“Be fearless” - Guest Feature: Dae LeeGrind
Vancouver-based burlesque performer, Dae LeeGrind has shown work in several of our virtual shows from 2023 to 2024.
Black and white photo of Dae LeeGrind sitting on a chair and leaning back into a pool of light in sunglasses, drapey jumpsuit, and short, leather gloves. Photo by Jon Christian Ashby
In this interview, you’ll learn all about Dae as a performer, from how she got her name and her first performance, to what she’s known for, and what she’s working on now!
Dae LeeGrind’s Early Burlesque Career
Who doesn’t love an origin story? Learn how Dae became the sultry, funny, multidimensional performer we’ve all come to know and love…
How did you come up with your name?
Dae is actually my name and I had never anticipated becoming the performer I have. My friend came up with the fun twist on my name and I said yeah sure as it made me laugh. And well.. here we are.
How did you come up with your tagline?
I still haven’t officially got one. But I usually say for a good time .. call someone else.
It refers to the fact that I’m not really known for fluffy little filler pieces. But it also isn’t so accurate because when I go full camp it’s over the top and I’ve had people laughing very hard at my ridiculousness . It’s always intense.. just not necessarily serious. I doubt I’ll ever have a tagline.
Catch phrase? Burn. It. Down. I say it all the time.
What originally drew you to burlesque?
Costumes, glamour and the general idea of it was the first attraction. And finding a ‘dance’ class when I had no dance training. It felt accessible to me. I never thought I would be a soloist or a ‘known’ performer when I started. It’s one genre where You can be a good Performer and you don’t HAVE to be an accomplished dancer.
I did not expect it to be such an intense journey of self acceptance and all the work over the years to break down some internal bias I had regarding sexuality and morality. It’s still there sometimes.. when you get that disapproving look from someone when they find out you are a burlesque performer.
What was your first-ever burlesque act?
I started in group numbers .. took my first class at 46 years old. Developed my confidence onstage. Did not do my first solo until sept 2021. Lost a year and a bit due to covid shutdowns. But that shutdown made me work on things by myself in a small space. I would film myself and review it. It’s how I learned.
Ghost Story was my stage solo debut! and I’m putting it out there., I want to perform it again. It’s been a few years. I worked for months on it. and put it through an act development class through Vancouver burlesque company.
Miss Cherry Ontop is my burlesque Mom. Ariel Helvetica helped teach me the professional side. Lola Frost is my Aunt. Cherry sent me to them for help in the very beginning . I’m an artist first and though I try to downplay it. I have a lot of thought and intention behind what I do. There are no accidents with me. Improv can happen .. but that because I have a very clear idea of my narrative.
I’m pretty earnest. and that could be embarrassing if I didn’t have a sense of humour. Lola was my cheerleader at the beginning when I needed to find my footing and stopped me from chickening out. For better or worse. I can’t be put back into any sort of cage.
Dae’s work and Inspirations
How would you describe your aesthetic and the concepts/stories you explore in your performances?
Theatrical for sure and very diverse.
I gave myself permission to be multifaceted. To be complicated. You will see me thread them all together with intent. When I’m silly it’s all in. When I’m serious .. it’s all in. 100% commitment to the bit. Show no fear. Perfect example of 3 performances I did all within 2 weeks last year.
I did a big show in Vancouver. Burlesque duos is a 10 year tradition here. I was partnered up with Faye Havoc. We worked on it for 4 months, went high concept, very serious body horror inspired. Stare at your shadow long enough and it may notice. It was a multimedia piece and very intense.
One week prior I was standing on a bench wearing gold lamé getting into someone’s face and cutting off my underwear with a switchblade (it’s more funny than threatening I assure you).
4 days after duos I filled in last minute I was partnered up with my friend Maverick for an improv burlesque routine. Draw partners, audience yells out ideas and you have 7 min to prep. I was somehow dressed as a strawberry pretending to drop acid then stripped to Tip Toe Thru The tulips. It was the stupidest thing I have ever done and arguably the funniest. It should not have happened but I’m so glad it did.
What I’m saying is you will recognize me but you’re never really sure what version of me you will get. The deadliest of all sins to me is to be boring.
I don’t care about perfection.
Dae LeeGrind strips a gold dress at a bar show wearing sunglasses and blue hair. Photo by Baevocative
Who and What are Your Biggest Inspirations?
There are musicians who inspire me.. from Nick Cave to Mark Lanegan (music that figures prominently in my burlesque work).. but artistically someone like Diamanda Galas is on the list. To be successful but not famous. To keep pushing the envelope. I love that so very much.
At times I tend to be more inspired by Drag than burlesque. I love people who aren’t afraid to be ’ugly.’ I mean make that ugly face. Let it all hang out. I like people who aren’t afraid to try different things.
Makeup inspires me (my day job). Alex Box inspires me. My friend Bob Log III inspires me. My friend Jt Habersaat (a comedian) inspires me.
Why? Old road dogs that just keep moving. I find it inspiring and impressive when people just keep doing the thing. Whatever it is. Undeterred, unbothered, all in. Hard to explain but the ones who really sit back and do it for themselves.
Yes, we respect the audience and we are professional. but ultimately we do it because we have to. We absolutely have to.
Here’s the thing. I don’t have to have an audience. I can be happily working on my own stuff in a studio. It’s the process. The need to create is greater than my need to be seen. really don’t care if you like it. I hope you do! That’s nice! But I’m at a point, which is very liberating, where I’m not too concerned and not effected by someone else’s thoughts. I do what I want to do for myself. It’s also why I perform maybe once a month at most. I will go three months easy without performing a solo and I’m not worried about it.
What Inspires Your Acts? Walk Us Through Your Burlesque Act Creation Process
For me it always starts with the song. I will usually get hit with a visual. I will listen to it over an over again and let that visual run. I won’t censor it. I think about what I’m feeling and what I want to say. Before it starts coming to light.. I may sit with it for weeks, or months, one idea has sat with my now for over 18 months. I bought some fabric. I have the sketches it’s not right yet. It can take months or years.
What 3 Burlesque Acts are You Best Known For?
Come On Over is a classic inspired piece with an edge. I’m never truly nice I will always have a haughty demeanour that is more prevalent in the Drag world. And it has some big flashy costume work . Quiet then a bit chaotic. I love that number.
Stranger Than Kindness is another one I love and I performed at Umbrae Noctis festival in Portland in Nov. There aren’t too many places for it. It’s about bodily autonomy. Standing in your power in your own skin. As a 50+ woman, dropping the veil and standing naked directly in a spotlight is definitely political . Demanding that you look at me. I went sans pasties and my original idea was to be fully nude for the piece. I made concessions but I now wish I had of just done it. It was real damn close. People from the back thought I was fully naked. I don’t know where that piece will show again.
Lastly, I’m going with American Soil. My friends call it the Gold Menace and at least the jumpsuit and the CVNT cape is known. It’s 7 minutes of a floor show madness with song by Jon Spencer Blues Explosion then into Ezra Furman American Soil. I have stood on benches , I have literally barked at people during this number, I have grabbed someone’s hand and fingerbanged their drink. There isn’t really much choreo, I don’t DO anything. At one point I get someone to serve me a letter marked from the city and I open it to show Bans and Bylaws . Then it’s on.
It’s my love letter to Drag artists. Not the glam but the gritty acts in the trenches. It’s not looking for approval. I’m not concerned what you want or expect me to be or how I should behave. I am going to do exactly what I want to do. I think it’s pure comedy which people agree but they add it’s also terrifying. Mission accomplished. so I supposed there is a strong theme of defiance in what I do.
Dae LeeGrind caresses a sheer material covering her naked body in front of a red, velvet curtain on stage.
What do you hope to add to the art of burlesque and that audiences take away from your work?
Be fearless. Try different things. Run with the terrible ideas.
My last video project is an example of a terrible idea. Who would take the song Tupelo by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds and think. this is an improbable song choice for anything to do with burlesque. Let’s make a video with no crew, no budget , no nothing. just me and my camera guy/editor Simon Clarke. I couldn’t do it without him.
It’s 5 minutes of a biblical inspired fever dream. And we did it. On paper it was a terrible idea. I’m super proud of it. It was up for Silver Tusk award so we’ll see. I want people to push themselves to do the art they want to see and not worry about being popular. If you are dependant on burlesque to pay your bills then that may change your approach. You may have to make more popular and more accessible choices in your work.
Challenge what burlesque is if that’s what you want. And if you just want to do pretty things that’s absolutely great too! figure out who you are and don’t be afraid of it because to me (and I’m speaking ONLY for myself), seeing the glimpse of the artist and person on that stage is so much more fascinating to me than watching someone smack their ass and wink. though I do enjoy that sometimes too. I’m not doing anything groundbreaking. I’m just being me because it’s all I’ve got and I didn’t feel like that was option when I first started.
What’s something you’re working on now that you’re excited about?
I am putting the final touches on 2 new acts and organizing my 3rd annual 50th birthday party jan 31. I will be performing at Isle of Tease festival in feb and Tupelo video is part of Queen City festival in mar. and then I’m scheming a big video project. Ultimately I was to put on an evening of cinema and burlesque. I just need to get a date of a theatre and pull that trigger .
Where can readers learn more about you and keep up with your work?
IG @dae_leegrind and on Patreon
I want a proper log of my work and I want people who are engaged. I have membership at $1 solely so I can put posts behind that paywall and not be censored for occasional ‘nudity’ and being indecent. I’m tired of IG threatening to delete my content without warning so shifting to Patreon. So it’s not about making money,
What current performers are inspiring you now?
Angora Phobia @angora.phobia
Maverick @maverick_on_stage
Malandro @m.a.l.a.n.d.r.o
Dae opens her arms presenting a beautiful blue gown and tulle boa. Photo by @kittywithphotography
Dae LeeGrind’s Burlesque Bio
Driven by an artistic ethos of pushing the envelope and burning it all down, she is always looking to challenge her own persona. At 51 years old she no longer feels the need to explain herself. So it could be classic showgirl act or a gold lamé menace or an emotional veil piece. A glam punk , dive bar, arty-Bitch that is happily exploring all the possibilities of blending burlesque and cinema in her work.
