Written by: Lady J
September 20, 2010
Full Name: Deanna Danger
Age:30
Currently Residing: Richmond, VA
Currently Listening to: Chess records stuff and old rockabilly, but I do put on the occasional dance mix on my iPod with stuff like Spank Rock, Ladytron, Goldfrapp, and Thunderheist on it
One would think burlesque performers have it easy. Go up on stage, wink an eye, take clothes off, exit stage. Done. Easy. One would think this, until one actually understands these performers have to really create this world. It takes a lot of work to stand out and engage an audience. Deanna Danger definitely has her own brand of sparkle on the burlesque scene. A dancer since 3 years of age, Miss Danger lends her choreography skills into her acts. Being a natural danseuse really enhances a burlesque performance. Deanna definitely has a grace about her, but it is her expression which stands out in her performances. There's something darkly seductive about her...her pout, her strong stance on stage, and definitely that look in her eyes when she's performing for an audience.
She considers herself more neo than classical, although she delves in both worlds. She tends to kill a crowd with her Bjork number, "It's Oh So Quiet" and says it's her "first, last, and go-to number." Deanna first flirted with the burlesque scene in Richmond was one Spring night at local club Fallout. She hadn't performed solo in several years before that moment, so of course there was some nervous energy there. However, there was enough adrenaline to keep her pumped and forming her union with the scene.
She feels it's important to have the music relate to the routine so it conveys to the audience, "..it has to make the moves match the grandness (or sexiness) in a routine." Being individual in such a small scene poses a challenge and in that much creativity is needed to grab an audience. "Until we can build Richmond's fan base up bigger, you gotta work extra hard to get the core audience to your show," she responds. Because of that challenge, she finds touring to be an alternative route. She loves traveling and performing in different cities and has been trying to do more of it in recent times as to not stale her presence in RVA. Deanna has her sites set on such locales as Chicago, New Orleans, Texas, Vegas, and LA. I'm sure she will have no problem getting booked. There is something so communal about the burlesque community which contributes to bonds shared forever. Although this may be true, another challenge within that community is the competition and the cattiness which can be created in such a female dominated society.
When I asked Miss Danger who were her influences at this time, she replied with, "Recently....Angie Pontani and Peekaboo Pointe. Angie for her business sense and showmanship and Peekaboo for her amazing floor skills and abs of steel! She's awesome! And RunAround Sue has always been a great mentor to me. She's helped me out a lot along the way." Deanna has her own devotees and would be described as a scandalous performer; her fans always approach her quite excited and giddy eager to say hello. So what does her family think about all this? She says, "Well my hubby loves it (lucky bastard)! My parents are.....getting used to it. They're a little old school....but my mom (specifically) is trying hard to understand it more. She knows this is what I love, and what I do, and what I am meant to do in this life....she's just working to get past the naked parts."
Miss Danger has taken on a new venture called Bon Bon Burlesque. She and co-producer, Deepa De Jour came up with a fun concept for B-Movies incorporating burlesque sets during and in between the movies. I was lucky to witness their reenactments of the classic cult film, Barbarella. Deanna, Deepa and guests Boo Boo Darling and Mark Slomski provided a spectacle of performance right down to the costumes! On September 23rd, the girls will be giving tribute to the 1979 American cult action/thriller film, "The Warriors". You would think Deanna had her plate full, but you are mistaken! When getting laid off from her gig at local record shop, Plan 9, she turned to her creative side, creating Deanna Danger Designs. DDD is a collection of handmade pasties, hair fascinators and adornments, mini top hats and more! You can find her wares in her Esty shop online.
Deanna is one of the more unique performer in the Richmond burlesque scene. She creates a world of exotic dance and character. Her performances are seductively mischievous and she is a gem to watch. It is essential to have this type of live entertainer in such a thin scene, but she has no problems standing out from the crowd. She only has room to shine brighter and perform bigger!
For more on Deanna Danger:
Back to Motions
September 20, 2010
Full Name: Deanna Danger
Age:30
Currently Residing: Richmond, VA
Currently Listening to: Chess records stuff and old rockabilly, but I do put on the occasional dance mix on my iPod with stuff like Spank Rock, Ladytron, Goldfrapp, and Thunderheist on it
One would think burlesque performers have it easy. Go up on stage, wink an eye, take clothes off, exit stage. Done. Easy. One would think this, until one actually understands these performers have to really create this world. It takes a lot of work to stand out and engage an audience. Deanna Danger definitely has her own brand of sparkle on the burlesque scene. A dancer since 3 years of age, Miss Danger lends her choreography skills into her acts. Being a natural danseuse really enhances a burlesque performance. Deanna definitely has a grace about her, but it is her expression which stands out in her performances. There's something darkly seductive about her...her pout, her strong stance on stage, and definitely that look in her eyes when she's performing for an audience.She considers herself more neo than classical, although she delves in both worlds. She tends to kill a crowd with her Bjork number, "It's Oh So Quiet" and says it's her "first, last, and go-to number." Deanna first flirted with the burlesque scene in Richmond was one Spring night at local club Fallout. She hadn't performed solo in several years before that moment, so of course there was some nervous energy there. However, there was enough adrenaline to keep her pumped and forming her union with the scene.
She feels it's important to have the music relate to the routine so it conveys to the audience, "..it has to make the moves match the grandness (or sexiness) in a routine." Being individual in such a small scene poses a challenge and in that much creativity is needed to grab an audience. "Until we can build Richmond's fan base up bigger, you gotta work extra hard to get the core audience to your show," she responds. Because of that challenge, she finds touring to be an alternative route. She loves traveling and performing in different cities and has been trying to do more of it in recent times as to not stale her presence in RVA. Deanna has her sites set on such locales as Chicago, New Orleans, Texas, Vegas, and LA. I'm sure she will have no problem getting booked. There is something so communal about the burlesque community which contributes to bonds shared forever. Although this may be true, another challenge within that community is the competition and the cattiness which can be created in such a female dominated society.
When I asked Miss Danger who were her influences at this time, she replied with, "Recently....Angie Pontani and Peekaboo Pointe. Angie for her business sense and showmanship and Peekaboo for her amazing floor skills and abs of steel! She's awesome! And RunAround Sue has always been a great mentor to me. She's helped me out a lot along the way." Deanna has her own devotees and would be described as a scandalous performer; her fans always approach her quite excited and giddy eager to say hello. So what does her family think about all this? She says, "Well my hubby loves it (lucky bastard)! My parents are.....getting used to it. They're a little old school....but my mom (specifically) is trying hard to understand it more. She knows this is what I love, and what I do, and what I am meant to do in this life....she's just working to get past the naked parts."
Miss Danger has taken on a new venture called Bon Bon Burlesque. She and co-producer, Deepa De Jour came up with a fun concept for B-Movies incorporating burlesque sets during and in between the movies. I was lucky to witness their reenactments of the classic cult film, Barbarella. Deanna, Deepa and guests Boo Boo Darling and Mark Slomski provided a spectacle of performance right down to the costumes! On September 23rd, the girls will be giving tribute to the 1979 American cult action/thriller film, "The Warriors". You would think Deanna had her plate full, but you are mistaken! When getting laid off from her gig at local record shop, Plan 9, she turned to her creative side, creating Deanna Danger Designs. DDD is a collection of handmade pasties, hair fascinators and adornments, mini top hats and more! You can find her wares in her Esty shop online.Deanna is one of the more unique performer in the Richmond burlesque scene. She creates a world of exotic dance and character. Her performances are seductively mischievous and she is a gem to watch. It is essential to have this type of live entertainer in such a thin scene, but she has no problems standing out from the crowd. She only has room to shine brighter and perform bigger!
For more on Deanna Danger: