Creating a burlesque solo - with Teddie Heavens
Teddie Heavens is here for the glitter, the grinds, and the goofiness. She’s basically a sparkly clown (but a cute one, not a scary one)
Enjoy another post in my ongoing series of exceptionally sporadic posts - catching up with performers who are embarking on the Act Development Course.
This year, I’ve been able to offer this course in two parts of the year, with performers being able to choose to work to a solo performance at our mid year or end of year Burlesque Showcase.
Each of the performers undertaking the course have about 3-4 months to workshop an act from start to stage!
Not a newbie to the stage or to burlesque, Teddie Heavens has put up her hand up to be involved. Teddie has been involved in burlesque communities overseas, but this will be a solo debut and a solo debut for Tassie audiences, which is pretty exciting!
Teddie has definitely jumped in with both feet first into our burlesque community.
“I’ve done solos before (in my youth) but I’ve never had the chance to choreograph something for the stage! I wanted the freedom to do something fun and silly and showcase my favourite parts of performance”
Teddie is definitely no stranger to the stage. And I can already tell she has been thinking a lot about developing her stage persona:
“Teddie Heavens is a very niche pun on the name of one of my favourite Antarctic explorers (Edward “Teddy” Evans). His life was an absolute adventure from beginning to end and he, like me, was prone to ripping his clothes off and getting into shenanigans.
I wanted to take that to the next level! Teddie is basically here to have a good time and make people smile.”
No stranger to performing, with a bunch of dancing experience doing a solo definitely has it’s challenges.
”...of course there’s the glitter and the grinds and joy of performing, but there’s also a sense of untouchability I feel when I’m on stage. It’s taking ownership of your body, a body that the world has tried to sexualize and commodify, and using it on your own terms.”
But as much as there is a challenge the performing also drives so much excitement for Teddie! As she says,
“…The stage lights in your eyes, the smell of hairspray, the false eyelashes that you’re desperately trying to keep glued to your eyelids but then you accidentally glue your eye shut so you rip them off and give up… And of course the backstage camaraderie. The best friendships are forged in dressing rooms. “
