Southeast Texas Entertainment Guide July 28th Issue - The Examiner

July 28 - Aug. 3, 2011 The Examiner’s SETX Entertainment Guide7 BIf you could perform on stage with any bandor musician, who would it be?I’ve performed with many big orchestras, and that’sdefinitely the way to go when it comes to burlesque.The most important thing is to have a great bandleaderwho works in tandem with the burlesque dancer.The best ones would run the music according towhat the stripper was doing — start the drum-rollwhen the gloves comes off, letting up if she stops orslows down. The best burlesque bands followed theperformer’s every move! And the bigger the brasssection, the better!Do you remember what/when was the firstburlesque outfit you put on, and your thoughtswhen you saw yourself in the mirror?It wasn’t really like that. I started by making outfitsto dance in back in 1990, and this was before the bigburlesque revival. Back then, I was just a stripperwho liked dressing vintage, so it wasn’t an “ah ha”moment. The only real moment like that that I recallwas my discovery of red lipstick in the ’80s. I suddenlyfelt glamorous, and that sparked my interest inthe creation of beauty, since I felt like a very ordinaryblonde girl. From there, I set my sights on givingmyself a classic Hollywood makeover. Twentyyears later, this show is the result.If you could go back in time, whom would youmost like to seduce?What if I prefer to be seduced? I would have liked tobe seduced by Valentino.What’s the best piece of advice someone hasgiven you?Not to compromise my ideals for the sake of beingpopular or commercialized.Who has been your biggest influence, bothclassic and modern?My classic influence is Gypsy Rose Lee because shemanaged to be a household name as a stripper in the1930s and managed to have a lifelong career thatevolved with her age. She had female fans thatadmired her for being both a glamorous sex symboland an independent single mother at the same time inan era where that was not the norm. Modernly speaking,I admire self-created women who dare to bedifferent and have distinctive personal style. I lovewomen like Carmen Dell’Orefice, who is absoluteelegance, a perfect example of timeless beauty andsensuality that does not rely on youth or clichés ofwhat beauty is. I also love Anna Piaggi, and the lateIsabella Blow.How do you relax before a show? Any preshowmusic or ritual?Well, I try to sleep in, which is not the norm for me,since usually I like to go to bed early and wake upearly, so I have to try to switch to showgirl timewhen I’m performing. Other than that, I have specifictimes I need to eat my meals so I can corsetdown and feel physically good onstage in the heavycostumes. I arrive backstage a couple hours beforethe show so I can enjoy the ritual of doing my makeupand hair. I have a pre-show music list that hasnothing to do with retro music, because by then, I’vebeen hearing my show music so often, I can’t bear itanymore; I need something that is the opposite of it.My playlist is an eclectic blend of electronic music,’80s and rap. We have all kinds of sing-a-longs in mydressing room before the show. Everyone that worksbackstage with me has to know both parts of “TheGirl is Mine” so they can duet with me.What’s next after the tour?Photos courtesy of Dita Von TeeseI’m going to visit a friend for a few days in the country,and then I’m back to work, shooting my newlingerie collection and my dress collection. The pastfew years, I’ve been taking the entire month ofAugust like the Europeans do, but this year I’vedecided to stay in LA and work. I’m really excitedabout work right now; there’s a lot to do.For more information about Dita Von Teese, visit herofficial site at dita.net.Photo by Aaron D. Settipane/Ayessemedia.com