Poster Design by Archi Seb
Looking for some colour in Paris on Saturday night? Juliette Dragon talks to Ruby TV about her 1930s ‘Paris- Berlin’ themed cabaret at the Bellevilloise this Saturday 26th September with Le Cabaret des Filles de Joie.
Not in Paris? Stay tuned for the pics- here are some from resident photographer Gilles Rammant from their last cabaret, which was a hit. And if you haven’t seen it yet, check the Ruby TV webcast featuring Juliette.
Ruby TV: Tell us a little about the theme of this cabaret.
Juliette Dragon: This revue is about the 30’s, between both wars. It was a very strange period. All around Europe, people wanted to forget the 1st world war and so sought to have lots of fun. They danced the Charleston and women cut their hair which symbolised their new found independence (i.e. they found life outside their husbands!) The flappers showed a new way of life. They smoked, they swam, they danced, they flew planes, they lived the fastest they could… The black music captivated the white youths- they danced wildly to these compelling new rhythms.
Who is involved in this cabaret?
There will be of us playing: dancers and musicians, real old fashioned jazz standards like ‘why don’t you do right’, ‘fever’, ‘indigo mood’, etc. There is a tribute to bob Fosse’s Cabaret (with Lisa Minelli), typical French songs of the 30’s and retro musicals. This Cabaret des Filles de Joie presents different guests: Leslie Bertine, a sweet and gorgeous pianist and singer, Marion Sandner and Jazmin Baret, a fabulous tap dance duo (one from Germany, one from Australia). There’s gonna be other burlesque numbers also.
How have your cabarets evolved in the last year?
We play in bigger and bigger places because the audience keeps getting bigger. The stages are bigger too so we can organise larger choreographies with many dancers on stage together with a live band.
How have you evolved as a performer and organiser? What have you learnt about cabaret and life over the last year?
I started performing in electronic music festivals 16 years ago, then in clubs and now we play in cabarets, theatres and music venues.
I’ve learned that life is short and nothing can be taken for granted! I’ve learned a lot about women: their strength, their beauty, their fears…
I’ve learned a lot about human and group behaviour-the game of appearances, the manner in which performers present themselves on first encounters and the way in which their real personalities seep through when we begin to know them more. Some are lovely to begin with then reveal egocentric and pretentious qualities; others are cold and not instantly likable but then are sensitive and generous. One must never judge on appearances! What counts is the long term- I prefer marathons than sprints- easier said than done! Confidence comes with time…
The next big thing is the Paris Burlesque Festival? Tell us a little about it and how it is shaping up.
It’s gonna be beautiful. A special team is going to decorate the whole Bellevilloise with purple curtains and pink and red drapes everywhere. Artists from all over the world are going to play for 4 days and nights: California, Japan, Berlin, Geneva, Argentina, Australia and la crème de al crème of the French burlesque scene. There’s gonna be a burlesque pin-up photo exhibition, conferences, master classes, jazz, swing and rock’n roll concerts, performances, arty peep show installations, an old fashioned feathered burlesque revue, queer experimental cabaret, new burlesque rockabilly shows and a vintage bric à brac pin-up market.
The daily line-up:
Thursday October 22nd: piano burlesque bar with Kitten on the Keys, Inga la Douce and Miss Marion.
Friday October 23th: Cabaret Interlope with fabulous queer artists, lots of fun and very engaged performances.
Saturday October 24th: master classes during the day, then conferences, then, in the evening: Revue de Paris and during the night Nuit Fatale.
Sunday October 25th: Burlesque Bazaar, pin-up brunch bric-a-brac and fashion show.
www.myspace.com/parisburlesquefestival
What else is going on for you and the Cabaret des Filles de Joie in the coming months?
After the festival, we’re going to play in Macao and China, then we play for 6 weeks in Geneva.
This week’s Cabaret is an early affair – 1930-22h and entry is a startlingly cheap 3 Euros.
More information: www.labellevilloise.com
