Alexandrine Delafosse
| Height: 5'1" Weight:126 Eye Color:Brown Hair color:Brown Hair Style:Mid-Back, depends on the situation Age: 25 Complexion:Olive Body shape:Curvy The short story is that I graduated from college with a BFA in theater, discovered how much life as a professional actor sucked, and realized taking off my clothes for fun and profit was a lot more rewarding. I went to the New York School of Burlesque to learn the basics, and from there created an act for the student showcase. In class, I was in awe of headmistress Jo Weldon for her magnetism and confidence. I wanted to be like that. I remember noticing that burlesque was much harder than it looked and realizing that there was so much more to it than just taking clothes off. It really is an art. Before: "Hmm, I wonder what this is all about..." During and after: "OMG, THIS IS SO FUN, I CAN DO WHATEVER I WANT." I do remember waking up the next day after my first class and being surprised that it is possible for boobs to be sore. I was super nervous before hitting the stage. I wanted to be good, and I was scared to do something I'd never done before, but the nerves were good because it told me how much I already cared about something I was only just starting. Onstage, I felt at home. I was energized and confident. I felt sexy, playful, fierce, and in control. It was just right. That feeling lasted for a couple hours after I left the stage, but then it was replaced by an intense desire to do it again, to make more acts, to do more shows. So that's what I've been doing ever since. |
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People have different definitions of "good" when it comes to burlesque. Some people are all about movement and body whether you are really strong with dance, or you look good. Others care about the costuming and the glamour you exude. For me, I'm all about the story and the message. I kind of see burlesque as a live-action music video, in a way, with a huge history of political satire. The pieces that stick with me are the ones that are raw and honest and creative, whether or not there's any actual dancing: The experience is stunning and memorable, with strong commentary. You don't have to be the popular media's interpretation of conventional sexy to be sexy. Sexy is a mindset. It's not a look; it's a feeling and a confidence that can be applied to pretty much any other mood. I love displaying sexy in ways that aren't expected, in acts that are funny or creepy. Burlesque has taught me to present sexy in different ways and thus change the commonly displayed version of sexy. My sexy is body-positive, so in addition to doing a creepy/funny/sexy act, I'll shake my breasts, shake my butt, and shake my belly. Breasts are sexy, butts are sexy, bellies are sexy too, all sizes and shapes of them. There's a lot of burlesque out there not everyone has to copy Dita von Teese! People tend to downplay the non-"classic" burlesque (even in the industry) and assume that burlesque is just sequins and feathers. And that's great, but that's reductive. So if you don't want to do the pretty dance but want to do something more grotesque, great! If you do want to do pretty dances, go for it! If you want to put on troll horns and gray paint and swing to Parov Stelar's Catgroove, awesome! The sky's the limit don't let people tell you otherwise. But for the love of god, please watch the cultural appropriation. |
