Sapphira (aka Priscilla Tonkin) is no ordinary showgirl. Incorporating bellydancing into her burlesque shows, Sapphira has always attracted a combination of wide appraisals with controversy at the same time. After launching her highly successful dancing career in London, she now runs her own dance classes here in Melbourne. Sapphira is also currently working on her album ‘Mystress’ that incorporates a sultry mix of electronica beats with burlesque performances, to be released this year.

Here Sapphira tells us how it all began – from her early heyday in London, to the launch of her highly successful career, and how nowadays she divides her time between teaching classes full time and focusing on her songwriting/album release.



Photo by www.beckonphotography.com


Tell me about yourself
Ever since I was young I always loved watching musicals on TV, like those composed by Roger Hammerstein who produced classics like ‘Oklahoma’ and ‘The Sound of Music.’ I also performed regularly at my local church since eight years old, and this is where my parallel interest in performing began. Whilst I was very passionate about musicals and performances I wasn’t really sure about the career opportunities these areas presented, so I went to university, got my degree in Bachelor of Business, and pursued my corporate career in sales and marketing.

Whilst I was making appointments, adhering to deadlines and focusing on my KPIs (Key Performance Indicator) in the office, I was still very interested in performing and musicals, so at the age of 23, I decided to head to London for my ‘big break.’

Photo by Maani Vadgama


Tell me about your time in London

I was very excited to have arrived in London. As you know London is a cosmopolitan city with an array of exceptional performers. During my time in London I was introduced to burlesque, which I found classy, comical and creative. I had initially come to London seeking work as a bellydancer, but I was equally mesmerized by burlesque so I decided to hold my own shows that incorporated burlesque with bellydancing.  This show, called the Shimmy Shake Show, is now running in Melbourne with a different flavour (see www.shimmyshakeshow.com for more details).

In London whilst I worked during the day in the office I held my shows at nights. As there were already so many performers in London, I had to publicise my show in order to 'stand out' and 'be noticed'.  Therefore I contacted as many local newspapers as possible.  Before I knew it I hit the front page for a local expatriate newspaper advertising my show (see below). I was very excited…this was only the beginning!

Photo by Tas Kyprianou


What were some of the challenges that you faced as a dancer?
One of the biggest challenges I faced as a burlesque and a belly dancer were some of the criticisms received from the conservative bellydancers. A huge debate raged on the internet, fuelled by Miles Copeland, the former manager of Sting and The Police who was touring a production called ‘Belly Dancing Superstars’. He spoke out against my show on the internet in an article titled Divorcing belly dance from burlesque stating we were using ‘sexual innuendo’ to sell the show: http://www.gildedserpent.com/art43/milesdivorce.htm
 
It seemed that Miles was extremely offended that I was combining both burlesque and belly dancing in my shows. They thought that by doing this I was degrading and cheapening the image of belly dancing. I found this perception extremely short sighted – in fact, research shows that burlesque actually derived from belly dancing.


Really? How is that so?

This may be very hard to believe, but the modern bellydancing that we know today which has been revamped by Hollywood (including the sequin bras worn by the bellydancers) were some of the inspirations that led to the modern burlesque dancing. Donna Carlton explores this further in her research, Looking for Little Egypt: http://www.librarything.com/work/83148

I believe that a lot of this controversy has now subsided and in many dance schools teaching belly dancing there is a real interest in burlesque so belly dancing is also being taught there. I also strongly believe both art forms are empowering, sensual and give women a great sense of freedom.

Photo by Maani Vadgama


What happened thereafter?

After spending a magnificent seven years in London and receiving wide publicity on my work, I decided to come back to Melbourne. My return to Melbourne a couple of years ago was very timely, considering the growing interest in both bellydancing and burlesque dancing. I realised that more and more people wanted to learn about these dances. It was in November 2009 that I ‘bit the bullet’ and decided to quit my corporate career to run my own bellydancing and burlesque dancing classes across Melbourne in Elwood, Prahran, Seaford, Fitzroy and St Kilda East.

This year I am involved with exciting plans to expand my burlesque courses and I am forging ahead with a new course in belly dancing by merging two genres of electronic music with this ancient dance which celebrates fertility and the female form. I am currently in the process of releasing an album comprising of electronica beats, so it was no surprise to combine this style of music with my bellydancing and burlesque courses.  I have not seen this taught anywhere else in the world so I am excited to announce my course 'Beats & Belly Dance' which will adapt the ancient, timeless movements of Middle Eastern dance with the hypnotic, pulse-inducing beats of electronic music genres including 'BreakBeat', 'Drum N Bass' and 'Ambient Electronica.'

My goal is to bring belly dancing to the world underground drum n bass scene because I feel the rhythms when I hear the music on a dance floor and involuntarily I find myself belly dancing - this has caused quite a stir in clubs around town of late! There is spiritual element to this course. My philosophy combines healing and energy work focusing on the ancient principles of rhythm and vibration for emotional release. Combining the seduction of the world’s oldest dance with the power of electronic percussion & synthesis offers the promise of transformation & awakening the sacred feminine, it is very powerful. 

Click here for more http://www.misssapphira.com/Belly_Dancing_Classes.html



You just mentioned that you are currently working on an album...tell us about this.

My songwriting has by far been my biggest focus from last year and onwards. As a singer/songwriter I work internationally with dance music producers. My latest single release Twisted is with the breakbeat trio Ways & Means, comprising Kristian Townsend (Alpha), Gary Eccles (Felony) and Darren Beale (Decoder). Darren Beale is also part of Kosheen, the band whose massive hit Hide U is a dancefloor anthem to this day.

You can hear and buy Twisted on the Beatport website:
https://www.beatport.com/en-US/html/content/release/detail/284163/twisted


Photo by www.beckonphotography.com

It has been great working with such a great crew who are so talented. Kristian Townsend made a significant introduction to a fellow Bristolian producer Tonestepa and we have been writing an album remotely for over a year. The album, titled ‘Mystress’, combines burlesque performances with electronica beats. Be prepared for sensory overload as a provocative lyrics blend with powerful beats, basslines and erotic performance art that will have you gripping the edge of your seat! The songs will debut at the 2011 Australian Burlesque Festival in June this year which I will co-produce.

AN IMAGE FROM SAPPHIRA'S FORTHCOMING ALBUM, MYSTRESS:

           


Photo by Carly Wong: www.alkalinemouse.com

Any other projects you are currently working on?
Aside from my involvement in songwriting, I have also joined forces with Sony to promote the movie Burlesque (showing in cinemas this month) starring Christina Aguilera and Cher: http://www.burlesque-movie.com.au

Although it's a fantastic movie, the movie is causing a backlash in the community by those who feel it's too sanitised and not representative of burlesque.  I am one hundred percent behind the release, as it still opens art form and concept to a much wider audience and enables us to win the hearts of new patrons who will always enjoy quality show whether it is exactly what they see on the 'silver screen' or not.  I would love to see the demand for burlesque shows to expand so as artists we can inspire people with our interpretation of 'burlesque' entertainment in its many forms because it's such a joy! 

Aside from my involvement in movies, I am also currently working with the Curves fitness centres to promote 'Breast Cancer Awareness'. I’ve teamed up with local designer Marquis De Sade who is sponsoring me with a stunning array of costumes.

Lastly, I recently re-worked our National Anthem with the title ‘Advance Julia Fair’ for our first female Prime Minister and recorded this on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco which is where I was at the time: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lmSlgazAsM

　

What have been the most rewarding aspects of your work?For me the most rewarding aspect of my work has been to watch the confidence grow in my students. I’ve been given a lot of compliments over the years, but a couple of them really stick to my mind. One of my students said to me, "You make me feel like I can achieve anything with a feather boa." Another said, "My self esteem has returned…the showgirl in me has come out."

Photo by Maani Vadgama


What advice do you give to those wanting to follow your footsteps?
I would first and foremost advise anyone wanting to pursue a career as a bellydancer and a burlesque dancer is to believe in yourself and keep persisting despite any setbacks. You can do it! Attend as many bellydancing and burlesque shows as possible. This enables you to network with other fellow dancers and potentially find mentors who will help you in the right direction. From my experience it also helps to buy your own costumes and continue to stock up on them, to ensure that your shows continue to remain original – this is the best way for people to remember and recognize you in the show business.



To find out more about Sapphira's work and achievements, please visit:

www.misssapphira.com

www.myspace.com/priscillatonkin


Shimmy Shake Show: www.shimmyshakeshow.com

Australian Burlesque Festival: www.australianburlesquefestival.com