Burgundy Brixx has tackled my 2013 pre-BHoF Q&A, and she will take to the stage in just over a week at the Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekend 2013. I put something lighthearted and fun together this year, and requested some extra ‘media’ from each contender.
When I’m on stage, I feel… complete.
When I’m on stage, I want the audience to feel… total sensual delight.
BHoF is special and important to me because… the spirit of Jennie Lee is alive there and infuses the reunion weekend with a spirit of camaraderie and celebration for the history, the present and the future of burlesque simultaneously. I feel strongly that understanding and respecting the history of any art form is the best way to effectively inform and enrich its future, and being in the midst of so many passionate artists sharing in the joy of their craft always gives me a euphoric sense of optimism!
I chose the act I am competing with because… it is filled with a sense of absolute joy and passion that engulfs me and radiates from my soul as I perform it, and I hope to project that same blissful glow into the hearts of all my peers and audience members.
If I am crowned Queen… oh my – well, nothing about me would change – I’d still be the same passionate and creative artist and friend, only then I’d finally have a dang tag-line!
If I could speak to myself when I was a new performer starting out, I would say/tell myself… Trust your instincts. There is always truth to be found in every experience, no matter if it’s ultimately positive or negative. Keep adding those truths to your tool belt. Embrace the opportunities that are presented to you with passion and allow them to help you fashion your future. Dream, yes, but then boldly use your mind and skills to transform those dreams into reality. Trust in your powers of imagination. Be.
Something that few people know about me is… My all-time favourite band is The Talking Heads.
I am happiest when… I’ve produced a successful night of burlesque, made my way through a full crowd of happy revellers and get to pay all my performers and crew for making art. Then I go home, take off my makeup and cuddle with my husband and two cozy kitties. Pure bliss.
My greatest strength is… tenacity.
My biggest vice is… work.
My greatest fear is… lack of work.
I if could have a superhero power, it would be… FLYING!!!
The best piece of advice I have ever been given is… always be in the midst of a project. You can have two or three going on in tandem, but as long as there’s something creative to do, you have purpose – a raison d’etre. I really believe it’s the secret to a long and happy life.
If I could only watch one movie, hear one song and read one book for the rest of my life, they would be… Blazing Saddles, Rhapsody In Blue, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare.
The key to show-stopping striptease is… secrets and surprises.
My hopes for the future of burlesque are… that burlesque is recognised and embraced by the mainstream artistic world as its own legitimate art-form, with room for all levels of education, all shades of style and all means of expression. Out of the shadows, and into the spotlight!