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