease with her ballroom dance partner, "Johnny Malibu."

View the full event listing.