About

QUICK PROFILE

Name: Samantha Bell
Birthday: 23/10/87
Genre: Burlesque, Cabaret, Circus
Connect: Email. Facebook. Inspiration Blog.

Songstress. Burlesque Artiste. Fire Dancer. Corsetier.

BIOGRAPHY

I was one of those children that loved the spotlight. I would sing, dance with my hands in the air while balancing on one foot (yes, there is photographic evidence) and would generally demand attention wherever I went. My grandmother was perhaps one of the most incredible singers I have ever known and as I sat on the bottom step of her ladder while she was painting the house, I learnt the joy of music and discover it was deeply ingrained in my soul.

I became fascinated with glamour, corsetry and feminine beauty just before I finished high school – only I had no idea that what I loved was essentially everything that burlesque could offer. I loved the idea of a powerful woman in a corset, feeling sexy and bombproof, facing the world. It became a sort of obsession and also a subject of much of my art making at the time in both the visual art domain and the dramatic arts. Some years later, the images I had so long identified with was given a name: burlesque. As a result, I wrote my honours thesis on the topic, exploring notions of empowerment through the phenomenological analysis of the art form. After becoming completely absorbed with the burlesque world there was nothing left to do but to combine my history of music theatre, classical singing training and corset making to channel my creative energy into burlesque.

I am a singer, a corsetier, and a fire and fan dancer.

I am a classically trained singer and have been trained as a Soprano 1 by Sydney Opera’s Lisa Cooper and Musical Theatre legend Deborah Wells. I have been in a variety of musicals including a lead role in Anything Goes and The Mikado and ensemble roles in The Producers and The Sound of Music. I have also sung for some of the countries most talented choral ensembles including The Sydney Singers with Mr. George Torbay, Sing 2001, Sing NSW and Sing NSW Core Choir; performing at venues such as the NSW Art Gallery, Sydney Opera House, Sydney Town Hall and events such as the Paralympic Opening Ceremony.

My mother and grandmother, being the two most influential people in my life, were both amazing seamstress and would hand sew all of my mother elaborate ballroom dancing costumes. So naturally, I found my way to a sewing machine eventually and have not stopped threading needles since! All of my costumes are made by me (some times with the help of my Mum and little brother who got 50/50 for year seven sewing!) and are not found anywhere else. I specialise in corsets and dress making and anything that is pretty and feminine is always on my agenda!

I am also a competent fire dancer, learning the art on beaches and in backyards on warm summer nights. I am proficient in fire staff, poi and fans. My love of fire dancing meant an instant attraction to the feather fans of Miss Sally Rands. Such an attraction inevitably means that the feather fans, and any other fans really, have become a passion!