Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Uncategorized A few questions with Vagina Jenkins
Posted by Wyatt Williams @wyatt_williams on Wed, Apr 7, 2010 at 2:46 PM
Atlanta's Queen of Queer Burlesque is busy expanding her dynasty. Aside from performing here in Atlanta and traveling all across North America, Vagina Jenkins was recently selected for London Burlesque Week - a massive festival gathering of talent from across the globe. Expanding the Queen's dominion hasn't been easy, though. Facing mounting travel costs, Jenkins has set up a couple events where loyal burlesque fans can leave her, well, a little extra tip. On Thursday, Jenkins is teaming up with Johnny Drago for "All About Vag," a fundraising party for the London trip featuring a huge bill of performers. Online, she's set up a Kickstarter Project to help defray her North American travel costs. Speaking over the phone, Jenkins made it clear that the Queen will not be stopped.
Are there any sovereign powers that come with being the Queen of Queer Burlesque?
You get a lot of pussy thrown at you. Your mom loves me.
You know, nobody called me out on that until I went out the land of the queers – San Francisco – and some woman was like, “Wait, you’re calling yourself the Queen? That’s not going to work around here.”
You were recently chosen to perform at London Burlesque Week. Have you performed overseas before?
No. It’s my first time in Europe period. It’s going to be amazing, but I have mad anxiety about it.
Really?
It’s not the event I’m freaked out about – I’ll be fine dancing and performing – but traveling is stressful for me. I’m just excited about meeting folks in another place and being inspired about their ideas and ways of doing what we do.
Tell me a little bit about working with Johnny Drago. He’s going to be performing a piece called the “Attack of the Six Foot Vagina” on Thursday.
I haven’t seen “Attack” yet. [...] I think I’m supposed to be keeping him from being offensive, but Johnny Drago is fucking genius and I’m not trying to rein him in all. I’m just excited to be surprised by what he does.
What should we expect on Thursday night?
Way too much. Two things are important to me – giving people more than what they pay for and creating a show that shows the intersection of all the folks I know. I know rednecks and mad lesbians and drag queens and kings and I just want the shows to be the intersection of all of that, all the cool arts folks in the city.
How do you come up with the ideas for your routines?
There’s not any usual thing to it. I just go with the inspiration, wherever it comes from. If I hear an amazing song on the radio, I start thinking about a routine and doing the choreography in my head. I’ve been inspired by one single peacock feather – just a feather. I said, “Damn, this needs a costume around it.”
How did you get started doing burlesque?
I’m one of the lesbians who got into it for feminist empowerment. It sounds funny now, but that’s how it got started.
I was really inspired by an African American woman named Toni Elling She was performing in Detroit in the 60s. She’s like my spirit mom in burlesque.
"All About Vag" features performances from Vagina Jenkins, Johnny Drago, and more at Eyedrum on Thurs., April 8 at 8 pm. More details on Facebook.
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