When it comes to putting on a show, few stars shine brighter than Claire de Lunacy. From hosting parties and events to dazzling aerial and burlesque performances, Claire has been setting stages ablaze with breathtaking performances.
But how much work does it take to get into burlesque and how hard is it to get started with aerial-based performances? We caught up with Claire to tell us about her journey as a sensual dancer.
- Could you introduce yourself and what you do?
- What was your journey into performing?
- Would you say that burlesque or aerial is more difficult?
- Can you talk us through a typical day of performing?
- What is your favourite thing about putting on a show?
- Do you ever experience nerves before performing?
- Does sexuality come into your work at all and how do you use it within your performances?
- Where do you find creative inspiration?
- Do you have a favourite performance you've done?
- What has been your proudest moment as an artist so far?
- Any future plans?
- What inspires you to keep going on days where you don’t feel so good?
- If you could give one piece of advice to sex-positive performers, what would it be?
Could you introduce yourself and what you do?
I’m Claire and I’m a performing artist. I’m a host, presenter, dancer, cabaret artist, actor/facilitator and circus performer.
What was your journey into performing?
Honestly, I’ve probably always known it was my calling… I was obsessed from a young age. Due to some health reasons I decided not to pursue it at university age and instead went to study French and Spanish. I then had a real higgeldy-piggledy career but as a result, I’ve been lucky enough to see the world along the way and have loads of different experiences.
When my grandfather died in my mid-twenties I was given a few hundred pounds and used that to quit my job and do a month’s intensive dance course. It’s complicated but to cut a long story short, I moved into working for agencies in dance and interactive acting, then taught myself stilts and fire, took a burlesque course, then started learning aerial and it’s all come together over a very long period.
Hosting and presenting came later – it was the pandemic that catapulted me into that world and I loved it so much that that also stuck. I’m addicted to variety and new experiences so that’s why I ended up doing so many different performance things rather than specialising in one or two.
Would you say that burlesque or aerial is more difficult?
They’re both completely different, but aerial training is very hard on the body. I’m also not naturally great at the spinning stuff – it can make me feel sick. Plus being upside down can also give me cracking headaches as I have low blood pressure, but it’s worth it when an act comes together or you nail a new trick. For aerial you have to be extremely fit – both cardio and strength-wise – and I’m 32 now so it’s a lot on my body.
Burlesque is a very different art form and requires so much more acting than people realise. Anyone can take their clothes off, but to create a whole character that people buy into and love is such an art.
Some of the best burlesque artists in the world are most famous because of their facial expressions and characters. The other thing about burlesque is that you have to learn so many other skills – costume repairs, rhinestoning, stage makeup and so on…
Can you talk us through a typical day of performing?
A typical day isn’t really something I ever experience… I’m kidding. I do have a Saturday residency brunch show and for that, I avoid staying up late or drinking too much the previous day so that I’m fresh (not always an easy feat as that means missing out on wild Friday nights), I stretch in the morning, pack my suitcase and head in early to train on the lollipop as I don’t have a lyra lollipop at home, only aerial hoop.
I get to the venue around 12/1, set up the lollipop (which is pretty heavy) train or practise new routines if I’m working on something, and then do my stage makeup down in the basement dressing room while doing a vocal warmup. Then it’s showtime so up on my stilts for the first hosting set, then I teach the Brides to be or the birthday girls a dance downstairs, followed by an aerial warmup.
Then I’m back on stage doing the aerial lollipop routine, and then straight back on the mic for games and lipsyncs. After that I do the world’s fastest costume change and setting up my fire equipment, and then I do the final fire show. I love it so much but it’s definitely not a gig for the unfit or faint of heart!
What is your favourite thing about putting on a show?
To be honest, I actually prefer working in a cast of people, but sadly most of my current jobs tend to be a bit more of a solo affair.
Having a cast who are all passionate about cabaret come together to make something, work very hard together and then deliver a stunning piece of art is a feeling like no other.
The applause isn’t bad either 😉
For me, I also love that I get to express different sides of myself as I have so many different characters.
Do you ever experience nerves before performing?
Absolutely! When it’s a new show or a new act I get real nervous and actually humming really loudly is very good for butterflies!
Does sexuality come into your work at all and how do you use it within your performances?
Interesting question! I’m sort of still playing around with my sexuality (I’m bisexual but sometimes don’t feel “bisexual enough”) and so it isn’t currently a heavy feature of my own work but it does affect where I love to perform the most. I’m hugely sex-positive and really love performing at events which have a kinky dress code or a playroom, particularly parties inclusive of all sexualities. I feel most at home in colourful, fluffy, queer spaces.
Where do you find creative inspiration?
Creative inspiration never comes when you want or need it to, it comes when it wants. Often when I’m supposed to be sleeping or doing admin and so on.
I think costuming is one of my favourite parts of performance because I’m a massive aesthete, however, it can be very expensive to create the perfect costume every time.
My first burlesque corset I designed and I had it made bespoke – the corset alone was £350, then all the harnesses were custom made and then the jacket/shoes etc I had to thrift. I’m super inspired by high fashion-type costumes but they’re not always realistic and I think I need to up my makeup skills game to really bring some of my ideas to life…
When I need creative inspiration I delve into Pinterest and Instagram, but movies can also inspire me. Sometimes though it’s just a piece of music that speaks to my soul so hard I just have to create something with it…
I have an uber-creative brain when it comes to costumes or act ideas but I really struggle to focus (I have suspected ADHD) and often forget things before the idea is fully formed!
Do you have a favourite performance you’ve done?
Wow, that’s such a hard question! My favourite overall feeling was this year performing in the French Alps for my company YouTopia Productions, we were on top of an American school bus, dancing on the roof in a valley as the sun set, with smoke bombs and coloured lights all around, and the music was really euphoric, so that was a real-life highlight – to get to say I get paid for this!
But actual performance-wise, performing an erotic duet with my partner at the time at Fox and Badge for their NYE show in London. We’d never performed together before and somehow were given a headline slot on the main stage at 3am, and even though we whipped the performance together in a matter of days, it went absolutely perfectly and the lighting and music were so delicious it felt like being in a dream…
What has been your proudest moment as an artist so far?
Possibly producing the cabaret tent at El Dorado festival for the past 2 years. I performed at each one but also produced and managed the entire show – 4 shows a night for 3 days – and we had a packed-out tent every single night. We had feedback saying it was the best thing at the festival from some punters and that just made my heart swell with pride!
Any future plans?
Future – I honestly don’t know… I have a few acts in the pipeline but the performing scene is becoming increasingly challenging due to the cost of living crisis – less cash to spend means fewer shows and venues are shutting down left right and centre. But I hope to move into producing and managing more as I get into my thirties and am manifesting more international gigs for 2025. I’ve been lucky enough to perform in France, Seychelles and Croatia so far in 2024 which is such a privilege – hopefully more of that 🙂
What inspires you to keep going on days where you don’t feel so good?
When I don’t feel great I blast musical soundtracks and dance around the house! And I go to class 😉
If you could give one piece of advice to sex-positive performers, what would it be?
There is such an appetite for this – more and more parties and events are popping up that are sex-positive and all-inclusive, so opportunities will be aplenty. Festivals in particular have absolutely gorgeous spaces for performers of all sexualities, and London has a fantastic scene for it.
Art is supposed to be expression, so always shine as the bright version(s) of who YOU are. ✨✨
Discover more about Claire de Lunacy.
Read: The burlesque connoisseur’s guide to New York City: Pride edition.
Drew
Drew, aka Wise and Manly is a sexuality coach helping people to love themselves. As a bisexual man, he makes content about owning and embracing your sexuality as well as accepting your authentic self.
Claire de Lunacy
Claire de Lunacy is a London-based performance artist, skilled in fire acts, burlesque, cabaret, presenting, compèring, dance and aerial. She offers experiences online and in-person.
