Burlesque Dancer, Analog Photographer, Renaissance Lute Player, Paris, France

Much of my own inspiration and personal growth comes from the interactions with WOW Women, their candid stories, responses, their twists and turns, their wins and failures, risks and rewards. Although the coffee meeting with Ms. Marine Orlova in Paris was brief, I believe I gained so much more from our chat than Marine may realize. I feel lucky to have been introduced to Ms. Orlova by another special artist in Paris where burlesque community seems to be thriving. After reading Marine’s answers I have thought long and hard about the idea of staying unapologetic about my personal life choices, pursuit of something worthwhile and staying open-minded to a wide assortment of personalities and letting them enrich my life in unexpected ways.

Ms. Orlova is pragmatic and fearless about her work, dignified but unapologetic. Her curiosity and wonderment about the world spill into learning Mandarin or mastering the lute, but also knowing how to be motionless, while staring at the ceiling and listening to the radio. I love what she candidly writes about delving into a new territory, getting older. What does that mean for an artist who uses her body? I really admire these candid musings because they let me, and you the reader, get a peak into another universe but also remind me of our shared (and inevitable) experiences as humans. There is so much here to absorb and of course to read between the lines, so enjoy.

1. Name.

My name is Marine and my stage name is Sucre d'Orge.

2. Where is your hometown?

I was born and raised in the south of France. I’ve been living in Paris for over 15 years.

3. What is your profession/career/title/self-label/designation? What does your average day look like?

I am a cabaret artist, I mainly do burlesque performances and I also sing and play old and modern tunes on a renaissance lute.

If I have a show at night, I will be focusing on it more or less all day long, preparing my costumes, my hair, my nail polish, rehearsing. Most of the time artists have to be at the venue in the afternoon, so the day ends up being very short.

If I don't have a show or a photoshoot, I love to follow my favorite routine: doing yoga after waking up, cooking a little bit, answering some emails, doing administrative stuff, working on my lute, finding some time to practice my songs, having a stroll in Montmartre (I leave nearby) or just looking at the ceiling while listening to the radio.

4. What did you study in school?

That's a long story. I started with what we call in France a literary “classe préparatoire” and then I attended a business school. It was a long process of studying rhetoric and the art of “fake it till you make it”. I also started studying Chinese which was and still is a weird passion of mine.

5. What was the journey like to get where you are (in life and career-wise)? Write about some of the achievements that you are most proud of. What was the moment for you that changed your life (in your personal life and/or career?) that set you on the current path in life?

After I graduated with an MBA, I had some difficulties finding a job. It was in 2008, the year of the economical crisis. I spent more than a year working part time in a lingerie shop, looking for a job, and at that time I discovered burlesque and the happy ones who were making it in Paris.

I started posing for the artists at the Parisian Dr Sketchy’s Anti Art School and thanks to Sorrel Mocchia di Coggiola, who runs these art workshops, I performed in my first burlesque show, for fun. I then finally found a “real” job few months later and I  worked there full time for almost eight years. In parallel I developed my burlesque career. I was basically living a kind of double life, hiding from my boss my nocturnal activities, fearing the day he would find out and fire me citing my indifference due to my 2nd activity. Also, I was afraid my company would not appreciate that I was dancing half naked.

First it was exciting, but after two or three years my day life became more and more monotonous. I could not imagine myself being a full time artist though, it was way too far in the back of my mind; I really thought it would be impossible for me to make a living out of stage performances. Every time I entertained an idea of leaving my job for another (regular) one, I faced a deep wave of anxiety.

I knew some people who were living off their art, but I could not imagine myself being part of that community. I was fantasizing about having their life, imagining that... I don't know...some fairies help them in getting the money, or that they did not even need to eat. In summary, I was convinced that we did not belong to the same world; I just didn’t see it happening to me. In addition, my parents were quite worried that I would quit my job for stage.

But one day, anxiety changed its face when my job became really unbearable. I was afraid of staying one more month in this office, wasting my life doing useless things. The feeling was quite sudden and extreme; I HAD to leave. While I was managing my exit, at first I thought of finding a new office job, hopefully less boring, then I quickly started thinking: ”hey, I can have two years of social insurance, why not try first to make it as a full time artist? And if that doesn't work, then I can find another office job?”

And so I did it! Everything went well, I was ready, since by then I have been, secretly, performing for ten years. As a bonus, the month after I quit I had a chance to perform in China and Australia which I saw as a good omen. I felt confident, it was the right time for me to change.

6. How is your life different from what you pictured at 20?

I’ve always had difficulties picturing my future or formulating my dreams, probably because I’ve been afraid of being disappointed. In my most optimistic days, when I was 20, I imagined myself working in a luxury company, in China, walking in high heels down the long corridors, wearing tight skirts and lovely cashmere cardigans. Not working, just showing up, ahah.

Well... now I am either half naked on stage, or at home in my favourite pajamas (which are not cashmere by the way). But still, I have the feeling that I am not really working, just showing up in a way, playing. That is the best feeling. I am however learning Chinese Mandarin! So maybe it's not THAT far from the global picture I had at twenty.

7. Was there a time when life knocked you down or out and how did you get back up on your feet?

I am lucky, I consider that I never had to endure a strong knock out. But my time in the corporate world was quite harsh: sitting all day long in front of a computer, doing meaningless things, pretending to care for the business of my employer, answering more to stupid emails, having to be “political” to play into the firm’s politics. I hated it. I was not fit for it but I tried really hard to be; it was painful. My internship at L'Oréal was probably the worst. Don't ever work there, they are mad, their “corporate culture” is basically made to destroy their employees (at least it destroyed me a little). Even now I don't buy products from the brand, this is my little rebellion and it makes my friends laugh.

How I get back up on my feet? I learned very quickly how to put a huge distance between them/work/office/brand bullshit and me, and I preserved my space, secretly, waiting for the right time to escape. I didn't know when or how, but I was really hoping that this moment would come, that someone would save me. It took a while to realize this savior was myself.

8. Advice for other women?

Try period underwear if you have your period, it is amazing!

9. Where in the world do you feel “tallest” (i.e. where is your happy place)?

On a stage, when I sing with my lute, when I make my audience laugh. In those moments I feel very happy and proud.

Swimming naked in the sea, gives me a wonderful chance to connect with nature. Also when I walked for several days on the Camino (Compostelle), I really had some amazing moments of freedom, joy, and simplicity.

10. What extracurricular activities/hobbies are you most proud of? Why?

Few years ago I started to take backstage photographs in the cabarets I was performing in, with the Leica R3 my grand mother gave me. I really enjoy this activity and showed my argentic pictures in two exhibitions, even selling some prints.

This summer I started painting with watercolours (which my grandmother gave me as well!), and I really enjoy this activity.

And finally, I am really proud to be able to present my renaissance lute on stage. I started learning how to play five years ago as a hobby and it is now a part of my artistic repertoire.

11. What do you want to be when you grow up? Future goals/challenges?

As I said before, I am really bad at putting words on future life projections. I prefer to keep this blurry vision for myself. So many things are possible, and it all seems related to the fluctuations in the world (ex. COVID). Who knows what can happen next?

But what I do know is that I don't want to go back to the office work ever again. I will do everything that is necessary to avoid that. I would like to try acting one day. And I hope to speak fluent Chinese some day (but it is so hard!).

12. What fears are you still hoping to overcome?

The art of getting old is currently one of my passions. As time goes by, I feel that I am entering a new phase of life. I think that living with these changes will be quite a challenge for me. It is probably the same for everyone, but when you work with your body and image, it is really something else.

I get more and more inspired by older women, observing how they are aging, how their mind, body and spirit evolve. I ask them questions sometimes. There are many ways to cope with aging. I hope I will find my own and be at peace with it.

13. Anything you'd do differently, if you had another go at life?

I don't think so, I am not sure if I would have enjoyed a 100% artistic education and life in my early years. I think it would have been too stressful and competitive. I believe that part of my originality and strength as an artist today is connected to my previous “serious and corporate” life.

15. What are you hopeful about?

The way the new generation is seeing life and society is interesting, and I am curious of the changes they can make in the future.

16. What are some ingredients to a good life? Has the global pandemic changed your perspective about the world, about your life, your goals and dreams?

For me, free time is a treasure. Finding, saving, keeping time for exploring what I love, and am enjoying at the moment, discovering new things, chilling; this is a true luxury. Also being in good health is key. As my dance teacher always says: “dancers are the instrument makers and the players” I think that it’s true, whether you’re a dancer or not. It feels important to take care of the body and health in general. In France we say “qui veut voyager loin ménage sa monture”. On top of that let's add friendship and love!

I don't think that pandemic really changed my perspective about the world or my goals; it did however give me more time to practice lute and study Chinese. Also I started practicing yoga almost every day and kept this habit after the lockdown; I am very happy about it.

17. What are (at least) three qualities you most love about yourself and why? What are your superpowers?

I think that I am a quick-learner and someone who is quite intuitive. I also need to recognize when I am wrong and listen to others’ point of view. That is my homework for self.

Also I like being creative and pragmatic at the same time.

My superpower is my ability to find apartments in Paris for my friends.

19. What are you reading now?

I am now reading an incredible Chinese science fiction novel, from Liu Cixin, called “The Three Body Problem”.

20. Who is a WOW WOMAN in your world who inspires you and why? Can you nominate three (or more) women you know who perfectly fit WOW WOMAN description? What would you tell them, if you had an opportunity, about why you admire them?

In my world, it is definitely Sorrel Mocchia di Coggiola. She turns everything into gold. She is a an artist with so many talents, it is amazing. She is also a muse; she knows how to inspire her friends, to give them confidence to grow and to realize their dreams. She is also a living encyclopedia of love and sex education!

I am not sure about the definition of a WOW Woman and I don't know these women on a personal level, enough to say concretely, but I am inspired by:

21. Where can others find you/your work (links to websites, blogs, etc.)?

Burlesque:

• website: sucredorge-burlesque.com

• instagram: @sucre_dorge_burlesque

• youtube: SucredOrgeBurlesque

My photographs:

• website: marineorlova.com

• instagram: @marine.orlova

Bonus Quick Round Qs:

1. What and who is worth suffering for?

Life, I guess?

2. What would you do if you knew that nobody would judge you?

Nothing more than what I am doing now!

3. Who is/are your mentor/s (men or women)?

I have many friends who help me all along the way to make decent life choices. I always ask them their opinion and find their input very helpful. Also, the Stoic Greek philosopher Epictetus is always somewhere in my head.

4. If you didn't have to work anymore what would you do with your days?

Basically the same! But I would spent more time outside, in nature, going to the south of France a lot more, to see more of my family. I would travel more as well if I had the money.

5. If you could be anyone for a day who would you be?

Maybe the French astronaut Thomas Pesquet (an aerospace engineer, pilot, and European Space Agency astronaut), on a good day, when he is in space, not in his house cooking. Or I would be a great ballerina, an opera singer or Mozart the night he wrote the opening of le Nozze di Figaro. Or….well...too many possibilities!

6. If you could relive one year in your life, which one would it be?

It is hard to tell, each year has its ups and downs, but probably 2007, when I was living in Beijing for the second time, doing crazy stuff with my friends.

7. What bothers you most about other people? What do you love most about other people?

Bothers: Self infatuation. Love: Their singularities.