2/2 • What are some obstacles you’ve considered before performing for the first time?

“Money, commuting, and other people’s reactions. I have very grand visions for the acts I want to create and very expensive taste, so managing my expectations and setting realistic goals for myself was hard to do at first. For commuting, I live in Jersey and was worried about how that would impact my access to getting gigs and just going to shows in general. I’ve definitely been making it work, to my own amazement and relief. Lastly, I was (and still kind of am) worried about how my family and former colleagues will respond should they learn I do burlesque. Whenever I start to worry, I remind myself that my happiness is paramount, always, and focus on the love and overwhelming support of the wonderful, beautiful people that I do have in my corner!”

• What are some other crafts or arts you take part in?

“I used to do tons of community theater when I was younger, and have always loved to dance. I cosplay and have done so for about 7 or 8 years now. I love cosplay and am obsessed with getting to completely transform and embody a character, it makes me feel like a little chameleon person. I style all my own wigs and have done wigs for other cosplayers as well! I don’t have many sewing skills, but I do a great deal of costume embellishments. I think wigs and rhinestones have become two of my greatest loves.”

• What is something about your art that you would like people to know?

“Whatever I give on stage, at its core, is an expression of love. Getting to be myself and share my craft on stage is truly a gift, and something that I will never take for granted. No matter what the act is, I will always give it my all and want everyone watching to feel as special as they have made me feel, just for being there.”

• Lavender Lilac at the DROM (1st image) and Aerial Arts studio (2nd image) for the New York School of Burlesque’s Student Showcase 19-20.2.22

1/1 • What is your stage name? How did you create your name?

“My stage name is Lavender Lilac. It took me a while to come up with a name I liked and felt was most fitting for my persona. I have a note on my phone with a bunch of different names, and would add to the list any time inspiration struck. Lavender is my favorite scent and purple is my favorite color. They both feel so warm and sensual and powerful to me. I tossed around Lavender and Lilac in different iterations before finally deciding to keep it simple and go with Lavender Lilac. I feel like it rolls off the tongue really nicely, too.”

• How were you first introduced to burlesque?

“I was first introduced to burlesque when I watched the movie “Burlesque” with Miss Xtina and Mother Cher, and was so in awe of the costumes and the sexy dance moves. I was always mesmerized by the fans too. The drama and the beauty of them makes my heart sing.”

• How does burlesque make you feel?

“Burlesque makes me feel free and more like myself than I have ever felt.”

• What helps you express yourself best?

“Honestly, just feeling comfortable with the people around me and feeling like I’m in a safe space. I think I am the most authentic version of myself when I’m with my friends or when I’m in creative and queer spaces.”

• Why have you chosen to explore burlesque?

“I have chosen to explore burlesque to regain a sense of power and a feeling of freedom for myself, which are two things I felt were missing for quite some time. In mid 2021, I had quit my job and left grad school. I was feeling incredibly burnt out and lost, and was very seriously considering becoming a stripper. I actually would not have considered pursuing burlesque if it weren’t for the suggestion of my best friend! And I am so happy I did!”

• How do you feel now that you’ve done your first show and performed this showcase?

“I feel fucking incredible. Unstoppable. Like I want to perform over and over and over again!

• Lavender Lilac at Aeriel Arts studio for the New York School of Burlesque’s Student Showcase 19.2.22

1/2 • How did you create your name?

“For a while I really wanted to use my muggle name. I am happy to present my art and body as **** M., but as a beginner, I didn’t want to deny myself the safety and creativity that comes with a stage name. I wanted an androgynous name that reflected who I am in real life. For years I’ve spent every morning and night on my fire escape looking at the sky-galaxy. Jackie was my grandma— a character who loved strip clubs, drag, sex, and burlesque. She could also make one hell of a costume. She’d be the most excited about my burlesque life and I feel her strength standing behind me when I am called her name.”

• How were you first introduced to burlesque?

“I was first introduced to burlesque and striptease through watching flashdance, gypsy, and showgirls— all shown to me by grandma.”

• How does burlesque make you feel?

“Burlesque makes me feel joy! It embodies all of the things that I love and the values that I have with the most wonderful people to learn from and work with.”

• Why have you chosen to explore burlesque?

“I have chosen to explore burlesque because, to me, it is the most colorful and creative celebration of a huge spectrum of art, body, and human nature. The world needs this kind of expression so I’m in.”

• Jackie Galaxy outside of Aerial Arts for the New York School of Burlesque’s Student Showcase 19.2.22

2/2 • What is your favorite part about performing?

“I don't even know where to begin. It feels like a high or a rush. It feels like the ultimate connection to oneself. Everything just flows right out of me with ease. I love that there's an infinite amount of ways it can be done too! I feel so powerful on stage.”

• What are some obstacles you've considered before performing for the first time?

“I thought I had to be an amazing dancer. I'm still very much a beginner, and I was worried I wouldn't have much to do on stage if I wasn't able to bust out a freestyle. What a relief it was to find out burlesque is more than just dancing. It made it feel so much easier and doable when that was taken off the table.”

• What is something about your art that you would like people to know?

“I like it spooky and sexy.”

• Have you been to a burlesque show before? Do you remember your first Burlesque show?

“I actually don't remember my first burlesque show, but I do remember the last few I've seen in recent years. I feel like burlesque is something I've seen before and just didn't know what it was called. I saw two burlesque shows in New Orleans back in 2018. The first one I actually didn't attend— I was walking with my friends after getting drinks on Bourbon Street and we stopped at this huge restaurant window. On the other side was a woman performing burlesque! She was dancing around the restaurant patrons and popping balloons on her ass. It was really funny!“

• How do you feel now that you've done your first show/performed this showcase?

“I feel like my true authentic self and nobody can tell me shit.”

• What do you hope for next in your artistic career? What more do you wish to explore?

“To perform consistent burlesque gigs and travel! Also to perform pole and aerial hoop. I just want to keep diving deeper into performing and living my happiest life.”

• Sultry Saturn at the DROM for the New York School of Burlesque’s Student Showcase 20.2.22

1/2 • What is your stage name? How did you create your name?

“Sultry Saturn. I wanted to combine two of my favorite things: sex appeal and astronomy!”

• How were you first introduced to burlesque?

“I don't remember the first time, but I remember seeing the "Lady Marmalade" video as a kid and loving every single moment of it. I always loved watching sexy and confident woman simply looking good and doing their thing. It's so inspiring.”

• How does burlesque make you feel?

“Like myself. The first night I hit the stage, I transformed. I had an awakening and reconnection with the real me. I feel so empowered being able to create in this way. I love that burlesque allows us to celebrate our bodies and just have a good time.”

• What helps you express yourself best?

“I feel like it's always changing. I gravitate towards whatever calls to me at the moment.”

• Why have you chosen to explore burlesque?

“It has always called to me. I love the idea of being a showgirl, especially a traveling show girl. The freedom and creativity of it all. I also love my body and dancing is my passion. Getting to dress up and dance sexily to music is euphoria.”

• Sultry Saturn outside of Aerial Arts for the New York School of Burlesque’s Student Showcase 19.2.22

3/3 • Why have you chosen to explore burlesque?

“I chose to explore burlesque because I love watching burlesque. I love how it makes me feel. It was something I wanted to feel for myself. I wanted to know what it was like being a performer and creating this beautiful, powerful, and dazzling energy and sharing it with a crowd.”

• What is your favorite part about performing?

“My favorite part about performing is the energy of the crowd. I love interacting with the crowd and being able to share that moment with them. Leading up to the performance, I really enjoy the process of creating an act. It really allows me to daydream and let my imagination run wild. Being able to go from conception to the finished product is a pretty magical ride. During the process, I go through every emotion. I’m happy, then I’m sad, then I’m angry, then I’m fearful, then I’m exuberant. That process makes me feel human. It makes me feel alive.”

• What are some obstacles you’ve considered before performing for the first time?

“I definitely considered a lot of obstacles before performing burlesque. I definitely did not have the look, the skills, the confidence, the time, and the money. It seemed like a dream and I didn’t know how to get there. So I worked on all the things I didn’t have. I saved up money, tried to get a good job that could support myself and my creative vision. I spend a lot of time on my fitness— going to the gym, taking dance classes and budgeting for all of that, eating well, and taking baby steps towards creating a burlesque act. I performed in group numbers. I also took on other small creatives projects to build up my confidence.”

• Scarlet Song in Aerial Arts studio for the New York School of Burlesque’s Student Showcase 19.2.22

2/3 • What are some other crafts/arts you take part in?

“Other arts and crafts I currently partake in are pole dance, some aerial arts, and crochet. I’m a pretty avid pole dancer. I work at a pole studio while also working a full-time job. I’m in love with pole for many of the same reasons I’m really in love with burlesque. Both express femininity. Pole dance combines all the things I love and admire: strength, beauty, sexuality, courage. It’s absolutely mesmerizing.”

• What helps you express yourself best?

“Dance and movement helps me express myself the best. It doesn’t have to be pretty or interesting. I just love dancing and moving with other people.”

• What is something about your art that you would like people to know?

“Through my art, I express another side of me that I can’t put into words or through conversations. I hope that I’m able to connect with people in a much deeper and abstract way through my art. I really enjoy creating art in which people can spend time wandering in the details, but also has a whole.”

• How do you feel now that you’ve done your first show/performed this showcase?

“I feel really excited, empowered, and fueled with creative energy after I did my first show. Since I’ve allowed myself to be creative, the floodgates have opened and I’m ready to create and pursue anything that I can dream up.”

• What do you hope for next in your artistic career? What more do you wish to explore?

“For my next step in my artistic career, I want to focus on creating full pieces from the mediums I really love: pole, burlesque, and maybe other aerial apparatuses. I hope to put together a portfolio of performances and costumes!”

• Scarlet Song in Aerial Arts studio for the New York School of Burlesque’s Student Showcase 19.2.22

1/3 • What is your stage name? How did you create your name?

“My stage name is Scarlet Song. I choose the name Scarlet because I love how wearing the color red makes me feel. Whenever I wear red lipstick or any other bright color, I feel so bold, powerful, confident, ready to be seen, and ready to take on the world. The last name, Song, creates playful alliteration and is also tribute to Brenda Song— who played London Tipton on the Suite Life of Zack and Cody. Brenda, or London, really broke the stereotype of Asian women being quiet, submissive, and bookish. She was the first person on TV that I felt like I could relate to because she looked like me. There weren’t any other Asian-American women that I remember playing a main character at the time. Before her, the only Asian woman there was was Mulan, and she was a cartoon character.”

• How were you first introduced to burlesque?

“When I first moved to New York City back in 2013, someone recommended that I go to The Slipper Room. I didn’t know what burlesque was and I really had no idea what I was in for. I saw my first burlesque act and my first aerial silks act. I was so blown away by the energy, beauty and physics skill of all the performers. I had such an amazing time and I still think back to that day. I was so inspired and I feel like everything I do now is in part due to the inspiration I got from that night.”

• Scarlet Song at the DROM for the New York School of Burlesque’s Student Showcase 20.2.22

1/2 • How were you first introduced to burlesque?

“I feel like my very first exposure to burlesque had to be Moulin Rouge with Nicole Kidman or Burlesque with Cher and Christina Aguilera back in the early 2000’s.”

• How does burlesque make you feel?

“It makes me feel so many things; inspired, sexy, empowered, creative, enlightened, naughty! I could go on, that’s the beauty of it! You can go in so many directions with one act that it can make you feel so many different things!”

• Why have you chosen to explore burlesque?

“I realized that I wanted to do a performance art that I could truly make my own. Burlesque encompasses everything I love about performance, and everything I’m passionate about with body positivity and sexuality. But it can also be political, sad, funny, kinky! It can be whatever you as the artist want! And also… sexy nakey people? Yes please!”

• Felurian Moon at the DROM for the New York School of Burlesque’s Student Showcase 20.2.22

2/2 • What is your favorite part about performing?

“The energy of the crowd for sure! There is no better feeling than soaking in the love from an audience.”

• Do you remember your first burlesque show?

“My very first show was Suicide Girl’s Black Heart Burlesque show! It was so magical! It was naughty, nerdy, funny, and so sexy. They did a Khaleesi number and a Star Wars number. We were right in the front row, so I was screaming! I will never forget those performances.”

• What are some other crafts/arts you take part in?

“I like to write poetry, and I dabble in photography from time to time. I also used to act and went to theatre school, which I incorporate into my burlesque performances.”

• What is something about your art that you would like people to know?

“It took me a long time to get to this place, but I want you to know that it is liberating and incredible, so if you yourself are thinking of dabbling… DO IT.”

• Felurian Moon at the DROM for the New York School of Burlesque’s Student Showcase 20.2.22

1/2 • How did you create your name?

“I came about it because I’ve been playing around with this over-the-top, unabashedly, unashamedly, big persona that I just wanted to let out. Stiletto is who that represents. She’s a bad girl, a villain, she’s a lioness, a devil woman, a witchy woman with a gigantic persona. I just wanted to be able to play with that in burlesque.”

• How do you identify? Pronouns? Sexuality?

“My pronouns are she/her/hers. I love all humans. I think there’s something sexy about humans and people in general. It’s hard for me to say whether, you know, straight, gay, bi. I feel like in this world there’s something sexy about all of us, and so that’s how I think about my sexuality as well.”

• How were you first introduced to burlesque?

“I was first introduced to burlesque really through some of the legends that you would see videos of. I did a performance art class in college and really fell in love with this idea of parody and just, “being big.” In terms of some of the burlesque acts I’ve seen, that was really the thing that drew me to burlesque. It makes me feel like anything is possible, that there’s beauty and there’s magic and there’s sexy and there’s funny and there’s drama in the world all ruled in this beautiful form. That is actually my favorite part about performing. Being able to create that magic, that moment where it’s just the audience and me and we are bind together by this fleeting yet magical moment. I think of theatre in general like that.”

• Stiletto Sinclair at the DROM for the New York School of Burlesque’s Student Showcase 20.2.22

2/2 • How does burlesque make you feel?

“It’s hard to be vulnerable in front of so many people watching you and that is something I’m still trying to overcome. Certainly, taking your clothes off and being raw even though it’s this persona you’ve assumed on stage is very hard, to just give yourself up there. So I think trusting in that experience, trusting in Jo [Weldon], trusting in what she’s taught me and given me, and trusting my burlesque siblings has helped overcome that… at least this far.”

• How do you feel now that you’ve done your first show/performed this showcase?

“Now that I’ve performed, I want to do it again and again and again. There’s so many things that I’d love to explore and create. I hope that I can do it with people like you and hope that we can continue creating as a group.”

• What do you hope for next in your artistic career? What more do you wish to explore?

“I would love to try other things in my tool belt. Also, other types of burlesque. I want to do a comedic routine. I would just love to do other things and explore and connect with people.”

• Stiletto Sinclair at the DROM for the New York School of Burlesque’s Student Showcase 20.2.22

2/2 • What is your favorite part about performing?

“My favorite part of performing is the special connection between performer and the audience. Sometimes it’s magical and everyone is vibing together and sometimes it’s not, but what I love is that it’s different and unique every time— it can’t be totally recreated. It’s my favorite thing about all temporal art. Either way you had to be there in real time.”

• What are some obstacles you’ve considered before performing for the first time?

“The two main obstacles that I’ve considered before performing were: 1. How am I going to pay for all of this?! And 2. As a bartender for almost 20 years in every kind of place imaginable, I have had concerns over unsafe situations with creeps.”

• How do you feel now that you’ve done your first show/performed this showcase?

“Now that my first showcase is over I feel so trippy, floaty, renewed, inspired, motivated and afraid all at once. I am doing my next showcase that starts this week— trying to ride the wave before muggle hustle gets the better of me!”

• Jackie Galaxy at the DROM for the New York School of Burlesque’s Student Showcase 20.2.22