On Episode 83, the Boo Crew meets with the beautiful and enchanting entrepreneur, author, singer, actress, designer, pop culture icon and Queen of Burlesque, Dita Von Teese!
She is world renowned for her amazing burlesque show sets, extravagant costumes and show production. The popularity of burlesque fashion shows have just about become a norm at horror and sci-fi conventions these days. Showcasing their unique take or spin on horror, sci-fi or goth fashion, burlesque shows draw large crowds at conventions and showroom floors. Some of the catwalk or stage fashion is reminiscent of yesteryear burlesque styles and fashions while others show off something new and unique with perhaps a dark twist tied to your favorite horror movie – be it a slasher killer, evil doll, witch, etc. On this, Dita shared her thoughts on the Burlesque and horror/sci-fi cross overs.
“What I’ve loved about burlesque and what I’ve always kind of done with burlesque to is thinking about sexual clichés or think fantasies and turning things like that into a strip tease. And so I think that’s what you’re having is a lot of people that are exploring all these sort of fantasy worlds whether it is the horror genre or Star Wars strip tease. I think it’s interesting that people are looking to that and kind of making light of it or not. Or making sex of it.”
Dita is the biggest name in burlesque in the world since Gypsy Rose Lee and is credited with bringing back the art form into the spotlight since starting to perform striptease in the early 90s. On the revival of burlesque, Dita tells us, “Burlesque has just become huge. When I started doing it in the early 90s, I never thought it could become something like that. It was very niche even then. I remember being in this article by a magazine called The Face, which was like a British magazine that was around. Kind of like ID or Paper magazine. They did a profile on all the burlesque dancers in the world – at that time. And there were literally like 12 of us profiled. And that was everyone in the world. You know the people that were the young and upcoming. Of course there’s been burlesque revivals in the 60’s, the 70’s, the 80’s, the 90’s but not nearly what it is now and what it was like in the 90s. I never could have expected it to turn into what it has.”
When asked about her favorite horror movies, Dita had this to share, “To me, my favorite horror stories are things that are real life, that make you think whoa this is so intense and terrifying. I like horror films that kind of have like – they’re a reality. I like films that could be real. So when they start getting into aliens or sci-fi, I get lost; I’m not interested anymore. I really like films that feel like it could have happened or really did happen. I’m obsessed with Forensic Files. That’s my thing that I cannot stop. Every time i’m in my car, Forensics Files is on HLN. I just can’t stop. That’s the scariest stuff right there (True Crime).”
Dita’s GLAMONATRIX tour hits Australia, New Zealand November and December, with a special New Year’s Eve Gala in Los Angeles at the Historic Orpheum Theatre. She tells us where the idea came from for this special show. “A few years ago I was basically like how come there’s nothing glamorous to do on New Year’s Eve? Being famous for bathing in a giant champagne glass, I usually get booked for New Year’s Eve but I was like I really just want to stay home for the holidays sometimes you know. And I thought what if we do that mythic New Year’s Eve – I always dream about a 50’s Christmas and 40’s New Year’s. You know, I love that. When you think about it, that’s where the magic is. Maybe it’s from growing up watching all these old movies with these scenes and you’re like ah these are so beautiful! So I decided I was just going to put on my own show on New Year’s Eve. I was like why don’t I do this and make a space. This is my third year doing it and we’re at the Orpheum Theatre, which is a beautiful, historic, gilded, vaudeville house. I was just like let’s make a place where it’s fifty bucks and you can have two hours of show and people get dressed to the nines in their tuxedos and vintage dresses. It’s a scene.”
Furthermore, Dita teases something special, “I’m doing something really special this year. I don’t want to ruin it, it’s a surprise. I’m really excited about it. There’s going to be an added something something that I’ve never done before that is not necessarily striptease. I think you’re going to like it.”
All the info and tickets for Dita Von Teese’s GLAMONATRIX shows and Dita Von Teese New Years Eve are available NOW at dita.net.
Be sure to listen to Episode 83 of the Boo Crew podcast with Special Guest Dita Von Teese for the complete convo!
Follow Dita Von Teese on:
Instagram: @ditavonteese
Twitter: @ditavonteese
Follow The Boo Crew on:
Instagram: @talesfromtheboocrew
Twitter: @talesfromtheboo
