The Groovy Lushious takeover!
My chat with Groovy Lushious marks the first in a series of five interviews with the fantastic finalists for Miss Burlesque Tasmania 2019.
You will see a recurring theme as I do these features – in that many of the finalists were introduced to burlesque through yours truly. It was completely unprompted - for a change!
So starting at the beginning, I was really interested to hear about how Groovy got drawn into burlesque. Often with performers I’ve known for a while, I only ever hear my side of the ‘meet’ quite often. Hearing her story about the multiple ways she was attracted to burlesque was fascinating.
“..I first encountered Burlesque about 6 years ago when I moved to Hobart from the West Coast of Tasmania. I had been living on the West Coast for about a year in Zeehan (a place where it rains 90% of the year!). I had been living on an Island in the Bass Strait for 4 years before that after moving to Tasmania from Sydney.
I had recently gone through some pretty traumatic stuff and been uprooted a few time. I had also recently lost a lot of weight, and I guess that I was trying to understand how I felt about this body that I was in and connect with my sexiness.
At the time I was on a few dating sites and although I had met lots of men, I did not have many female friends. So I also saw burlesque as a way to get to know other women and develop my female identity.
I heard about burlesque then through a friend of mine who had a friend who did it. I then discovered Grace Cherry and Miss Kitty’s Meow and never looked back. “
So tell us about that change from learning and discovering burlesque to performing. What was that like?
“…My first unofficial “performance” was at a student open night. I danced to “Roar” by Katy Perry, and although I have not done that routine again, it gave me a great sense of power. I also learned that I much prefer performing in front of an audience and I feel I connect much better performing solo. The energy was amazing!
After that I did my first proper performance at the old Plan B in Hobart as part of a group routine with the Cherry Daiquiris in front of the paying public, and though it was nerve wracking I loved it. I just remember the floors being really sticky and my heels kept coming off!”
I’ve known Groovy for a few years now and she is someone that continues to perform – both in my shows, and pleasingly it’s great to see her put herself out there and shine at other (non burlesque events) like RAW. I was keen to hear about why Groovy wanted to enter Miss Burlesque Tasmania this year and her hopes and aspirations.
“A desire to just get out there. I want to expand my repertoire and my effect in Hobart especially, but I figure I will just grab any opportunity to get Performance experience and develop my art and my Characters.
Plus I love to increase the profile of Burlesque. I am definitely not shy about telling anyone I meet that I do burlesque and exploding a few myths out there about what that means. I get very few negative responses, and when I do they are usually from ignorance.
From Miss Burlesque Tasmania I hope to increase my exposure, network with other burlesque performers and producers, hopefully get some opportunities open up to me and have a bit of fun.
This will be a different performance for me, previously I have only ever done a one off performance, but this has got a few sections, it is a bit daunting actually.”
This is a great point, and as a former finalist and producer it’s something that I think first time artists don’t think about. It’s actually a physical and mental journey over the night. It’s a long event (more so outside Tasmania where the number of finalists can be higher). On a basic level your energy can flag and flail as you get those surges and lows in adrenaline. And mentally you need to sometimes return to the stage even when an act hasn’t gone as planned – often again things we are not prepared for.
Being prepared is a big theme for many entrants. Like many other artists, we are juggling family and personal life with show preparation, study and other community activities. My biggest advice to anyone is to be organised and set a budget (basically project manage yourself!). Groovy shared with me her progress.
“Preparations are slow but sure. I have most of my costume worked out for both my routines, with a bit of blinging that needs to be done, and most of my choreography for one…the other one is coming along.
I have also embarked on doing a Masters of Clinical Nursing and Teaching this year so my days are pretty full! I bought a sewing machine the other day and I am attempting to sew my Red Carpet dress with some help! I am feeling a little bit overwhelmed but also excited!”
Do you have any questions for Groovy? Or tips on preparing for big events. Pop them in the comments below.