It’s the time of year that half of Paris’ inhabitants are fleeing town to head to southern beach settings or to return to homelands. Before they, and you do, Juliette Dragon, underground cabaret icon, is arranging a little treat at the Bellevilloise in the 20th. She tells Ruby TV why this 7 hour event with over 20 artists is gonna rock.
Ruby TV: What is the theme of this ‘nuits fatale de Juliette Dragon’ cabaret?
Juliette Dragon: So, we start 19th century old fashion cabaret with French cancan, then 30’s broadways classics, then 40’s, 60’s ball room, then 90’s fusion rock band and last but not least, 2009 electro punk glam ‘n roll with rikkha my band. After the concerts, the crowd will keep on dancing with a rock DJ set. And throughout the night les Filles de Joie will perform burlesque numbers.
RTV: Who is involved?
JD:Some of the first part is performed by the students of L’Ecole des Filles de Joie- their first time on stage! Then there are special guests. Brad Scott, the talented [Paris based English] musician who played ukulele and double bass with great famous French artists such as Higelin, Bashung and Arthur H. There’s Jazmin Baret, our favourite Australian tap dancer- I guess you know her. Kemar et Shanka from No One is Innocent– a kind of French Rage against the Machine. They’re going to play covers with our band Rikkha (electro choc’n roll).
RTV: Who are you expecting as audience?
JD:A mix of styles and ages; Belleville-Ménilmontant rockers, tourists, international students, our lesbian and gay friends, and anyone in Paris who wants to have fun this summer.
RTV:How have your cabarets changed over the years?
JD: We play in bigger venues, on larger stages, with more famous guests. We still have fun together!
RTV: Why do we need cabaret in our lives?
JD: Cabaret is the best entertainment because it’s sexy, funny and smart. We need to dream, we need to think about political problems, we need to have fun too. Everything is in cabaret: poetry, music, dance, beauty, freaks, humour, ‘life is a cabaret’ or is it ‘cabaret is life’?
RTV: What’s next?
JD: Our next bigger project is the 1st Paris Burlesque Festival. 4 days and nights in la Bellevilloise, October 22nd to 25th: burlesque shows, conferences, workshops, exhibitions, performances, old movie projections, a pin-up market, fashion shows, funny peep-shows, glitter, new feminism, humour, feathers…
Juliette Dragon’s cabaret will take place on 24th July from 10:30pm to 5:30am. Entrance is 8 euros (5 euros before midnight).
La Bellevilloise 21 rue Boyer, 75020 (Metro Gambetta or Melinmontant)
Poster Design Archi Seb
