Cherry OnTop has been a burlesque performer for over twenty years and a renowned instructor for twelve, namely as the owner and director of the Vancouver Burlesque Co. In 2003 she co-founded Sweet Soul Burlesque, and a few years later co-founded the Vancouver International Burlesque Festival.
Voted one of the Top 10 Burlesque performers in Canada by 21st Century Burlesque readers, Cherry has also been a prolific participant at the Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekender over the years, appearing in the Movers, Shakers and Innovators showcase twice, and competing for Best Debut, Best Duo, Exotic World – and Best Group, which she won as a member of Pin-Up Posse, in 2023. Let’s ask her 21 questions…
1. How would you define yourself in three words?
Fiery, Fun-Loving, Creative.
2. Who would play you in a movie about your life?
Robert Downey Jr.
3. What is your biggest strength?
Problem Solving.
4. What is your biggest weakness?
Never asking for help.
5. When are you most happy and inspired?
Sitting on a tropical beach after a day of surf and sun, surrounded by friends and family.
6. What is your favourite on-screen burlesque moment from film or TV?
Pennies from Heaven with Christopher Walken.
7. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
Don’t be an asshole.
When I asked Catherine D’Lish many moons ago at a festival what her secret to longevity in the scene is, she said: ‘Don’t be an asshole. Be nice to everyone from the stage kitties to the bartenders to the door person to the busser. You won’t be invited back anywhere if you act like an asshole.’
8. If you could switch lives with one person for a day, who would it be?
Someone who lives in a gorgeous place in the Seychelles, right on the best beach with cabanas that go out over the water. They have all the toys, especially a very fast and pretty Seadoo, speedboat and paddleboards. This person is also super flexible and has a stunning singing voice. That’s the person I’d like to bodysnatch, please!
9. What’s the biggest myth or misconception about burlesque?
There’s many that would be tied for this, but one of the biggest ones IMO is that we just show up in a nice costume and perform. Voila! Easy!
What the average person doesn’t see (and we performers know all too well) is that we are the art director, choreographer, costumer/embellisher/costume designer. We are admin person, promoter and graphic designer. We are the clothing and hair stylist and makeup artist. We are the brand manager, booking agent, Head of HR hunny! I believe it’s why so many of us stick with this magical yet gruelling artform, because we rarely if ever get bored. We have way too much on our To Do Lists to get bored. Well, that and we’re adrenaline junkies, tee hee.
10. If you could only perform to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Damn, this is a rough question. My ADHD brain does not like it! I don’t have an act to this one, but I could probably listen and dance to Get It On Tonight by Montell Jordan every single day without getting sick of it.
11. What surprisingly useful things do you have in your show case?
An Exacto knife, and do a bunch of loose rhinestones count?
12. Do you have a backstage ritual?
I always save my lashes and cosmetic glitter until I’m backstage, as well as finishing my hair. I like the grounding of doing finishing touches backstage. I do some half-ass stretching, and speaking of ass, I am a big fan of shaking my booty to get my body fired up for the stage.
13. What advice would you give to new performers starting out today?
Show up! Be the person that volunteers at shows, attends shows, is available to help out and remind people that they’re eager. Number 1 – it helps keep your face and name in people’s minds for future casting, and Number 2 – you can learn a hell of a lot by paying attention and taking mental notes at shows.
14. What is your proudest achievement?
My La Maison Lust shows with co-producer Portia Favro. We wanted to create Vegas-level shows here in Vancouver and blow people completely away. These shows (LUST and WET) and their casts have been stunning, sizzling, electrifying magic and I couldn’t be more proud.
15. What is your biggest regret?
I regret not travelling to NYC and Europe with my burly bestie, Lola Frost, when I was pregnant with my first child. I assumed I’d be waddling around five months into pregnancy but I felt great, was still performing full out and could have crushed that tour. Then once I entered mom mode I didn’t have the time and means to travel in that way.
But I truly don’t focus on or give much energy to regrets, plus I’ll be performing until I’m 80 so I still have plenty of time!
16. What is the biggest challenge facing today’s burlesque scene?
I’m speaking from my point of view as a teacher here, but it’s the belief that you have to start out from the jump with the feather fans and all the rhinestones and spend so much money on your costume, and then have to get accepted into festivals to be seen and valid and get bookings.
When many of us started we had a hot glue gun, a couple sequins and a prayer – that was more than enough to hit the stage and get our chops, then we grew and matured organically as performers. I think everyone should be able to start out as a basic bitch and learn tricks along the way. It’s affordable and fun and there’s no barriers for the people who can’t afford the fancy robe and feather fans. People want to come out of the gates looking like Dita and being the Monarch of Burlesque, but how about we spend some sweet time getting there – working on our skills, getting the gigs, flailing in space, finding out what works and what doesn’t – and not worry about getting into festivals as a measure of our worth as performers.
There’s so much to be done in your local city or town that can actually get you paid, train you up as a performer and fill your sparkly bucket without the accolades. Accolades are cool and having big goals is cool, but hosting your own weekly show in a dive bar is fucking cool too! Let’s all enjoy the ride, pace ourselves and remember that everyone’s speed is different and your success as a performer is measured in so many ways.
*I think I segued through my point but, welcome to my brain.
17. If you could go back and tell yourself one thing when you started out in burlesque, what would it be?
You’ll do this for decades, babe, so think a little harder on your burlesque name, ‘kay?
18. What is a cause or issue that’s very important to you?
A FREE PALESTINE.
19. What are you currently reading, watching, and listening to?
I just finished re-reading my teenage copy of Interview with the Vampire, as inspo for a big show I’m doing in November – stay tuned!
I watch every and all episodes of Drag Race and then more Drag Race, but I did recently smash Season 1 of The Gentlemen which was so good and slick. Also Legendary, holy shit what a show.
I’m a DJ so I Iisten to a ton of music of all genres, especially Hip Hop and RnB, but I’m currently having a Bad Bunny summer. I also can’t stop listening to the song Boom Bam by Team Salut.
20. If you could share a dressing room with one performer for the rest of your career, who would it be?
It has to be two performers, my Burlesque Wife, Ginger Valentine, and my Burlesque Bestie, Lola Frost.
21. What would you like your life and career to look like in 10 years time?
In 10 years I’ll be in my 50s with teenage kids so I’ll have more freedom to travel to perform and headline all the gigs that will be coming my way. I always thought I’d retire at 50 but that’s LIES. I still want to be able to look at the 20 year olds I perform with and say, ‘Try to keep up with mama!’
I can imagine myself phasing out of teaching and becoming a couple’s therapist or a similar gig where I can help people’s relationships and mental health.
And if you sensed a theme with my answers – I really want to be a Snowbird, living in Canada until the weather gets cold and dreary then running to my sunny casa on the beach every winter.
Visit www.itscherryontop.com and follow Cherry on Instagram.
