French Photographer Clémentine Schneidermann takes us through what inspired her to travel the world photographing Burlesque Dancers.
A few years ago I saw the movie “On Tour” by Mathieu Amalric which follows the performers of the New Cabaret burlesque in France. I was seduced by the beauty and fragility of these women, especially Mimi Le Meaux.
This led me to photographing and filming the backstage of a cabaret in Geneva. There I was mostly focused on a burlesque performer from London, who had the beauty of Marilyn Monroe.
When I moved to the UK, I asked her if I could make a reportage about her. I became embedded in her life, going to the shows at night in Manchester for a three minute long show, driving all night back to London, and then starting again the next day.
After this experience I decided to begin a global project on burlesque performers — to follow different lives, in different places. I’ve started now in Bristol, where I am based, and next I plan to travel to New Orleans, a hub of burlesque dancing in America.
Follow Clémentine’s travel and Burlesque escapades on her blog.