News Archives - Australian Burlesque Festival

Jazida: Canberra

By Dolores DaiquiriNews

1. What city are you from?
Canberra, ACT

2. What style of performance do you do and why?

I perform dance-based acts which are often infused with elements drawn from my background in bellydancing… A bit of classic and a bit of neo

3. How long have you been doing burlesque?

I have been doing burlesque for 3 years (but performing fusion burlesque – that rubbed shoulders with burlesque styling but had no strip for 9 years)

4. What is your biggest achievement so far in burlesque?

Being accepted as the first and only burlesque performer from Canberra to be accepted to perform at the Burlesque Hall of Fame in Las Vegas and opening the entire festival at the Movers, Shakers and Innovators Showcase.

5. What do you love about the art-form?

I love that burlesque is like a lens you can put on top of any type of performance art – you can perform burlesque as a singer, you can perform burlesque as a drag artist, you can perform burlesque as a dancer, you can perform burlesque as an actor… there is just so much range – which makes for really interesting shows and also provides a huge amount of liberty to artists when creating acts… it means you get to have so much more creative control about what you put on stage: your costume, your music, your lighting, everything! I also really love the community network that this art-form has given me – I have met so many of my dearest friends through this.

6. What can Alice Springs audiences expect on the 5 October?

ABF shows always blow my mind – you can expect to see lots of variety and lots of fabulous polished performers! I will personally be bringing a bit of candy – so have a sweet tooth ready!

7. Tell us a little about yourself. What do you do when you are not performing?

I am a mum of two little girls (4yo and 6yo), I work in an office 3 days a week for the ACT Government, I teach weekly dance classes and I am currently studying my Masters of Business Administration.

8. Any advise for those wanting to pursue burlesque?

If it is something you want to do JUST DO IT! If you have an act concept, then work on developing it – do workshops with artists who inspire you (you can workshop with burlesque artists, but also narrow in on specific act elements by working with specialists like dancers, comedians, directors, etc) and keep building it until you’re ready to apply to some community shows! You can choose to go through a burlesque school development course – but it is by no means the only way! If you are living remotely, you can still pursue burlesque yourself.

Photo credit: Captavitae

To see the Jazida perform at ABF book here: TICKETS

21st September, 2018

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Lilly Loca: New Zealand

By Dolores DaiquiriNews

1. What city are you from?
Auckland, New Zealand!

2. What style of performance do you do and why?
Burlesque wise, I tend to be more on the neo end due to my gender-bending and character-driven performances, but I also dabble in Classic. My act ‘Absolem’ I’ll be performing at ‘The Big Tease’ in Melbourne is probably the most “classic” act in my repertoire, but still has a neo twist.

3. How long have you been doing burlesque?
Since 2009, so nearly 10 years.

4. What is your biggest achievement so far in burlesque?
Winning the national title of Supreme Grand Tease 2017!

5. What do you love about the art-form?
That it’s a true representation of the artists creativity. Burly artists curate and devise their own works, costumes, etc. Of course, we sometimes have help from costumiers and choreographers, but a lot of the ideas and implementation of them comes from the artist themselves.

6. What city are you performing at in the festival?
Melbourne! I performed in my first ABF show in 2015 in Melbourne, and I fell in love with the city. I’m so happy to be returning!

7. What can audiences expect at the show/s you are performing at in October?
‘The Big Tease’ I feel has definitely more of a classic burlesque feel to it, incorporating amazing, glamorous costumes, props and high class, titillating acts. I feel very honored to be a part of the line-up and cannot wait to tread the boards of the Alex Theatre.

8. Tell us a little about yourself. What do you do when you are not performing?
Outside of burlesque, I work as a professional actress, MC and presenter under my muggle name, Nat Hugill. I also work as an events promoter and producer and own my own boutique production company, Va-Va-Voom Productions.

9. Any advise for those wanting to pursue burlesque?
Go to classes, do your research, network and be a life long learner.

Photo credit: Bruce Jenkins

To see the Lilly Loca perform at ABF book here: TICKETS

13th September, 2018

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The Diamond Dahlia: London

By Dolores DaiquiriNews

1. What city are you from?

I hail from Brisbane, Australia but have been living between London,UK and Berlin,Germany for the last 5 years

2. What style of performance do you do and why?

I classify my Burlesque as Classic with a Neo Twist. I started out doing classic and overtime as my personality as a performer developed I moved toward classic inspired, rock and roll infused, character and concept based work.

3. How long have you been doing burlesque?

10 years! I started at the ripe old age of 18 and have spent the last decade growing as a person and as a performer together.

4. What is your biggest achievement so far in burlesque?

I don’t like to single out any particular point as the biggest. My career in Burlesque has allowed me to perform all around the world, break barriers by dancing Burlesque in one of Europes top Opera companies, support myself with my art and grow a business all of my own. Every milestone is a great achievement and I can’t wait for the next.

5. What do you love about the art-form?

The freedom. I can get up on stage and perform a glamorous gem soaked routine or dress up as Freud and do an act based on psychological theories.

6. What can audiences across the country expect from you on stage during the tour?

At-ti-tude! Expect rock n roll, booty shaking, female power & mayhem.

7. Tell us a little about yourself. What do you do when you are not performing?

When I’m not touring, travelling and throwing myself around a stage I am an accessories designer, artist, musician and cat-like lounger. I live in London with my darling husband, play in a psych rock band and spend as much time as I can in my garden.

8. Any advise for those wanting to pursue burlesque?

Don’t try and be any other performer. Those shoes are filled. Be yourself, make your art and love what you do.

9. Tell us a little about your workshops you are doing on tour?

I shall be teaching Bad Ass Boa and Rock & Roll, Down and Dirty Bump and grind. These classes are fun, rock and roll infused, attitude filled classes. My two absolute fav classes to teach! These are booty shaking, body grinding, sexy, silly and light hearted workshops. Learn a bunch of new moves to take away and a bit of history to boot. Whether you’ve never stepped on a stage before or you’re a seasoned pro, these are high energy classes that will fuel your fire. I can’t wait to see everyone there!

To see The Diamond Dahlia perform at ABF book here: TICKETS

To book a workshop enrol here: WORKSHOPS

10th September, 2018

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Ferri Maya: Melbourne

By Dolores DaiquiriNews

1.What city are you from?
I am from Melbourne, Australia

2. What style of performance do you do and why?
I’m a darker style performer. Using rock and metal as my backing tracks. I also use Melbourne based bands music. I wanted to bring Burlesque into the rock community. Being a part of that world for so long, it was about time that both styles of performance walked hand in hand. I wanted to join both my passions together. I’m happy to say, it’s been achieved.

3. How long have you been doing burlesque?
For 7 years. Most of my early days were performing in London when I lived there.

4. What is your biggest achievement so far in burlesque?
Establishing myself, helping others as a burlesque teacher, being apart of ABF for the second year in a row and being accepted into New Orleans burlesque festival.

5. What do you love about the art-form?
Being a great role model and allowing my creativity to flow.

6. What city are you performing at in the festival?
Melbourne

7. What can audiences expect at the show/s you are performing at in October?
I have incorporated some exotic Russian into this routine. This is a dance style predominantly in pole that I really enjoy. I have used Lisa and Ginger Lee Valentine as my mentors for this routine. So it’s going to be one steamy performance… I’m hoping 🙂

8. Tell us a little about yourself. What do you do when you are not performing?
When I’m not performing, I am teaching, not only in burlesque but I am a stretch and jazz teacher. I’m also a qualified secondary school teacher who also works in primary education.

9. Any advise for those wanting to pursue burlesque?
Do as many styles of Burlesque as you can, have as many mentors and teachers as you can and always stay true to who you are. You never stop growing, so why should your passion.

To see Ferri Maya perform at ABF book here: TICKETS

27th August, 2018

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Vixen DeVille: USA

By Dolores DaiquiriNews

1. What city are you from?

Los Angeles

2. What style of performance do you do and why?

Variety burlesque – I love being able to add theatricality to an act and explore how you can put those theatrics to story telling use. Its great to see a fire eater and its great to see an act based around maleficent but if you could see an act when maleficent actually becomes the fire breathing dragon – now THAT’s an act.

3. How long have you been doing burlesque?

I started out in London in 2006

4. What is your biggest achievement so far in burlesque?

Producing my one hour solo show at the Hollywood fringe festival 2018 winning Best International Show, Soaring Solo Artists Award, Producers Encore Award and nominated best of Cabaret and Variety. The whole endeavour was equally terrifying and exhilarating and something I’d been wanting to do for the last 4 years.

5. What do you love about the art-form?

The fact that burlesque can be anything to anyone – a pure form of self-expression. There are no rules!

6. What city are you performing at in the festival?

Sydney and Canberra

7. What can audiences expect at the show/s you are performing at in October?

Being part of the Varietease show I’m expecting to see a lot of creative craziness and spectacular theatrical treats.

8. Tell us a little about yourself. What do you do when you are not performing?

I also work as an actor and fittings model ( trying on clothes in design houses and Head offices to make sure they fit properly before selling to the general public) I also teach burlesque and body confidence in addition to aerial and fire performance.

9. Any advise for those wanting to pursue burlesque?

The moment you think of a reason NOT to do it – use it as the reason why you SHOULD!!! If you have ANY interest at all in performing burlesque.. NOW is the time to do it. Find a class to give you some guidance and book in to perform at a show to give yourself a deadline date. Avoid any group classes that teach you group choreography – find a class specific to Act Development so that you can explore create you own style. You can always join the dance classes as a supplement to your tool box further down the road. Finally, don’t try to be like other performers, use them for inspiration but always do the thing that lights you up rather than the thing you think you’re supposed to be doing. You do you!

To see the Vixen DeVille perform at ABF book here:TICKETS

27th August, 2018

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