The Vermillion Rose Takeover!

It’s been a real joy to start to get to know some of the performers that aren’t Hobart based (get around the State people – there is some great burlesque emerging!).

 I met Vermillion Rose at a burlesque workshop I hosted last year. And was super intimidated when she turned up in her Sugar Blue Burlesque gear! Anyone who is in the industry knows how well regarded Sugar Blue are for teaching and performances – and I just knew she wouldn’t get much out of a beginner class with me. Thankfully Vermillion couldn’t have been kinder, and I hope that it was a great way for her to start opening up her teaching and performing in the North West Coast. It’s an area I love travelling to and performing in so I’m excited to see the scene develop and grow.

 Vermillion has had a really different experience entering burlesque and has a different background to many of the other performers, which I am so pleased she shared with me

 My first experience of burlesque was when I was 46 and looking for something different to do, My step daughter and I were talking and we both said let's try burlesque, we googled to find a school near us and found Sugar Blue Burlesque academy so we booked in to our first class beginner level 1! We had no idea what we were in for so we went along to the Perth International Tattoo Show to watch Sugar Blue perform. We loved what they did but we weren't ready to strip down to pasties (!).

 We turned up to our first class worried and stressed about what was involved. But throughout the class we learnt to bump, shimmy and grind in a routine. Our teacher asked all of the students who wants to perform at the end of the 6 weeks. We were unsure what was expected of us and we waited until the end of class to ask the teacher if we had to strip down to pasties. Thankfully she reassured us that no it's not a requirement as a beginner. So we both said yes and performed. I enjoyed being on stage and all the girls from other classes made us feel so welcome. I then signed up for the next 6 weeks of classes.

It’s interesting for me to hear Vermillion’s journey because Sugar Blue Burlesque has more classes and Perth certainly has more performance opportunities available. So I think it’s fair to say, Vermillion was able to get really immersed in burlesque.

 The more classes I took the more I learnt about burlesque and its history. I found the burlesque community in Perth WA supportive and loved that there was no judgement - we are all sexy at any age or shape!

 I got more involved with and helped out at events and festivals as a stage kitty. I was able to watch and listen to the more experienced performers - who were only too happy to share their love for burlesque and offer advice and guidance. So I guess you could say I fell in love with the whole community!

 Vermillion also kindly shared with me her memories of her first stage debut! It’s interesting that despite the different locations, she was likely many of my own students who got started by performing group routines with others in her class. I always hope that this is a great springboard for newer performers, that gives them confidence to go further as and when they need.

My first 2 years of performing were all group routines  I attended and experienced many styles of burlesque and dance - from classic Burlesque, Go Go, Charleston, feather fan dancing, Show girl/ Chorus Line, Disco and Neo burlesque.

 I loved the variety and different styles that Sugar Blue Burlesque offered. I loved the support and the encouragement from the teachers and the burly friends to push yourself to step a little out of your comfort zone with each routine. 

 After experiencing many different styles I then felt confident to try a solo performance, I signed up for a solo class and with the guidance and encouragement of my wonderful teacher FiFi Fontaine and created my very first solo – “I’m a good girl”. I was excited as I put together this routine and a costume together this was a cheeky cheesy number and I had a lot of fun performing it (I must dust it off again one day!)  

 I feel I have learnt so much about burlesque since my stage debut - the history and the now; how to create a story line how to peel off your costume; how to cover the stage and strut my stuff. But most of all I have learnt how to be confident and comfortable with myself. 

 Unlike a lot of the Tasmanian finalists, Vermillion has experienced burlesque competitions across states. So hearing her goals was so interesting to me.

  I enjoy competitions - they bring out the best in me.  I push myself to create routines that are a little different to my comfort zone. For me it’s not all about winning, it's about growing as a performer getting the feedback from the judges and just having fun.

 I also want people to see that it doesn't matter what age or body shape we are everyone is sexy and we can all strut our stuff on a stage and feel good.

 This year I’m hoping to grow as a performer and to learn from the judge’s feedback. But also for people to get to know Vermillion Rose and Devils Burlesque Academy. Moving from WA to Tasmania as a performer I have had to start again and I feel this is a great way to showcase what I can do as a performer.  

 I have the structure of both routines and now I am doing some adjustments and refining and polishing them…so excited!

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Click here to find out more about the Miss Burlesque Tasmania final