We're very glad to welcome our first Burlesque specialist! But Anna is also a very busy model, able to portray an amazing range of characters!
1) Of course we must ask first: how does a person decides to become a burlesque performer?
I’d been doing some pin up modeling and was getting lots of positive feedback for my increasingly overt cheesecake posing. I realised I was really enjoying playing to the camera. I’d also met and befriended a local Burlesque producer, and when she accompanied me on a shoot she said my modeling "performance" was practically a routine already! So when she offered me a slot at her show, I thought I’d try it - it might be fun. It was, and still is!
2) What kind of artistic background do you have (dance, drama, etc.)? Are you self-taught or did you follow specific courses?
I don’t have a background in dance or drama, other than performing in plays at school. Since I started to perform Burlesque, however, I have taken workshops with many highly respected British and American Performers (Kitten DeVille, Lux Lacroix, Bella Besame) and I have spent time with, and heeded the advice of legends such as Tempest Storm, Kiva and Tura Satana. For the past two years I have worked closely with a dance teacher who has tutored my in various dance styles.
3) It’s quite impossible to ask you questions without one mentioning Bettie Page… so when did you discover her and what does she means for you?
Bettie is my hero! I first became aware of her work in 1991 through my boyfriend at the time, who had some books containing articles and photos of her. I loved the fact that she just obviously really enjoyed what she was doing and seemed almost oblivious to how beautiful she was. She was so enthusiastic and charming in every shot, totally unique and very inspiring.
4) Tell us about all the steps required when you’re creating a new stage routine (costumes, music, choreography, etc.). Is there a team around you or are you 100% in charge of production/creation?
My stage routines are collaborative, in that I get a lot of help from my husband (the boyfriend from answer 3!). He suggests music tracks for routines, works with me on choreography, engineers any props and even helps with costuming occasionally, if I have an idea but just can’t see how to make it work. I like to be in charge of the look of my costumes, either making them myself, or designing and commissioning the more specialist items such as latex and corsetry. For example, I have worked closely with Boobie Trap Corsets on several of my costumes and been thrilled with the results.
Inspiration comes when it comes! Sometimes I hear a piece of music and that inspires the feel and pace of an act, sometimes I see an item of clothing and that can inspire the theme, sometimes the idea for a little story pops into my head and that leads to further development, there’s no set process yet. I like to have a little narrative if possible, as I personally like to see routines that require my full attention from start to finish, the routine has to make my husband laugh, and I like there to be a reason for the clothing removal. I now spend a lot of time trying to make that removal process as original and spectacular as I can. It can take up to six months for an act to come together as I often go through a few costume prototypes before I get the desired effect.
5) The Splash page of your website is a collection of quite charming little caricatures of yourself. Can you tell us something about the artist and how did this came to be?
The paintings on my splash page are by a fabulous artist called Charlotte Thompson. Charlotte is well known on the UK Burlesque scene and I’d seen a few examples of her work before commissioning mine. Knowing quite a few of her previous clients and being familiar with their routines, I was struck by how expertly she captured each subject’s individual personality, energy and charm. When I was thinking of revamping my website it seemed a great opportunity to have Charlotte weave her magic on my repertoire.
6) Do you still have in mind more tattoo work? What would you like to express more by any possible future designs?
I certainly do have further tattoo plans! I plan to eventually have a second sleeve, and work on my legs. In terms of future designs, I have ideas but no fixed plans as yet, and as for what they will represent to me, they’ll probably be based on themes of Honesty/Integrity/ Loyalty/Strength through Adversity/Love of Kittens, you know, the usual.
7) What is your relation with the fetish scene? Do you go to fetish events a lot? Do you “play” in real life?
I’m not a regular face on the fetish scene at present, although I am looking to do more shows later this year. I have a couple of routines utilizing great latex outfits and they always go down well. I love everything about latex! Modeling latexwear for clothing companies such as Lady Lucie and Licorishlatex has probably been my main connection to the fetish scene so far and I’m always on the look out for new designers to collaborate with. I love everything about latex! Sorry, I already put that.
8) We understand that you’ll be performing in Tokyo this upcoming summer. Is this your first visit there? And what do you expect as far as crowd reaction goes?
I’m very excited about the Japan trip this summer. I’ve never been before, but have wanted to go for a very long time. The internet and air travel have made the world seem much smaller and other countries much closer but I think there’s still something terribly mysterious and exotic about Japan. I’ve been reading up on Japanese customs and etiquette and quizzing friends who’ve been for any hints and tips, but the short answer is, I’ve no idea what to expect! There is a burlesque scene over there as previous Miss Exotic World Winner Erochica Bamboo has started producing a show and I’m booked to do Dr Sketchy’s Tokyo while I’m there which I’m really looking forward to, I love doing the good Doctor’s events. It’s good to know there is an appreciation for the art and I’m hoping that I can show them a style of Burlesque they maybe haven’t seen before.
9) How did you like your photo session as a PonyGirl? Are these more "edgier" themes very inspiring/important for you?
Did I already mention I like latex? Not sure if I did, anyway that shoot was great fun! It was the first time I’d worked with Sam and Gregg at Wicked Heart Photography they were just fantastic, I love their approach and they totally got the ponygirl concept, I was so thrilled with the results of that shoot that I’ve returned to them time and again. That ponygirl outfit it a great one to struggle into, definitely very liberating. I do love the fetish aesthetic, all that restrictive, figure hugging, curve accentuating deliciousness. Just getting into the outfits is incredibly sexy, the slap of the latex on flesh is unmistakable and very inspiring, once suitably clad in them the outfits seem to pose themselves!
10) Have you ever been to Canada, either for work or vacation? After reading this, you know that you’ll probably make new fans in this country, right? ;)
I haven’t been to Canada yet, although I would love to go! I very much enjoy travelling around, and performing in different countries – I have been so inspired by the travels I have undertaken so far. Exposure to other countries’ unique aspects has certainly made me a more complete person and performer, and it would be very interesting to see how Canada would add to me one day.
