Miss Indigo Blue is a burlesque dancer and a member of Seattle’s Atomic Bombshells. She also runs the Academy of Burlesque. Oh, and she’s beautiful! We had a chance to chat with Miss Indigo about dance, Seattle’s burlesque scene and her hopes for the art in Seattle.

Jake Uitti: One of the most beautiful things about the burlesque scene here in Seattle seems to be the comradery amongst all the participants. To what do you attribute the chemistry?

Indigo Blue: I agree, there is camaraderie amongst performers in Seattle.  Some folks attribute the sense of community to the shared experience of many performers as graduates of the Academy of Burlesque.  I think that while that may have something to do with it, generally I have found people in Seattle to be supportive of and interested in each others art.  Our down-to-earth attitude and ability to fly under the radar seems to be a regional characteristic.  In other words, many folks hone their crafts here in Seattle, then gain major recognition when they take their work to other places.  There is such a rich arts scene here, in music, dance, theatre, and visual arts, that there is a wealth of inspiration.  And for Burlesque performers specifically, we tend to be interested in each other’s work.  We attend each others shows, have shows with wildly rotating casts, and have many shared interests.

JU: And it’s evident on stage, which seems to be a really important quality for burlesque, which, while incorporating a sexy quality and a fun quality must also maintain a quality of safety and ease. When did you realize you wanted to do burlesque?

IB: I began performing burlesque acts as a part of Tamara The Trapeze Lady’s “Fallen Women Follies” cabaret shows around 1994 in Seattle.  At the time I was interested in finding a performative way to make fun of the stripping I was doing in clubs, and also to perform to an audience more of my own choosing.

I didn’t realize the acts were actually considered “Burlesque” until later, however.  And in 2001 I attended the first ever burlesque convention, called “Tease-O-Rama” in New Orleans.  At that time I saw performers from all over the country and the world doing similar types of work – and I realized fully what I was – a burlesque performer.

JU: What is your favorite moment performing on stage? What is your least favorite?

IB: My most favorite moment performing on stage was in 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada.  I had the opportunity to perform my Step-Down act, at the conclusion of my reign as the Queen of Burlesque 2011 granted by the Burlesque Hall of Fame.  It was the culmination of my Burlesque vision thus far (it’s on YouTube) and I was able to include many of my friends and co-conspirators in the act.

My least favorite moment has become one of my favorite stories – I was performing at the Burlesque Hall of Fame’s old location as Exotic World, a dilapidated goat farm off Route 66 in California.  The Miss Exotic World pageant at the time was performed outdoors on a wooden stage at 2:30 in the afternoon in May, in the heat of the desert sun and wind.  I had pinned my hat into my fake ponytail to keep it secure until my choreography called for me to remove the hat.  In the crazy wind, when I removed my hat, my ponytail came off with it, and drifted off like a showgirl tumbleweed into the desert sand.  Such is the nature of live performance, with its costume malfunctions and mishaps!

JU: You’re known as a “nouveau burlesque” dancer – what does this mean, exactly?

IB: Good question!  Some folks use the expression “neo” in contrast to “classic” – which refers to style.  In this context “neo” refers to contemporary, comic, narrative, or avant-garde acts.  Classic would generally refer to an act that is evocative of what we call the “classic” era, that is 1930’s – 1950’s glamour or gimmick acts.

JU: What are the 3 qualities you think a burlesque dancer must incorporate in her show?

IB: I think the performers who conduct the most successful acts incorporate the following qualities to their shows: Individuality (uniqueness), Sexuality (sensuality, sex), and Entertainment (interest, charisma).  I also appreciate Wit (humor, cleverness), Mischief (surprise, play), and Satisfaction (pleasure, completeness).

JU: If there is one thing you’d change or add to the Seattle burlesque scene, what would it be?

IB: The one thing I’d add to the Seattle Burlesque scene is our own Burlesque Centre… and I’m working on it!  Any interested Benefactors or Patrons of the Arts, please feel free to contact me!