Ruby Mimosa is a Seattle burlesque dancer with her hands in all kinds of venues. As of this week, she’ll be dancing with Macklemore & Ryan Lewis in Seattle and she’s also a teacher at the Academy of Burlesque. Oh, and she’s beautiful! The Monarch had a chance to chat with Ruby about all things sexy and dance! Enjoy!

Jake Uitti: If you could impart one piece of information about burlesque to a large number of people – maybe everyone in the world! – what would it be?

Ruby Mimosa: I’d have to say, the feeling of standing in front of hundreds of people and stripping is one of the single most empowering and incredible things I have done in my life. Burlesque is sexy, fun, and just downright delightful. The piece of information I’d want to share with someone about burlesque is to not take yourself too seriously. The root of Burlesque is to kid and poke fun. Sex is funny. Being able to invite the audience to have a moment with you is quite powerful and exciting.

JU: Where were you when you first got on stage and stripped for an audience? What were you wearing? Do you remember the thoughts running through your head?

RM: It’s funny, as a young girl, I had always been fascinated with strippers and strip clubs. I grew up in downtown Honolulu and my mom and I lived just a few blocks away from one, Club Rockza. I’ll never forget that place. (Actually, I have a couple friends that put themselves through college by striping… one has a PhD. in physical therapy!). So, by the time I was a teenager, the thought of working at a strip club was so titillating. You would think that that would have been the first place I had stripped. However….

The first place I ever stripped for an audience on stage was August 22^nd 2007 at the Triple Door in Seattle with The Atomic Bombshells, Paula the Swedish Housewife and Bourbon Street Legend, Wild Cherry! I still have the poster. Man, what a show!

My first strip tease act I ever performed was Ruby Baby, and has been my signature number for years to come: The curtain opens to me lounging on a chaise – snacking on cherries – I reach out and put the needle on the record player and Ruby Baby by Dion comes on and fills the room – I am wearing a bright red peignoir trimmed with Ostrich and Marabou feathers, a rhinestone encrusted bullet bra with matching thong and garter belt, sheer stockings with a back seam and Cuban heel, fluffy house heels with a tuft of feathers at the toe, and a big ‘ole bow in my hair.

As I lounged on a chaise covered in satin waiting for the curtain to open, hearing the crowd buzz, I remember a few of the many thoughts I had racing through my head: Smile. Big Eyeballs. Don’t cry (I tend to cry with over excitement of happiness – those eyes can just gush at such awkward times. It can be quite embarrassing sometimes!). Stay sharp. This is gonna be good. Enjoy the ride. I hope they like me! 

JU: How did it go?? Did you pull it off?

RM: It was a hit! At least it sure felt like it.

JU: Can you elaborate a bit more on the idea that “sex is funny”?

RM: Pretty much – we take so many things seriously, and even though sex is can be somewhat taboo the actual act can be funny at times. If you have pets or kids I am sure you understand, those awkward moments (pets watching or kids walking in). I think that enjoying the little things and making light some situations are needed. Burlesque and sex is fun and sometimes just funny.

JU: What is the worst experience you remember having on stage?

RM: I’d have to say, slipping in the dry ice puddle on stage during our opening act a few years ago. It was a little startling. But just got up and kept going. We use a different form of dry ice now, so no more stage diving!

JU: What’s coming up next for you?

RM: Well, as of just a few hours ago, tomorrow J. Von Stratton and I will be shaking it up on stage with the Seattle boys and Grammy nominees Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. Squeeeeee!!!!!

As far as the rest of they year; I’ll be shoppin’ it up at another one of my endeavors – The Burlesque Boutique – at Lily Verlaine and Jasper McCann’s The Land of the Sweets: The Burlesque Nutcracker show all December at the Triple Door. Thirty-three shows over two and a half weeks. It’s quite a run. My college degree and young adult background is in retail. I love and feel so blessed to be able to incorporate it into my professional/ performing life.

In January I will be traveling with The Atomic Bombshells Down Under! Australia – here we come! I can hardly keep it together. It’s been a goal of mine to be able to travel there with the Bombshells, literally, I have it written down in my goal book. I’m kind of a dork that way.

Lastly, teaching with the Academy of Burlesque throughout the winter season and more. Gotta love me some Miss Indigo Blue!