Cleopantha - Performer FF#29

Photo credit: Jonathan Macauley Photography taken at The Peacock Lounge, Leicester

The beautiful and brilliant Burlesque performer Cleopantha will be one of our two performers for this weekends Sold out Fèmmme Fraîche socially distanced event. It’s Cleopantha’s first time performing for us at Fèmmme Fraîche and we’ve heard nothing but amazing things about her, so we’re super excited to have her on board. We had a quick catch-up Q&A with Cleopantha to get the lowdown before this Saturdays party, have a read below.

photo credit: Veronika Marx Photography

INTERVIEW WITH CLEOPANTHA

Hi Cleopantha, so we're MEGA excited to have you performing for us this Saturdays, so to start how would you describe yourself as a performer or your performance style?

I would describe my acts as both energetic and unapologetic.

Oh we love that! So what training did you do to become performer?

I trained professionally in Contemporary Dance at one of Europe's leading Dance institutes, The Northern School of Contemporary Dance. I have been dancing since the age of 6 and knew the stage was always a place I belonged!

It's in your blood as they say!! So What led you into Burlesque?

I was actually recommended by a friend. Before starting burlesque, I had a huge passion for TV presenting and wanted to work for CBBC. Unfortunately doing runner work and extras work in TV didn't pay very well and I wasn't able to cover my living costs here in London so I knew I needed to change career path.

I reached out to a few cabaret producers online and choreographed my first act and made my own first costume years back. After a few weeks of building my portfolio, I was spotted online by Sadie Sinner, head of The Cocoa Butter Club. who offered me my first paid burlesque role, which was in a channel 5 biopic on the life of Michael Jackson. After that, my career seemed to have this domino effect where via word of mouth, I started receiving more bookings. It's been onwards and upwards from there really!!!

Amazing! what advice would you give to other wmxn looking to break into Burlesque?

Focus on you and your strengths and incorporate that into your art. Don't worry about what the mainstream are doing. What makes you different is what will make you stand out. Be beautifully and unapologetically you!

a big YES to that advice! So let's talk lockdown, how have you been coping or keeping yourself occupied?

I've fallen in love with video and photo editing again! I use to do a lot of editing back at Dance School and I've seen it as a positive, having the time to indulge in it again over lockdown. It's enabled me to be a bit more experimental with my art. In turn, I'm hoping it's made my social media content somewhat more engaging. I've applied this same skill to my fan sites, hoping that it'll make my content stand out a bit. In the near future, I hope to start more blogging and teaching videos too!

Ohh yes a bit of Lockown creativity! So what's the one thing you're most looking forward to returning?

Oh how I miss that bl**dy stage. The lights. The music. The drama. Epic Audiences and epic artists backstage. I miss it all. I can't wait to be back! (Sorry I couldn't choose one!!!)

Hahah no, we agree, all of the above, and is there anything you're dreading?

Catching covid again. That would be totally my luck!

Well we will try to make sure Ms Rona doesn't show up on Sat! So what can we expect from you performance wise?

A bucket and a mop and some Wet Ass Pantha!!

YESSSSSS Miow... so make sure you're following Cleopantha on her socials below, you can also join her only fans HERE and her Patreon HERE and see what other show's she's performing at HERE