Interview with Saffron Soleil: Burlesque as a Political Act

Burlesque caught my eye a while back; gorgeous outfits intertwined with skits that merged unequivocal sexiness with humor? Yes, please. It was one of those art forms that could mesmerize an entire stadium of people. It captures the actor’s ability to make the audience feel connected with the stage. It’s hard not to admire. With that in mind, I’ve been following Saffron Soleil’s burlesque page for a while now on FB, and I’m so happy to have been able to receive an interview with them for a little more insight on the Burlesque community. They were able to expand on their creative process as well as what they can do to increase the number of Asian performers in the burlesque scene. Please do enjoy! Black Nerd Problems: First things first: What’s the nerdiest thing about you?Saffron: Sometimes I forget what’s most nerdy about me because it’s like my normal! I think the biggest nerdy thing about me is that I LOVE cartoons. Cartoons are my most favorite thing! They’ve been influencing me since I was young! I grew up in the age of Toonami and Cartoon Cartoon Fridays on Cartoon Network and I have always loved finding new shows to watch. Or even just binging old nostalgic ones! Cartoons got me into cosplay and crafting! My top faves are Avatar: The Last Airbender (I used to cosplay as Toph Bei Fong a while back!), Steven Universe (I cosplay as Amethyst now!), Gravity Falls, Rick and Morty, and Samurai Jack, to name just a few.

BNP: Please tell us a bit about yourself. What does your …