‘Sapphic Sensation’ Raven Rose is an award winning Afro-Indigenous dancer known for her grace, glamour, and grind. She’s produced variety shows The Raven’s Nest and Max-TEASE since 2016, and is the 2025 winner of the Alamo City Tease contest, making Black and Indigenous burlesque history as the first performer from Arkansas to hold a burlesque Queen title. When not performing and teaching burlesque related workshops all over the country, she is choreographing steamy group and solo acts for other performers and creating glamorous costumes for her fellow showponies.
Here’s her 21.
1. How would you define yourself in three words?
Intuitive, intentional, disciplined.
2. Who would play you in a movie about your life?
I don’t think I have a lookalike or keep up with celebrities that much, but maybe Tessa Thompson based on comedic wit and choosing impactful roles.
3. What is your biggest strength?
My gut instinct. Whether I listen to it or ignore it, it’s always spot on. I’m very observant and have great pattern recognition skills, so I find I’m often right about people or situations earlier than most and it makes me look a little looney from time to time.
4. What is your biggest weakness?
I am so socially anxious at times, and it is often mistaken for aloofness. I’m not sure how to alleviate that, but I swear I’m having an excellent time most of the time! I’m just naturally quiet and enjoy listening/learning in social settings, especially around new folks.
5. When are you most happy and inspired?
Creating and nurturing – whether that’s costuming, choreography, gardening, or being silly with my little theybie.
6. What is your favourite on-screen burlesque moment from film or TV?
I want to say Showgirls, but there are two film moments that really stick out for me that are burlesque adjacent. The ‘Imagination’ scene from Flashdance and when Mercutio performs Young Hearts, Run Free in the 1996 Baz Luhrmann rendition of Romeo+Juliet. All three films were so formative in my earlier years and remain so today.
7. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
Be kind, not nice.
8. If you could switch lives with one person for a day, who would it be?
Right now, Doechii. To tap into that confidence and creative process for a day would be enlightening.
9. What’s the biggest myth or misconception about burlesque?
That it is an all-inclusive community. Unfortunately, it often reflects the rest of the world and is chalked full of the same racism, fatphobia, ableism, etc., as any other industry.
10. If you could only perform to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I really love performing to High Class Woman by this indie sleaze band Thelma & the Sleaze. It’s been in my repertoire for a long time and is constantly evolving, but it always feels so gritty, grindy and good.
11. What surprisingly useful things do you have in your show case?
It’s not useful really, but I’ve started to carry a polaroid camera and take pics of folks. I try to be mindful and send folks their pic and a little note in the mail if I notice they are going through a particularly difficult time or just to let them know they made an impact.
12. Do you have a backstage ritual?
I make a point to forgive myself for any perceived ‘mistakes’ before I go on stage. It’s a job, and of course I want to present my best, but it’s okay if it doesn’t all go to plan. This has become a practice because I have been so hard on myself in the past and I’m working towards remedying that. I also mentally thank the audience for allowing me to exchange energy with them in the final seconds as my act concludes.
13. What advice would you give to new performers starting out today?
Give it time! There are exceptions, but generally everything about this industry usually takes time. From act and costume building, reputation and rapports, character and branding, all of it. Invest in learning new skills and elevating your current ones.
14. What is your proudest achievement?
Carving a path for myself as an Afro Indigenous performer in a state where burlesque was defined by the white lens. I hope laying some groundwork has made space for others who do not fit in that box to do the same. Being an example of a queer BIPOC woman personifying glamour and making a career out of my art. Utilizing that glamour and stillness in my choreography as small acts of protest.
15. What is your biggest regret?
Well, it’s not a regret per se – because it has created a determination in me that has led me where I am today – but not advocating for myself loudly earlier in my career and allowing myself to be tokenized by people who did not care about me was a hard lesson to wade through. I’ve managed to become a person with boundaries and agency in spite of it, but it was a wild ride to get to this point.
16. What is the biggest challenge facing today’s burlesque scene?
This industry is constantly evolving, but what I am seeing recently, at least regionally, is that there is an oversaturation of performers eager to entertain and not nearly enough venues willing to showcase them. There are a lot of ‘old money’ owners willing to let some of the most incredible venues go to waste for the sake of purity entertainment or only showcasing one ‘type’ of burlesque if they are willing to showcase it at all. It’s a real bummer.
17. If you could go back and tell yourself one thing when you started out in burlesque, what would it be?
Ensure the people you surround yourself with, especially early in your career, truly believe in you and want the best for you, both on stage and in your personal life. This will absolutely affect your trajectory in both areas. Pour yourself into your creativity unapologetically.
18. What is a cause or issue that’s very important to you?
Right now, in burlesque and in other aspects in my life, it’s combating capitalism and fascism worldwide and paying attention to how every action I take affects the most marginalized folks. I say that as a person whose identities intersect in a number of marginalized ways but is still afforded some kind of privilege, and feeling the need to wield it in ways that help others. Having a child has forced me to really reckon with how I want to leave this world for the future. From boycotting and masking to local community building and consuming with sustainability in mind, I’m only one person but I’m going to do what I can personally to move the needle in a compassionate way. It’s heavy but it’s something I am constantly thinking about.
19. What are you currently reading, watching, and listening to?
I read a ton of socio-political books and share those weekly on my Instagram Highlights under ‘Raven Reads’. I unfortunately watch the trashiest reality TV when I can (if only I could watch Vanderpump Rules for the first time again), and right now I cannot turn off GNX by Kendrick Lamar. The homage he pays to the music that raised me in that album has me in a chokehold. I’ve also been rockin’ with Doechii and Fightmaster lately.
20. If you could share a dressing room with one performer for the rest of your career, who would it be?
This is a hard one. For 14 years in this industry I have been so lucky to work alongside some of the most incredible folks. I have to say Rose Whip has been a joy to share space with. Their ability to go deep, keep it real, and keep it cracking has always inspired me. I feel super lucky to know them.
21. What would you like your life and career to look like in 10 years time?
Honestly, I’m living my dream life right now. I am performing and costuming for others full time, traveling, raising and homeschooling the most incredible kid, and gardening our own little mountainside with the love of my life. There are little adjustments left to manifest, but my little bubble is good. I have faith in myself that I will continue to create a life I enjoy for me and those around me. It’s the rest of the world I’m investing all my hopes in.
Follow Raven Rose on Instagram and visit her website. You can also email bookravenrose@gmail.com for all costuming inquiries.
