Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Phoenix De La Rosa. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Phoenix, appreciate you joining us today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

I remember the first time I sat down, after a long day working at a corporate job. and thinking to myself, “The American Dream is pulling up your bootstraps. and that’s what I am going to do.” As a Puerto Rican woman in the corporate world, the amount of work I had been putting in wasn’t being appreciated and recognized. At the time, I had worked numerous different fields, but I always had my passion for theatre through-out those occupations. In 2015 I signed up for a Burlesque class on a whim, little did I know, it would be the best decision I ever made. After my first Burlesque performance, I started to apply as a stage hand for different shows. I wanted to learn everything from tech, production, dance, and costuming. I took classes where I could find them and after 5 years, I found myself becoming the teacher and performing all across the United States. It was just a few months ago, where I left my traditional job. I was scared, nervous, and knew this would require a lot of work. But its work that I love to do, The work I put in, is not only recognized, but nurtured and encouraged by my colleagues. Encouraging self-fulfillment, confidence, and joy in what my students do, has been amazing. My only qualm, is that I didn’t transition into a full time creative job sooner.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Phoenix De La Rosa. I am a Puerto Rican burlesque performer, producer, and instructor, currently residing in Minneapolis Minnesota.

I have been a theatre kid all of my life. I went to a theatre arts middle, high-school, and college. I love performing, producing, costuming, dancing, you name it. I love all aspects of theatre, down to the frantic rushes during a show.

I started Burlesque in 2015, when on a whim I decided to try something different. In that class, I was taught how to walk with confidence, I learned how to take up space, and how to construct an outfit to fit my body. I learned dance moves that I thought I would never be able to do and I saw that my confidence was seeping into other aspects of my life. Especially my Cosplay life. I decided to audition for Midnight Minxes, a cosplay burlesque group and started to travel to different conventions with my burlesque.

As I progressed in my career, a dear friend, Deeva Rose, reached out to me about starting to teach at her burlesque school. At the time, COVID just hit, and the school had been open only for a short while with a few instructors. It was nerve wracking. Here we are, a craft that is based on Live Performance, and we had to completely change our trajectory, FAST.

The Rose Academy of Burlesque persevered COVID and we have grown to become one of the largest Burlesque Schools in the Twin Cities. I have taught people from Canada, Australia, and Denmark about burlesque. When a student leaves feeling that they’ve accomplished something for themselves, thats an amazing gift for an instructor.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Seeing my students grow and find their passions. Even with the students whom decide burlesque isn’t for them, they have all found the courage to do things that fulfills them in the ways they need.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

For me, I grew up in Puerto Rico, so I was always hearing about the American Dream. Finding a corporate job, having a family sized home, with a garage and kids. But, after years of working in corporate America, I felt that the corporate world still thrives on that idea/dream, but that it is achieved by misogyny and nepotism. After years of working for different companies, with different missions, goals, and beliefs. I realized that maybe that isn’t the dream for me and that its possible to live a life that is different, yet fulfilling to you. I also had to learn that you shouldn’t need to drain yourself, in order for your professional efforts to be recognized and reciprocated.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.phoenixdelarosa.com
• Instagram: @phoenixdelarosa_mn
• Facebook: Phoenix DeLaRosa

Image Credits
Photo by Tim Knox at La Folies Burlesk at the Gay 90s The Dexter one with the white background and the Wizard of OZ one with the white background was done by RF Taylor.