Instructor: April March - BurlyCon Legend of Honor

BurlyCon Legend of Honor
"The First Lady of Burlesque" was a headline act in the world of burlesque from 1952 to 1978. During her more than thirty-year career, she gained popularity throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and Europe for her classy and sophisticated striptease. At 17 years of age, April March began her career in 1952 at The Theater Lounge in Dallas, Texas, and she became an instant favorite with audiences who were intrigued by the mix of sensuality and innocence from the raven-haired beauty and taken in by her warmth and charm.

By the time she was eighteen years old, April March was touring, playing clubs and theaters across the United States, Canada and Mexico. While touring the club and theater circuits, March refined her act, playing on her image of the sophisticated debutante type and became known for her elegant, well-choreographed striptease that put the emphasis on teasing. She also inspired two original songs written specifically for her, "Blues for April" and "Springtime for April" which became popular numbers in her act. Throughout her career, April March worked with other burlesque legends such as Lili St. Cyr, Blaze Starr, Rose La Rose and Ann Corio.

April March was married eight times. During her fourth marriage, March took a six-year hiatus from burlesque, during which she discovered another love, golf. She served as President of the Ladies Golf Association in Tulsa, OK. and developed an eight handicap. This accomplishment would later have her become the only burlesque stripper to be written up in Sports Illustrated in the June 1964 issue after she was invited to play a round of golf with an associate editor of the magazine…. And she beat him by three strokes.