But all that changed at the Playhouse on Thursday night when Imogen Kelly took the stage, bringing burlesque bawdiness to the bird.  Her act Flamingo, a blend of puppetry, movement and striptease,  won her the title World Queen of Burlesque at the Las Vegas Burlesque Hall of Fame in 2012.

Kelly was performing as part of Finucane & Smith's Dance Hall, a salacious salmagundi of sequins, sexiness, salsa and songs.

Kelly said she conceived the act in 2012 when she was pregnant with her daughter, describing it as "full of joy".

From being covered in feathers she finishes wearing little more than a G-string and pasties.

Kelly, 47, said she was raised in a relaxed bohemian household in Sydney where her mother "raised me to be myself and to be comfortable in my body".

She said she had wanted to work in burlesque since she was a child.

During dinner parties "I would jump out from behind the curtain naked", she said, and when she was sent to a Christian camp she and a friend performed striptease acts on a top bunk.

"The girls loved it - the boys weren't allowed to see it."

She later began working as a singer, performance artist and stripteaser in Kings Cross, and never looked back.

Also on the bill is Singapore-born, Sydney-raised Paul Cordeiro, who performs Boomshak, in which, he said, he comes onstage acting hard and aloof but soon loosens up to get the audience dancing in their seats.

Cordeiro has had a substantial career in dance, including work on the opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympics and being resident choreographer with the first Australian production of The Lion King.

He also choreographed a work for Canberra ensemble Quantum Leap.

Cordeiro said he hoped audiences would have a good time and forget the outside world.

"For a few hours with us, they don't have any problems," he said.

Finucane & Smith's Dance Hall is on at the Playhouse, Canberra Theatre Centre, until Saturday, February 9. Adults only. The 9.30pm shows are more risque. Visit canberratheatrecentre.com.au or call 6275 2700.