Q & A with NZ Burlesque & Cabaret Events

I was interviewed recently by NZ Burlesque & Cabaret Events, here is the post:

Time for a Tuesday tease and our next performer of the week. Introducing the fastest ass in the west, part wolf, part girrl, part naked, Amourous Ava!
www.facebook.com/Ava.L.Amoureux
www.avalamoureux.com

We wanted to get inside the creative mind of this innovative performer, so asked her some questions...

What is your favourite routine to perform and why?
Teenwolf is my most performed act, though no matter how many times I perform it, I still love it. It's a character driven B-movie romp with clothes rending, satire, snarling and howling, with a bit of bonus feminist subtext. Teenwolf goes from embarrassed he-wolf teen angst to WOLF SPIRIT. Literally. Teenwolf becomes a hairy she-wolf cheerleader. It's an act about metamorphosis and embracing your quirks, which to me is one of the most worthy things that burlesque as a whole encourages. I think a lot of people have a soft spot for Teenwolf, because we all love an underdog (hurrr, pun). Plus Teenwolf has a pretty sweet pair of rhinestoned chucks and I do love a good shoe.

Best burlesque compliment?
I had a brilliant judge's comment at the Australian Burlesque Festival Baby Bombshells show last year: 'Loved it, very funny, a bit weird, but that's what you wanted, right?' - Cassandra Jane, commenting on my Teenwolf routine. Yep, that sums up my performance style alright. But the best is having other performers or aspiring performers tell you that you inspire them. That is the best compliment of all.

What was your most sparklelific accomplishment to date?
Performing in Baby Bombshells last year was a very positive experience for me and coming runner-up built my confidence as a new performer. It made me consider for the first time that working towards developing an international level of performance isn't a ridiculous or unachievable goal for any NZ performer. I can't wait to perform in the Nouvelle Royale Melbourne show this year!

Why did you start burlesque?
After a five year stint living in a smallish town with limited sparkle opportunities, I somewhat inevitably ran away to New York and went to burlesque school at New York School of Burlesque. The first class they had us tassel twirling (baptism/boobtism by fire) and I was hooked. When I got back to NZ I hassled Misty La Moore of Hootchy Kootchy Girls until she let me do classes and my first show, then I fell in with the fledgling Rock n Roll Circus with good time gals Sugar Spanx & Penny Pins (next R&R Circus show is Aloha! 1950 in Auckland, 12 July) . When I realised people were as interested in watching me put on ridiculous costumes and dance around in my underpants as I was in doing just that, I knew DREAMS COME TRUE. I love creating acts, building a costume and honing a concept, then the rush of performing. I love the satire of it, and that burlesque can be both pop and political at the same time.

Where can we see the fastest ass of the week performance?
I'm special guest performer at the Hootchy Cootchy Girls show in Auckland this Friday, come along – I'm performing my newest act! Then I'm down to Wellington for Nerdlesque next Sat, then off to the Australian Burlesque Festival to perform in the wonderful Nouvelle Royale Melbourne show 8 June.



You can see the original post here at NZ Burlesque & Cabaret Events