Lady Josephine

“I am for an art that is political-erotical-mystical /That does something other than sit it’s ass in a museum […] I am for art that is combed down, that is hung from each ear, that is laid on the lips and under the eyes, that is shaved from the legs, that is brushed on the teeth, that is fixed on the thighs, that is slipped on the foot” – Claes Oldenburg

I perform Burlesque because through this medium I can make my audience laugh, provoke their imagination and set their loins on fire all at the same time. Burlesque can never be left behind glass because it lives and breathes and addresses sexuality, fantasy, bodies, politics, pop culture and gender in a light-hearted way that is accessible to all. It is about breaking taboos and building a community that can have dialogue about those taboos. It is positive sexuality in a repressive society. On stage, I take ownership of my sexual objectification and am able to mould it to my liking in a consensual setting. I explore the hyper-feminine and other gender stereotypes through parody while also relishing in the beauty of those stereotypes. I use my training in movement to create art where I have complete creative control.
My Burlesque performance takes inspiration from the circus, archetypes, high fashion, and the nuances of beauty we find everyday. It is conscious of gender performance, mime, athleticism, classical dance, fabric, the cultural references in music, and comedic timing. I focus on narrative. I search-out a storyline that motivates a character’s corporal revelry. I also aim to establish a paradox inside of a fantasy world; a paradox that says something critical about the real world. For example, performing the feminine is a delightfully subliminal way of reminding people that gender is always a performance. From that spark of inspiration, to background research, choreography, conceptualizing and assembling costumes, realization and rehearsal, it’s a one-woman show.
I bring to the Burlesque community a taste for the abstract and absurd. Theatrical characters put into surreal contexts are interesting. My latest acts have followed this formula and I will continue to explore this trajectory. I love to teach and write about Burlesque almost as much as I love to perform and develop acts. I am working to introduce a new topic of discussion to the Burlesque community by merging my two passions: Burlesque and Environmentalism. I have written an article about the fascinating paradigms that come from the merging of these two topics and I plan on creating a one-woman show that explores this further.