What exactly is Copious Curves?
Corvetta: Copious Curves is a celebration of positive body image and curvy bodies. This is a burlesque show that features curvy women and men in a positive light; a show that says all bodies are beautiful and we do not need to mold ourselves through extreme diets and pills to become the kind of thin body society now encourages. We can be beautiful, talented and wonderful just the way we are. We are all fabulous!
Vava: Copious Curves is a cabaret produced by and featuring ‘plus-sized’ performers. It’s meant to be a positive showing of our stuff, rather than anti-skinny or anti-health or anti-anything really, except perhaps for anti-sizism.
How did you first decide to produce the show?
Vava:We’ve all grown up with the mass media’s image of what is beautiful and desirable, and yet so many of us never see ourselves as those things. We’re told we have to change to be admired and loved. We need to buy this product or that to improve ourselves to other people will accept us. I have seen in the United States that there are entire plus-sized troupes doing their thing and I was wowed by that. When I mentioned to Corvetta how awesome it would be to have a showcase of big, bold, and beautiful bodies here in Vancouver we looked at each other and said – Let’s make it real! Last year was so much fun for both audience and performers alike that we just had to go for it again.
Corvetta:This is a joint project between VaVa and myself; we are both plus-size performers who have gained some success despite a cultural attitude that puts down our body types. We wanted to share our love of all body types and a positive attitude about those bodies on stage with other curvy performers. We just wanted to share the love of our own bodies with an appreciative audience.
Why have a show featuring Rubenesque body types?
Vava: Because big IS beautiful! Size is NOT shameful! Everyone note of the body scale deserves time to shine. Everywhere you look you’ll see skinny. The upper register of the spectrum doesn’t get exhaulted and it SHOULD. To make that happen someone has to stand up and speak up and SHOW the love, talent and life that is the voluptuous shape! So we did!
Corvetta: Because all bodies deserve a moment in the spotlight. Because society tells us we all need to be underweight to be sexy. Because teenage girls still have eating disorders. Because women still feel bad about their bodies every day. Because we need to challenge preconceptions about what it means to be sexy, powerful, and wonderful!
Burlesque being as diverse a genre as it is, seems to have some infighting about whether or not Burlesque is empowering for Women. Whats your take?
Corvetta: I find burlesque to be very empowering and I’m a very dedicated feminist (I am presently getting my PhD in Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies). Burlesque gives me the chance to be sexy on my own terms as a empowered woman. I choose how to live my burlesque persona and how I present myself to the crowd. The positive feedback I have received from fans has made me realize just how bad people want to see alternative bodies out there enjoying themselves. North American culture has become very obsessed with ‘perfect bodies’ and has really narrowed the cultural visual field. People are hungry for a positive difference and I think we are giving it to them!
Vava: I’m in the empowerment camp. It really depends on where you as a person are coming from with your intention behind involvement in burlesque. I believe we are all sexual beings and that’s something to celebrate! Not only that, we’re showcasing many talents from many backgrounds, and fostering creativity and self-expression in a playful, tongue-in-cheek way that allows people to remember not to take themselves too seriously. Burlesque isn’t about doing as you’re told, following the rules, and playing it safe. To paraphrase what Tigger, the most amazing person and performer, said at his Persona workshop that I attended, “Burlesque is meant to be an accessible art form, for and by common people”, and that “we should embrace each other and welcome and encourage people to bring to it what they have to bring.” For me that exemplifies the empowerment of the people through this art form.
I heard there will be some pretty spectacular guest stars?
VaVa: Well April – we have YOU for one, and we’re both also taking a turn strutting our stuff. We’re very proud to welcome many amazing performers well known around Vancouver’s burlesque scene, primarily from Screaming Chicken Theatrical Society. We’re also bringing some spectacular out of town guests. Returning again this year are Dollipop and Maya Papaya of Victoria’s Cheesecake Burlesque troupe. New this year we have two stunning talents from Seattle, Miz Ginger Snapz, recent producer of The Wiz and Adra Boo, songstress extraordinaire and star of the Seattle and New York productions of Shine: A Burlesque Musical.
Where can I find out more information about the show?
You can read more about all our fabulous lineup at our blog:
http://copiouscurves.blogspot.com/
We’re also listed on FB at:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=149467961769110
Shea DeVille here. I am VERY honoured to have been asked to perform at the Copious Curves event and I can’t help but add a couple cents. Per usual.
I’ve struggled with the notion of whether or not having shows dedicated to the curvaceous performer and those who enjoy them DETRACT from stereotypes or enhance them. But as I’ve been on the fence about the matter, I’ve forced myself to really evaluate WHY I struggle with the idea. And you know what? My struggle with plus-sized revues is EXACTLY the same as the debate I hear about whether or not burlesque is empowering or debasing. There IS no exact answer for me. Because for me it’s like saying that representation of nudity is either art or pornography.
To my mind, exploitation versus empowerment depends entirely on context. What are the motives of the producers? What is the environment that is being created? What is the goal of the production? Who else is participating? Who is profiting and by how much? Are the peformers being treated respectfully? Is the show being treated as a freak show or legitimate entertainment? Who is the audience expected to be? Are there any measures in place in case of boorish/bigoted audience members? Will the audience possibly see this as a pity-show? (Hey, it could happen, right?) While I do realize that each of these questions is a discussion in its own right, it comprises the inner dialogue I process when determining how I feel about performance opportunities as a larger gal and whether or not it’s empowering. What it comes down to for ME, is if I feel empowered by a situation, it doesn’t matter a rat’s ass if somebody else finds it to be degrading. Only I am able to determine if I feel degraded or not. And ultimately, isn’t that one of the basic tenets of many feminist philosophies?? Putting the power to make these decisions BACK in the hands of those whom it most personally affects. In this case, this particular plus-sized individual has felt nothing but empowered in my experiences as a burlesque dancer in the venues I’ve chosen to perform. My take. And only my take.