SYDNEY, Australia - A saloon-style striptease, complete with corsets and balloons, at an Australian government-sponsored conference on global warming left some scientists hot and bothered and the organizers in boiling water.
The show was cut short and organizers issued an apology after some delegates at the Australia and New Zealand Climate Forum's dinner in Canberra walked out in disgust at what was intended as a lighthearted break from the weighty business of rising temperatures.
Rebecca Gale, who led the team of dancers from Miss Kitka's House of Burlesque, said the performance was in reasonably good taste and she didn't understand what the fuss was about.
Gale said she emerged into the function room during dinner wearing a heavy corset, black fishnet stockings and at least a dozen balloons, which she invited delegates to pop as she danced to Peggy Lee's sultry 1958 hit "Fever."
"The most that any of the girls get down to is vintage lingerie, which is corsetry and stockings," Gale told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio on Friday. "It's not like we were doing full nudity and simulating sexual acts or anything like that."
"There was not even a midriff on display," she said.
But some in the audience objected to the Wednesday night show in Australia's old Parliament House, and the dance troupe was asked to stop about 10 minutes into a 45-minute routine, Gale said.
The Australian National University, which organized the conference, issued a statement the next day apologizing for any offense caused.
"The intent was lighthearted entertainment," the statement said. "In retrospect the choice of entertainment was inappropriate for the occasion. We understand if the sponsors wish to withdraw."
The government did.
When Environment Minister Ian Campbell got wind of the show, he canceled his department's 3,000 Australian dollar ($2,290) sponsorship, and the Agriculture Department followed suit, withdrawing A$5,000 ($3,800).
"I am appalled at what happened," he said.
Prime Minister John Howard was less prudish.
"My reaction is well, probably not appropriate, but I'm not going to list it for discussion at the next meeting of the national security committee," Howard told the Southern Cross Broadcasting network.
"We don't want to over-dramatize our reaction," Howard said.
