The first time I encountered Burlesque as an Artform was when I was working in a small underground theatre in Dumbo NYC in 2004, here they had a weekend of Burlesque training and I was the front of house staff, and fell in love with the Artform and performers on the spot.
When living in London in 2012-13 – supported also for it by a grant from The Danish Actors’ Association – I took ‘further training’ and ‘educational workshops’ to explore and learn more on the Art of ‘Burlesque performance’. I started with classes at London Academy of Burlesque and here they opened up my heart with enjoyment, body awareness and community spirit and I loved it and then graduated from the Burlesque Baby Academy, at the legendary Madame Jojo’s in Soho.
A reason for my exploration into the universe of Burlesque, is also that I have always had this idea of combining Burlesque performance style – that in some way is very monologue based, just without the words – with playwriting and staged theatre.
So, after graduation I continued to perform as my new alter ego ‘Misty Gaze’ also at ‘Burlesque Idol’ at Madame JoJo’s, and at Empire Casino in Leichester Square.
Returning to Demark I staged Misty Gaze will Amaze- 100 years of Women’s right to Vote at Bådteatret in Copenhagen in 2015, together with some of the best and coolest performers I know: Gabriella Sacco from IT/NL, Coral Messam from the UK whom I had also graduated Burlesque Academy with, Kristina Skovby and Marie Vestergaard Jacobsen both beautiful actresses and dancers.
Together with Kristina and Marie we continued for a couple of years later to do Burlesque performance in our group ‘Plumes’. For ‘Plumes’ I also wrote a lot of blogs and did thorough research into the Burlesque elements of the ancient Greek comedy playwrighter Aristophanes’ plays in Athens at the Danish Institute.
It’s been a while since I have performed burlesque, I use the style in all my other work though, and in creating costumes and in my day-to-day training. Hopefully though new opportunities will arise soon to be mesmerized by this generous, glorious, fun, present and stunning performance style, and Artform.
