Sultry burlesque star Dita Von Teese is the most famous showgirl in the world and knows how to make audiences break a sweat with sexy Technicolor extravaganzas. However, before she bathed in champagne, stripped from Swarvoski corsets, and strutted in towering stilettos with nothing more than ostrich feathers, the sinfully curvaceous beauty painted the town redder than her ruby woo lips as one of Los Angeles’ hottest ravers. Heather Sweet of Michigan has come a long way from her days of owning LA nightlife and is now one of the most sought after performers in burlesque. Fortunately for fans, when Von Teese isn’t posing for magazines or jetting to Paris, she’s giving them heart stopping performances.
In time for her highly anticipated shows at The Roxy in Los Angeles on May 17th and 18th, we spoke with the beloved pinup about her life as a raver, where she satisfies her cravings, and how ladies everywhere can channel their inner bombshell tonight.
Clubplanet: I read that before you became a burlesque star, you were quite the raver. What was your first club experience like?
Dita Von Teese: My first club experience was major. This was 1990 and it was either a Double-Hit Mickey or Double-Up Mickey night. I'm sure that only means something to the old school LA ravers out there! I was just out of high school and it was a life-changing experience for sure. I met a girl who became a lifelong friend that night. From there on I became a part of the scene and I dated one of the most famous rave promoters of the time. I was a fixture as a performance artist and go-go dancer through the early ‘90s. I'm still friends with a lot of the people I knew back then, like Destructo, who's still throwing the best parties, like HardFest. Everything is legal now, which is a definite change from back then! We were at the Tron after party, and there were all these Disney corporates raving on the dance floor, sort of. The Daft Punk boys were there and Boys Noize was playing hard-electro on the turntables. It was surreal to see it Disney-fied. I guess people are surprised to know I like this music. I've been into all kinds of electronic music my whole adult life and yes, I love ‘30s and ‘40s music, as one would expect! What I don't like is crappy pop music. It's shocking how bad some of it is. My ears bleed to pretty much everything that is on your typical pop radio station these days.
Clubplanet: Dancing the night away can work up an appetite. Where do you go for your favorite late night dish and drink?
Dita Von Teese: I usually go for Fred 62, Canters, or Swingers. For a particularly swanky after-dancing meal, I would go to The Pacific Dining car. I'm also up for the occasional cheeseburger if it's an In-N-Out Burger.
Clubplanet: If you were retiring tomorrow, where would you give your last performance?
Dita Von Teese: Even though I love those big, beautiful historic theatres, there's something really fun about performing in a bawdy, packed nightclub. The Roxy shows have been a rip-roaring crowd, and I just love it when the audience is free from seats and can be right there up in the front of the stage with me! I've always dreamed about a big glamorous revue on a giant stage. I love being on fabulous historic stages, like The Crazy Horse or The Orpheum. But, there's something I also love about the energy from a sold-out packed nightclub show. I like the bawdiness of a wild, liquored-up burlesque audience! It's the real deal somehow. It's why I keep coming back to perform at the Roxy on Sunset. I suppose it's the same reason all the most legendary bands like playing there so much. It's intimate, fun, and not pretentious. I guess if it were a fantasy last performance, I would just want it to be a packed house with all my biggest fans from all over the globe in one place. I wish I could tour like pop stars and have everyone see the shows, but I don't have a big record label behind me...I create and fund my shows all by myself.
Clubplanet: Paris seems to be your second home. However, what is about Los Angeles and its nightlife that keeps you coming back?
Dita Von Teese: I like performing for an LA audience because all my big stage props are here, so I can really pull out all the stops when I do a show. But I have to admit that when I'm not performing, I don't really go out much aside from a nice dinner and civilized cocktails, or to go see a band I like play. I really avoid any place in LA that has a doorman!
Clubplanet: How can ladies channel their inner bombshell this weekend?
Dita Von Teese: Well, get dressed up, put your lipstick on, and come see a burlesque show! The fan base is mainly women and until you've actually seen a burlesque show, it may be hard to understand why so many women would flock to see a striptease performance. A lot of my fans are really inspired by seeing these shows that represent a different kind of beauty and sensuality than you don’t see in most mainstream media. For these shows I've been doing at the Roxy Theatre on Sunset, I've been booking a lineup of talent that shows diversity in beauty and burlesque. It's a great place to come with friends, lovers, or even solo. We've made a big effort to keep the ticket price low so anyone can come see this show. Plus, I'm pulling out all the stops this time with three big numbers, including my brand new Swarovski-crystallized martini glass, my Opium Den, and my Powder Compact show. Don't miss it, it's a great time to see what ‘burlesque’ is really all about and why it's seeing a revival 75 years after its heyday.
Check out Dita Von Teese in West Hollywood this coming Tuesday and Wednesday night!
Photos courtesy of www.dita.net / Photographer Daniellie Bedics and © Aaron Settipane
