On this episode of Swing Sister Swing Nancy Hitzig interviews Coco Framboise (Nikola Steer) who is a multidisciplinary artist, educator and curator.  She has spent 17 years as a world-touring burlesque headliner, and is known for poignant performances that take audiences on a thrill ride from the saucy to the surreal to the sublime. She is the creator of the magical, immersive world of Hotel Tryst, with five unique iterations including a sold-out run in Coney Island.  She was invited to the Burlesque Hall of Fame weekend in Las Vegas to compete for the Best Debut world title.  She is also the Director of Programming and Creative Director of the Toronto Burlesque Festival, now in its twelfth year. Nancy and Nikola discuss her first funded project called Ghost Apartment, which is based around photographs taken by her father before he passed away. Also, her experiences of applying for Arts funding from working with a Grant Officer to the process of applying.

 

Quote - There were moments that were brilliant and moments that were very artful and moments that were very deep and meaningful to me. But the process was very exhausting. The process was grinding me down and so to have this opportunity to receive funds meant that I could stop and think about what I was doing and actually create work that was meaningful and urgent in my being.

 

Timestamps:

 

2.47 - How Nikola started and what platforms she is in now?

6.32 - What are the mediums that most excite Nikola now?

7.34 - What has funding meant for you?

13.14 - What has been your process of either applying or not applying for projects in the past?

15.50 - What did you find the most difficult pieces of the process?

23.08 - What are the things that are giving you pause and delight in the current situation?

 

Resources: (books, products, websites, other podcasts)

 

Connect with Nikola Steer

 

• Facebook - https://en-gb.facebook.com/CocoFramboiseBurlesque/
• Twitter - https://twitter.com/coco_framboise?lang=en
• Website link - http://www.cocoframboise.com/
• Website Link - https://ago.ca/events/coco-framboise-nikola-steer-afro-dite-hairloom
• Instagram -com/coco_framboise/?hl=en




Connect with Nancy Hitzig:

 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nothingbuthitz/?hl=en

Twitter - https://twitter.com/nothingbuthitz?lang=en

Website link - https://nancyhitzig.com/

Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancyhitzig/?originalSubdomain=uk