Nate makes history in the world of burlesque
‘The acceptance in the room made me feel so at home’
FOR most of his life, Nate Taylor-Steedman has been involved in dancing – but in the past couple of years he has been breaking the mould and winning awards.
The 32-year-old, from Hinckley, had never really been one for the traditional forms of dance and never enjoyed ballet or tap, but for a while he found employment as a stage and podium dancer in nightclubs.
“I was a podium and stage dancer when I was 18 and did that for five years or so,” he said.
“But as you can imagine, it wasn’t the nicest and the nightlife wasn’t that friendly, so I gave it all up.”
He fell out of love with dance for four years, but when he met his partner, Harry Underwood, in 2014, that all changed as he discovered burlesque.
“He introduced me to musical theatre - and from that, we set up our own dance company,” Nate said.
“In 2016, I performed at my friend’s show – I just thought why not try something different? – and I fell in love with it.
“The acceptance in the room made me feel so at home.”
His character Nate St Nate was born. Donning white face paint, a red nose, clown-esque clothing and a white ruff, his act is not what you would come to expect in burlesque.
The world burlesque derives from an old Italian “burla”, which means to joke or mock.
So Nate’s act does exactly that, instead of the more sensual and seductive performances people might expect from burlesque.
In February last year, he said he discovered Seren Yn Codi, a wellrespected burlesque competition in North Wales, and he made it through to the semi-finals.
“I was one of only two males who had got through to the semi-finals,” he said.
“Me and my family travelled up there and I was mostly scared – I’m pretty self-conscious about it.
“There was some crazy stuff, the competition was outstanding. They announced the audience choice award and I was called up on stage for that which was amazing.
“When they got to to the gold award, they turned round and said my name, I had to stop myself from throwing up on stage.
“My partner threw his pint on the people in front of him.
“I didn’t realise that made history.”
Nate had become the first man to win the gold award and the first male to win two awards.
“It has been an absolute whirlwind,” he said.
“Discovering burlesque has been such a massive comeback
I had for me.
“To find a place that does not judge me because I am a boy that does not always act as a boy has been amazing.”
Nate runs dance company The Beatz with Harry and is planning on performing at more burlesque shows in the near future.