Marlene from Steenvag

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Marlene von Steenvag eating goose in Berlin (2015)

Marlene von Steenvag (born September 25, 1980 in Hagen as Ariane Freund ) is a representative of New Burlesque . In addition to her artistic performance, she is the founder of the "Burlesque Empire", which u. a. includes the companies "Berlin Burlesque Festival" and the "Berlin Burlesque Academy", internationally recognized as the "German Queen of Burlesque". She works as a performer, model, teacher and mentor.

Life

Marlene von Steenvag grew up as the younger of two sisters in the first years of her life in California, where her parents taught at the University of Southern California . In 1984 she moved to Germany, where she spent most of her childhood and youth in the town of Schwerte in the Ruhr area .

After graduating from high school, she founded Crown Promotion at the age of 19 . In 2002 she began studying at the Albert Ludwig University in Freiburg, which she successfully completed in 2007 as a Magister Artrium in “Modern German Literature, Linguistics and English Studies”. In her thesis she combined the genius discourse of the 18th century. with the current research on gifted children. At the same time as completing her first degree, she was accepted into the East 15 Acting School in London, where she studied "Physical Theater".

In 2009 Marlene von Steenvag made her debut under this stage name for the first time on New Year's Eve in Southend-on-Sea (Great Britain). In 2010 the artist moved to Berlin, from where she still works as a burlesque artist across Europe.

In Berlin she founded the “Salon Kokett” with colleague Else Edelstahl. It was a small burlesque event that took place every 14 days in the Old CCCP. From this salon, the foundation stone of the “Berlin Burlesque Festival” arose in 2012, which shows the various forms of expression of burlesque in order to educate people about burlesque art in Germany. In addition to the festival, she also launched the “Berlin Burlesque Academy”, which has the main theme of training and promoting young artists.

In the company "Burlesque Empire", founded in 2013, Marlene von Steenvag connects the following events and companies: "Berlin Burlesque Festival", "Hamburg Burlesque Festival", "Berlin Burlesque Academy", "The Burlesque Agency" and "Hamburg Burlesque Festival". The scene made her an icon of NeoBurlesque / New Burlesque and in 2015 received the award “Most important person in the Burlesque Industry” (People Choice Award IndieBerlin 2015).

Marlene von Steenvag performing at the Berlin Burlesque Festival (2016)

Artistic orientation

Marlene von Steenvag's performance signature is characterized by an elegant style. Tales of temptation and self-actualization lie beneath the surface of the show . One can recognize reminiscences of Viennese modernism , as well as the European spirit of the decadence of the 18th century. Abundance, waste and internal conflict are recurring motifs, especially in her early shows. This style changed from very theatrical performances, like the “Rheingold”, to playing with themes of seduction, female emancipation and self-realization. Her signature show "Opium Dream" is about the entanglement in the passion that surrounds the protagonist like an opium rush. Tied up in the bonds of desire and longing, Marlene von Steenvag is in a self- bondage . The backdrop for the show is the opium pavilion, which is based on a dream and fairy tale sequence. This show begins with the Disney song “Once upon a dream”, mystified by Lana del Ray , which is a modulation of the Hollywood classic “ Sleeping Beauty ” and thus evokes a dark but sensual fairytale image.

The show "Bird of Paradise" is about the development of a strong, self-confident personality under the banner of a classic fan dance. This already shows the topic of female emancipation in today's world. Marlene von Steenvag uses the term “post-emancipation” for this.

Other signature shows by the artist are “Sparkling Champagne” (Europe's largest champagne glass act), “Chiffon and Leather” and “Dance of the Bacchante”.

social commitment

In addition to her artistic work, Marlene von Steenvag is involved in various social areas.

For example, the festivals are used to collect donations for global organizations such as UNICEF or the UN Refugee Aid and to create awareness for this.

Marlene von Steenvag in Berlin (2014)

As part of the Berlin Burlesque Academy, she supports breast cancer projects such as “Großstadt Amazonen” by Uta Melle and voluntarily teaches breast amputee women to express their femininity in their bodies again. The main focus of their social activities are women's rights and children. There are also other projects such as collaborations with the Schirner - Zang Foundation in the field of AIDS education in collaboration with the photographer Esther Haase .

Filmography (selection)

  • 2014: Banklady
  • 2014: Love made easy (Sat 1)
  • 2014: ZDF aspects: Marlene von Steenvag (ZDF)
  • 2014: My Secret Dance Crew (as coach on VOX)
  • 2015: Rent, Buy, Live (VOX)
  • 2016: Spiegel TV report: Marlene von Steenvag at the Berlin Burlesque Festival

literature

  • Paul Green: Berlin Burlesque- glamor, art, seduction. 1st edition. Jaron Publishing House. Berlin 2013. ISBN 978-3-89773-720-4
  • Elsa Quarsell: The Domestic Burlesque . 1st edition. Gingko Press 2013. ISBN 978-0-9568983-0-2
  • Carlos Kella: Photos, Love & STORIES. 1st edition. Sway Books publisher. ISBN 978-3-943740-03-5
  • Verena Gremmer: Burlesque Republic . 1st edition. 2015. ISBN 3-00-048236-9
  • Heike Schneider-Matzigkeit: Berlin Reflections. 2015.
  • Lena Weiß: Establishment. 2016.
  • Typical: 155 blunt answers to prejudices. 1st edition . Verlag Kein & Aber, 2016. ISBN 3-0369-5741-3
  • Ariane Freund: Talent and dilettantism in the suffering of young Werther: the problem of a blocked gifted person in the context of the enthusiasm, melancholy and genius discourse of the 18th century , VVB Laufersweiler, 2008. ISBN 3-8359-5350-8

Web links

Commons : Marlene von Steenvag  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Quote: ZDF ASPEKTE 2014
personal data
SURNAME Steenvag, Marlene von
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Friend, Ariane (maiden name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Representative of the New Burlesque
DATE OF BIRTH September 25, 1980
PLACE OF BIRTH Hagen