We recently connected with Victory Red and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Victory, thanks for joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

From the time I was 4 or so years old I was determined to be 3 things: A professional ballerina, the next Steven Spielberg, and Spider-Man. Over time, my life took some twists and turns but those core dreams never really left me. I pursued ballet and dance through the collegiate level where I realized just how cruelly competitive it was and decided I didn’t want one of my greatest joys to become one of my greatest stressors. I also studied film through college but ultimately graduated with a degree in Psychology. And Spidey? Oh, I’ve found ways to help others in big and small ways. I’ve never lost my passion for nerdy things. (Just ask my the Spider-Man tattoo on my arm.) With burlesque, I’m able to incorporate all of those dreams into an art form that brings me so much joy and expression. I don’t think my 4 year old self would have pictured it all quite this way, but I like to think my inner child is proud of me.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Absolutely! Although I’ve studied many genres of dance, I fell into burlesque a bit by chance. It all started with a workshop I attended just for fun hosted by the supremely talented woman who would become my mentor (known as a burly Mama), Kairo Duchess. That evening of “just for fun” sparked something within me that had been waiting for exactly the right influence to set my heart aglow. The workshop turned into private lessons which turned into joining a troupe and performing on a regular basis. That led to co-creating my own troupe, Hot! Take Burlesque, with the talented Kitté L’Amour. I’ve also had the humbling honor of taking on mentees (aka burly babies) of my own: Rosa Rica and Diamond Rose. I currently teach burlesque for the University of Utah’s Lifelong Learning Department. One of the things I love about my art is the multi-disciplinary facets of it. I’m a dancer, a producer, occasionally an emcee, a costume designer, a choreographer, a videographer, and a promoter. During the peak of COVID-19 when performing live wasn’t an option, I even wrote a novel based on my stage persona.
I am currently writing a script for a documentary film or series about burlesque in Utah and the particular challenges we face trying to maintain artistic control and expression in a very conservative state. Ultimately, burlesque is about the reveal-both in a physical/onstage/costume sense and in a more introspective one. As I peel back the costume layers, I peel back the layers of myself that I don’t want anymore-layers that were never really mine to begin with: fear, shame, trauma, self-doubt, religious and gender expectations. Burlesque helps me to express myself in a very authentic way and to really tap into the magic and wonder and infinite beauty and possibilities the universe holds. I felt that strongly as a child, but lost it along the way. Burlesque is allowing me to get that back.
I’m proud of and grateful for many experiences revolving around burlesque. I have watched the way this art form has empowered so many of my students and fellow performers and it is truly glorious. I have had the opportunity to learn from some of the most talented burlesque performers out there-an experience I treasure. I’m proud of the awards I’ve won over the years because of the time, effort, and care I’ve put into participating in various competitions. My shy, tender, introverted self struggles to put myself out there when it comes to competing but I have gained so much from pushing myself beyond what is comfortable. I’m proud of the money I’ve raised for others through charity burlesque shows. Most of all, I’m proud of the resilience I have practiced as an artist and a bisexual, gender-fluid human. When we live authentically, it helps others feel safer to do so and that has a beautiful ripple effect.
What I really hope people will understand about burlesque is that it is about authentic empowerment. It is an art form that inspires connection, creation, and transformation. What it has done for me is to help me get closer to living as authentically and unapologetically as possible.

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

Unlearning is such a fascinating concept and one I’ve been thinking about a lot lately. I’ve come to realize a lot of my adult life has been about unlearning. I have always had a very curious nature and loved learning about all kinds of things. Except math. And cooking. To hell with both of those. (Yes, I know they are both important. I have great respect for folks who are skilled in those areas. Especially if it means I don’t have to cook dinner…) But one of the best lessons I ever learned was to not be afraid to UNlearn. My perception of what it means to be “good” or “appropriate” is one of the things I’ve had to unlearn. A lot of people and a lot of organizations want to tell you what those ideas mean. But a lot of people and organizations are defining that based on what benefits them. Don’t listen. Go back to what your past self wanted. What did that kiddo believe? What did that child dream? What did that youngster imagine about the world and the universe? I’m willing to bet it didn’t have much to do with “good” or “appropriate.”
The older I get and the further I travel on my creative and artistic path, the more I realize the 4 year old me had it right. And the more I give myself permission to embrace those childhood dreams, the more joy I have in life.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

I think “ecosystem” is such a great way to phrase it. We are all part of an ecosystem. And I think one of the most important things society as a whole and members of society as individuals can do to support a creative ecosystem is to truly embrace the idea that one person’s sparkle doesn’t dim your own and just the act of expressing oneself in any medium or form has immense value. We are all stardust and we all meant to shine. The notion we have to turn our passions into money or it isn’t “serious” enough to spend time on is silly. Yes, there’s a place for making money by creating art-I enjoy earning money as a burlesque dancer-but it isn’t why I do it. I do it because I love it. I haven’t always made any money with my art. And I loved it then, too.
Sadly, the competitive nature of the hustle and scrambling for gigs is so draining and so exclusionary. If society could really understand why art is valuable it would open up so much for so many. The value isn’t in dollar signs. The value is in the act of creation. The more we encourage ourselves and others to be who we truly are, the more we will all thrive.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/missvictoryred/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/missvictoryred

Image Credits

Nikita Nouveau
Gaia Way Kenning
Al Jones Photography
Amy Livingston Photography
Mia Allen
Cera Lund