Burlesque and stand-up comedy may not seem like the most intuitive pairing, but Sunday night, Moonglow Burlesque Performance Troupe will combine forces with Comedy Club China in a performance that will alternate between burlesque performances and stand-up comedy.

Sherwin Jiang, one of the co-founders of Comedy Club China, said that the two titillating forms of expression are a naturally good fit for giggles, as the art of burlesque has long had a satirical side.

"Cabaret is a show that is very different from just your [average] strip tease. There is a lot of culture in the art. The night will be a classy affair - on their part, anyway," Jiang joked.

Burlesque, a phrase used as far back as the 17th century, made its debut in the US in the early 1900s. Short burlesque performances were often interspersed into a larger show, and the "cabarets," or performance venues, were typically clubs, bars and restaurants. In this century, a newfound interest has emerged in burlesque, with performers like Dita Von Tease reigniting interest worldwide.

As for what kind of crowd this event suits, Jiang warned that the material is "rated R for language and [references] to drug use."

The stand-up performance will be in English, though in the future, Comedy Club China hopes to expand into staging Chinese-speaking comedians.

Comedy Club China features a variety of stand-up acts from regulars living in Beijing. For the brave demographic who'd rather be active participants than passive spectators, Comedy Club China also hosts weekly open-mic nights Wednesdays at 9:30 pm at the Hot Cat Club in Fangjia Hutong, Dongcheng district.

The Moonglow Burlesque Performance Troupe offers a diverse repertoire of single and group performances and is available for booking.

Where: Cafe CD Blues, No. 39 Shenlu Jie, opposite the north gate of Ritan Park, Chaoyang district

When: 9 pm, Sunday, January 20

Tickets: 100-200 yuan, includes one drink

Contact: 8561-0560