Dublin Core
Title
Taylor Maiden Oral History Interview, September 15, 2021
Description
Taylor Maiden introduces herself as a burlesque dancer and producer. She defines Burlesque as an art form and describes her style of Burlesque as Neo-Burlesque, but she loves traditional, classic Burlesque.
Maiden explains that she performs Burlesque as an artistic expression and feels it is an art form that builds on her musical theater training and background. The production schedule of Burlesque suits her life schedule in a way that the longer commitment of being in a musical theater production does not. Taylor fell in love with the spectacle and community in Burlesque. While she doesn’t think Burlesque is sex work, but knows sex workers who do Burlesque.
Maiden shares how difficult it was artistically and mentally when COVID hit Oregon and shut down the public venues. She participated in just two online shows, but felt it wasn’t as satisfying as performing in live shows. She describes the loss of motivation and interest in creating during the pandemic.
Maiden talks about the difficulty in achieving her goals in diversity in performers and shows while in the very-White demographic in Eugene, Oregon. And, she describes her criteria for guarding against cultural appropriation in creating her Burlesque routines.
Maiden believes Burlesque is empowering and confidence-building, not only in the performance arena but also in the community it builds. She states that Burlesque is definitely a force for social change in that it is personally empowering and presents diversity to the public. She acknowledges the challenge of growing an audience and attracting a wider audience. She wishes the general public would understand how Burlesque is a powerful art form of personal expression and it creates a joyful community.
Maiden explains that she performs Burlesque as an artistic expression and feels it is an art form that builds on her musical theater training and background. The production schedule of Burlesque suits her life schedule in a way that the longer commitment of being in a musical theater production does not. Taylor fell in love with the spectacle and community in Burlesque. While she doesn’t think Burlesque is sex work, but knows sex workers who do Burlesque.
Maiden shares how difficult it was artistically and mentally when COVID hit Oregon and shut down the public venues. She participated in just two online shows, but felt it wasn’t as satisfying as performing in live shows. She describes the loss of motivation and interest in creating during the pandemic.
Maiden talks about the difficulty in achieving her goals in diversity in performers and shows while in the very-White demographic in Eugene, Oregon. And, she describes her criteria for guarding against cultural appropriation in creating her Burlesque routines.
Maiden believes Burlesque is empowering and confidence-building, not only in the performance arena but also in the community it builds. She states that Burlesque is definitely a force for social change in that it is personally empowering and presents diversity to the public. She acknowledges the challenge of growing an audience and attracting a wider audience. She wishes the general public would understand how Burlesque is a powerful art form of personal expression and it creates a joyful community.
Creator
Taylor Maiden
Source
Oregon Burlesque Performers Oral History Collection (OH 49)
Publisher
Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Oregon State University Libraries
Date
September 15, 2021
Contributor
Laurie Kurutz
Format
Born Digital Video
Language
English
Type
Oral History
Identifier
oh49-maiden-taylor-20210915
Oral History Item Type Metadata
Interviewer
Laurie Kurutz
Interviewee
Taylor Maiden
Location
Eugene, Oregon; interview conducted over Zoom
Original Format
Born Digital Video
Duration
0:55:16
OHMS Object
Interview Format
video