Sapphira
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Sapphira

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Sapphira discovered burlesque during a trip to London. Intrigued by the suggestion of a visit to the Whoopee Club, she went to see what it was all about and found herself falling in love. “I had at last found a place I could bring together all my vocations as a jazz singer, belly dancer and songwriter.” Sapphira had trudged many avenues to fulfil her dreams of performing, however it was burlesque where Sapphira found her line of best fit. “I had many fears about leaving the corporate world,” Sapphira admits. Her fears of not being ‘good enough’, while once crippling, have subsided as her exotic act of dance and song takes her further and further away from home.

 

In 2003 when Sapphira moved to London (where she resided for six years) she continued to learn not only about the world of burlesque, but saw the subtle nuances of difference between the two burlesque cultures. “I draw the similarity that linguistically every country has its own accent and slang, burlesque performance is definitely the same. British burlesque is very theatrical and makes use of satire, irony and that bittersweet British humour we all know and love. Australian burlesque is very progressive, we have a thriving circus community so there is more crossover between burlesque and circus in Australia.” Growing in popularity since the late 1990s, Melbourne’s burlesque community is thriving. While Sapphira admits Australia is a little further behind, she has the pleasure of watching trends in burlesque unfold, just as she did in the UK several years ago.

 

Sapphira is lucky to boast some strange and wonderful performing experiences, such as Burning Man Festival in Nevada, where she was “surrounded by fire cannons shooting six-foot flames into the air”, as well as a cheeky rendition of ‘Advance Julia Fair’ on the Golden Gate Bridge, donning nothing but an Australian flag. However as her performing pursuits delve further into song smithing, her international escapades involve sniffing out new and exciting sounds and sources of inspiration; “I often hear the sounds of Goldfrapp and Portishead at burlesque shows so I am writing music that has dark, contemporary electronic sound and incorporating the burlesque elements – corsetry, striptease, erotica, opulent costumes, extravagant sets.

 

“My music is not about bringing old-style burlesque show music with electronica. It is about bringing the aesthetics of burlesque to dance music,” Sapphira explains of her new musical adventure – an EP entitled Tease. With the title track in need of a video, this is where Sapphira’s business-savvy side shines through. Fiercely independent and with the determination to do things on her own, she has arranged a musical fundraiser, to help her collect the money needed to get a music video off the ground. With a goal of $10,000, Red Bennies is hosting a night of theatrical debauchery all organised by Sapphira, who has a few special moves reserved just for the night. “I am debuting my professional burlesque troupe, Sapphira’s Showgirls, we have been working hard on some gorgeous group numbers,” she revealed, as well the artistic and musical stylings of Madame Natalia, Mark John, DJ Knave Knixx and Virtue Van Tassel.

 

As for the music video itself, Sapphira has teamed up with Melbourne Underground Film Festival ‘Best Film’ award winning director Mark Bakaitis. However, as a unique way to get her audience involved in the making, the blank billboard of her skin is up for sale. The top donor on the night will be lucky enough to have their name (temporarily) tattooed on Sapphira for the video. “Sapphira’s character is obsessed with a lover and it seemed fitting she would have their name tattooed on her body. I also thought it’s a unique way to get the audience involved and to raise donations because it will mean the top donor will have that legacy for a lifetime captured on screen.”

 

“I had many fears about leaving the corporate world and committing to my craft full time,” she admits. “I work daily on overcoming fear.” However Sapphira continues to strive towards bigger and better things. Entertaining people is her passion and that is all she can she in her future. “Something along the lines of mainstream radio play, chart-topping success!”