On stage, Jeanne drops her daily life and becomes "Pamela in Person". A character she created less than two years ago when she decided to embark on burlesque striptease: "I wanted to get out of my comfort zone. figuratively was a huge challenge. " It is with the performer Arena, nicknamed "Eden Weiss" on stage, that she founds a burlesque cabaret, La Flaque. "It's a very free, very creative scene where all the living arts can be played (magic, juggling, live music, stand-up, etc.)."
Like La Flaque, Wunder Kabarett is an association that offers burlesque nights in several Parisian venues. This cabaret has hosted for over seven years varied performers / performers in monthly events. One of the organizers of these parties, Daisy, explains that the word "burlesque" is very broad, it can refer to stripping, live arts, transformism or even "gorlesque", burlesque trash: a real freak show.
Being a "freak" in 2019
In these two associations, but also at the CEP (Community Society of Parisian strippers), the performers are not necessarily professional artists, many do this for passion. The stage becomes a place of free expression where they give way to their creativity and push their limits. For Jeanne, playing her character is also a way of accepting herself as she is: "Stripping is for me a way of appropriating one's body, of loving it as it is, with its advantages and its defaults."
The shows being self-produced, inventiveness meets very few limits, but it tries to respect the sensitivity of all. At The Puddle, Jeanne explains: "We pay attention to the fact that everyone is not sensitive to the same things, on certain numbers that can deal with difficult subjects, we warn, for example, if there is fake blood. if the issue is about suicide, addiction, etc. (...) We try to create a benevolent place, without discrimination and oppression, where the artists, but also the public, feel confident. "
For that, jokes, dance steps and costumes are studied not to be misinterpreted, to deliver the wrong message, to make uncomfortable. "To be a freak" and "to make burlesque" does not rhyme with "to do anything", it is the climate that La Pôle is trying to establish by paying attention to the image that it returns, to stereotypes and pitfalls to avoid. And it's more work and dialogue than it seems. Jeanne explains that "beyond the shows and the art of stripping in itself, it is a human adventure that challenges my prejudices, my preconceived ideas, my limits. to learn every day about myself, about others. "
The pleasure yes, but without abuse
And that means above all respect and consent. Stripping is people who bare themselves, but they are first of all artists. The Puddle existed before the #MeToo movement, but most members are committed feminist activists and are inspired by their numbers. "This feminist hue is also very present in the name of the asso since the word 'puddle' is directly taken from our desire to promote female pleasure, adds Jeanne," I let you see the hint! "
The free atmosphere of these parties and alcohol have already led to overflowing, including people who do not respect the consent of artists and other members of the public. To avoid such problems, La Pique clearly explains his values at the beginning of the show and sets up a pair of "safe": "That is to say two people identifiable with their shields that circulate and are there for s' calmly but firmly assure that these values are being followed, they are also there to listen to people who feel uncomfortable, whatever the reason. "
Respect also goes through the terminology, but beware, the warning must also concern everyone and not remain anchored on clichés: "We realized that many of our examples and warnings were gendered. For example, we said 'we do not want to hear' you're good 'or' spool me your 06 '' It was realized that this speech was only for men, we added non-binary examples or who are also addressing women so that everyone feels concerned.Since we put all this in place, we have not experienced any other excesses. "
The burlesque stripping continues to unveil in Parisian cabarets and bars by modernizing to offer a free, irreverent, crazy ... and respectful.