as part of sunshine: one day tribute to leigh bowery to celebrate what would have been the iconic performance artist’s 50th birthday – some of london’s best performance artists are getting it on at the ICA tomorrow night. one of my favourite performers will be there setting the stage alight with her very own and rock and roll version of burlesque, cabaret and performance art. fancy chance is sooo much more than fancy, she’s a legend in her own time claiming the titles of london’s top tranny 2010 and alternative miss world 2009. when fancy chance tassels her titties your gob will drop to the floor – no one does it better. hilarious, sexy, glamorous and nasty too – go see her shake it for sure.
fancy chance took some time to answer questions for BDWA blog with thanks. x
1. list your favorite places to do, be and see.
Tate Modern
The Lazerides Gallery
Hyde Park to look at birds and calm my heart.
Royal Vauxhall Tavern: That’s where half of my performance family gravitate regularly.
2. was there anyone that inspired you from the beginning? who inspires you now?
When I was a kid it was all about Liza Minnelli, Julie Andrews in Victor Victoria, Miss Piggy, Busby Berkley musicals and anything that was glitzy or showy. Now it’s pretty much the same thing but I’m more educated about the how/when/whys of them and what’s happened with their influence since then. Now I’m really inspired by the history and legacy of Weimar Berlin. It’s gender bending, parody, sexual revolution, performance, politics; everything.
3. tell a little about your background.
I’m not formally trained but I’ve managed to work hard enough to find myself doing primarily performance. It took a while to get to this place and I spent quite a few years early in my adult life clubbing and seeing as many rock shows as I could. I think it was my own version of university. When that wore off I decided to work my ass off bartending and stripping to save money to travel. I ended up on trips around South East Asia, Central America, South America and Europe – I think that was my graduate degree. All of that has informed my performances and I feel like I’m just now hitting my stride in confidence and ability to sustain myself by just performing.
4.what is it exactly that you do?
Comedy burlesque, cabaret and performance art.
5. what are you currently collecting?
Offensive or sappy US war/military T-shirts and sweatshirts
6.what are you listening to at the moment?
Ty Segall, NoBunny, LA Vampires, Oliver Nelson, Thelonious Monk, Black Star, Rakim
7.what’s your morning ritual? any other rituals within the home?
I have very few rituals because my schedule is so erratic and I spend half of my nights/mornings at my partner’s house – in both places I wake up, make coffee and drink that with a glass of juice while watching or listening to the news. In my home I usually have something burning away in a diffuser, right now I love mixing lemongrass oil with lavender.
8. Your favorite food to prepare/cook/eat?
Som Tam aka green papaya salad. Spicy, crunchy, savory, salty, sour, juicy, garlic-y and super fresh. It’s actually really easy to make and the pay off is divine!
9. your favorite colour or combination of colours?
Robin egg blue with ox blood-red or bright orange.
10.`favoUrite destination?
Southeast Asia for the food and to be near nice people who look like me.
11. best blogs?
I don’t really read blogs, I just come across them in my research adventures.
APPETITE FOR DECORATION 