Meet The Team
Poppy Cherry
Maison Burlesque owner and school headmistress, Poppy has been a regular fixture on the Melbourne Burlesque scene both on and off the stage since 2009, and is known for her energetic, theatrical take on classic burlesque.
Poppy has extensive experience running burlesque workshops and classes, and always creates a fun, warm learning environment. Poppy Cherry brings the spirit of burlesque to life in her classes with her vivacious nature and extensive experience as a performer. As a teacher she always encourages her students to grow, providing them with the support and patience they need to blossom. Her students can expect a great balance between fun and hard work to help them advance their skills.
Maple Rose
Known as the “Queen of Classic Burlesque”, Maple Rose is a household name in the Australian burlesque scene after 15 years in the industry. She’s here to prove that “classic burlesque” doesn’t have to be boring. Either with feather fans or tapping toes, Maple will take you on a deep dive into burlesque history.
Maple is known the world over for teaching and mentoring in the art of burlesque. She’s even tutored the Moulin Rouge Fan Dancers online! Join Maple in her array of classes to fine tune your grinds, lubricate those wrists and finesse your fan dancing! With a focus on burlesque history, mindful movement, and fan dance technique, Maple’s classes are for anyone keen to find their inner sensuality encouraging play and performance skills.
Maple Rose has been voted as one of the most influential Burlesque Artists in the world in the 21st Century Burlesque Magazine’s Top 50 Lists in 2021 , 2022, 2023 & 2024. She competed for “Best Debut” at the Burlesque Hall of Fame in 2025, won the 1st Runner-Up Crown at the Mx Burlesque Australia Grand Final 2018 as well as the title of Mx Burlesque Melbourne 2018. Maple was honoured to headline the world’s largest burlesque festival in October 2020 & April 2022 - The Australian Burlesque Festival.
Maple Rose is the burlesque choreographer on The Australian production “Shimmery Burlesque” Produced by Corset Entertainment (debuting October 2022), and a featured burlesque artist of the Finucane & Smith family which tours Australia wide.
Maple has had the luxury of receiving numerous residencies in her career including: VIVA Melbourne for her monthly show Whoop Dee Doo Revue, Bar Pigalle in Melbourne, Melt Bar & Restaurant in Stockholm, The Woodlands Hotel for her monthly show “Burlesque at the Woodlands,” The Speakeasy Theatre, and Le Bar Supper Club for fortnightly pop-up appearances.
She has participated in numerous burlesque festivals including the Australian Burlesque Festival (2014, 2015, 2017 & headlining 2020/22), the Perth International Burlesque Festival (2015), the London Burlesque Festival (2016), the Edinburgh Fringe Festival (2016), The Melbourne Fringe Festival (2017, 2019), the Adelaide Fringe Festival (2017) and Midsumma Festival (2019 & 2020).
Whisky Falls
Scottish born Whisky Falls is a Naarm (Melbourne) based multi-disciplinary performance artist, known for her performance, teaching, hosting, dance and writing, specialising in erotic and alternative arts.
After graduating with both a BA(Hons) in Dance & Theatre Performance, and a National Diploma in Musical Theatre, Whisky received an invitation to teaching for Bird College Conservatoire of the Arts, while simultaneously working in London’s west end as both a cabaret/burlesque performer and as a stripper.
In 2018, the Scottish pin up brought her rich and dramatic tones to the Australian stages a mere 2 days after landing; Known as 'the wee dram of glam' Whisky has a repertoire that is as varied as her dance background.
In 2023, Whisky Falls created ‘Your Weird Aunts Creative’ with burlesque powerhouse Bella de Jac. Together, they continue to work as mentors, performers, writers, choreographers, directors and producers, aiming to build greater understanding of diversity, community-building and the importance of striving for continuous improvement in the burlesque and alternative arts scene.
Known for her rich and smoky onstage persona, Whisky has fallen across borders, oceans and veils to bring a varied repertoire. Like a good Speyside malt, Whisky will warm the cockles of your heart with her unique blend of fire and finesse. Her blend of dance techniques, dramatics and styling will keep your palate wanting more than just a wee dram!
Bella De Jac
Glamour queen, party girl and powerhouse of the Australian Burlesque Industry Bella de Jac brings a formidable weight of experience to the stage.
With a ridiculous number of titles, awards, and headlining tours under her belt, she maintains a careful balance of utter debauchery with serious hard work.
Bella is Miss Burlesque Australia 2015, and a strong advocate for body-positive, sex- positive, feminist performance art. She has sung, danced and acted her way across Australian and international stages from Melbourne to New York, London and beyond.
Taking out both #31 and #50 in the 2016 & 2017 21st Century Burlesque Top 50, headliner of countless tours, co-director of BEAST and Bitch Stole My Act, and winner of a slew of awards including the most recent, The Australian Burlesque Lifetime Achievement Award, Bella has been a key figure within the Australian Burlesque Industry for over a decade.
Described as both an exquisite creature and a powerful and captivating performer, Bella's penchant for pushing acceptable social boundaries is cleverly disguised by the grace and glamour of her shows.
Egson Ham
Emerging from a mist of glitter and fake tan, it’s Participation Award Nominee Egson Ham!
The big kid with a big chin, Egson Ham is a Naarm (Melbourne) based Multi-Award winning burlesque performer who first entered the burlesque scene in 2015 by taking the title of Mr Boylesque Australia, and has been creating neon-coloured chaos ever since.
With his performances described as “a kids show for adults”, Egson has headlined festivals throughout Australia and carved out his own niche - bringing Boylesque to stages across Australia, mainstream TV and raising the bar for queer excellence with every performance.
He has also turned twirling around into a valid career choice, working as a dancer for artists such as DJ Havana brown, Luciana, Paulini, Inaya Day, and for “Bring It On - The Musical”, choreographed shows and tours for professional Musical Theatre, the Australian Open and various "Drag Race Down Under" stars, and was the boy who brought Boylesque to the Iconic Australian TV series “Neighbours”.
Today you can find Egson working as a resident performer at Sircuit bar, teaching at Maison Burlesque including coaching multiple previous MX Burlesque Australia competition winners, creating unique costuming looks and sewing for underwear empire Now Serving Snacks.
Domino de Jour
Burlesque artist, producer and self proclaimed revolutionary, Domino de Jour has been destroying burlesque stages since 2014. With a childhood spent in heels, as a competitive ballroom and latin dancer, she is no stranger to a competition. Holding the titles of Miss Burlesque Melbourne 2016 and Showgirl of the Year at the Miss Burlesque Australia 2016 competition, she now produces Mx Burlesque Victoria and The Apprentease, providing space for both new and established performers to grow their art.
Deeply passionate about cultivating space for whatever stage of your burlesque journey you are on, Domino has been teaching at Maison Burlesque since 2017, holding the hands of beginners in Fundamentals yet pushing you in the deep end in all her other classes. Maintaining her aggressively supportive, yet sometimes terrifying, attitude of ‘If I can teach a teenage boy to foxtrot, I can teach you anything’.
A multi faceted performer, her style can be described in the same way as her tipple of choice (good bourbon on the rocks): surprisingly classic for something that looks like it should smack you in the face.
What her students say “Domino is a fierce, no-shit-taking, powerhouse of a woman who puts a real life hourglass to shame with her hip to waist ratio. An unapologetically bold performer and ferociously supportive of her students. She’s the Barbie doll you wished your Barbie doll could be."
Juniper Fox
Juniper Fox celebrates movement, the art of tease and sexuality, lust and desire, through her captivating unique performance style. She infuses every act with a mesmerising grace and sensuality, with an ability tells a story through her harnessing of emotion and energy, a burlesque fantasy that is both erotic and captivating.
Whether dressed in feathers or glittering lingerie, latex or leather, Juniper commands the stage with confidence and poise. Born to perform, this dynamic artist brings a unique blend of glamour and raw sexuality. Her passion for movement is to the core, an unforgettable performer who embodies all that is seductive and subversive about the intoxicating art form that is burlesque.
Velma Vouloir
Velma Vouloir is a multi nationally awarded burlesque artist, mentor, muse & emcee. With a background in theatre, dance, circus & historical research, Velma brings a rich tapestry of performance practice to her stage persona as a professional peeler.
Known for her diversity on stage, Velma embodies the energy of old world ecdysiasts & traditional tease one moment before unleashing a hurricane of camp comedy chaos the next.
Twice crowned Miss Burlesque Victoria (2018 & 2023) as well as Mx Burlesque Australia’s “Miss Classic" in 2018. Velma performs regularly throughout Australia & abroad both as a solo artist as well as a cast member of queer drag cabaret YUMMY and as a featured soloist in Shimmery Burlesque. She is also the resident emcee of the Whoop Dee Doo Review. She's a celebrated icon of Melbourne burlesque as well as a sought after performance mentor who teaches regular classes at Maison Burlesque, one of Melbourne's dedicated burlesque hubs.
Velma is also the host and producer of C*ntroversy: The Podcast - a show which celebrates, discusses and explores eroticism through histories of art, sex, media and the prolific figures within it & was awarded 'Australia's Best Sex & Relationships Podcast 2021' by The Australian Podcast Awards.
Iva Grande
Iva Grande is a feisty dance-school outcast and she is ready to please. A lifetime devoted to dance but shunned for her love of gyrating, Iva found herself at the doors of Maison Burlesque begging for acceptance.
Iva also has an extensive teaching background in dance, with 10+ years under her belt. She holds a diploma in Dance Teaching and Performance with her favourite styles being jazz, hip hop, lyrical and music theatre. Seeing dancers grow while bringing choreography to life is her biggest passion (besides performing of course) and if you had to describe her teaching style, she is the birth child of Abby Lee and Mr G...
Ruby Slippers
A high-femme kaleidoscopic cyclone of extroversion and light perversion, Ruby Slippers lives by the motto that you’re either Dorothy, or you’re the twister. Gracing burlesque and drag stages alike and leaving a trail of glitter in her wake, she’s earned a reputation as one of the best dressed (and undressed) kids in town.
In 2017 she toured the country as a national headliner for the Australian Burlesque Festival, and in 2017 and 2018 was honoured by her peers, winning the title of “Most Innovative” at the The Busties, the Australian burlesque industry awards. In 2022 she was invited to perform at the Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekender in Las Vegas at their Movers, Shakers and Innovators showcase, as well as New York’s iconic Slipper Room. She rounded out 2022 by being named one of the Top 50 Most Influential Burlesque Artists in the world by her peers and fellow community members.
Ruby continued her winning streak of being a badass babe into 2023 when she blew minds at the Drag Expo Melbourne Gala, and headlined the 10 Year Anniversary Perth International Burlesque Festival.
Joanna
Described as the equivalent to a firework on New Years Eve, Joanna is Australia’s own internationally acclaimed belly dance performer, instructor and powerhouse entertainer.
For over 25 years, Joanna’s experience in the performing arts has led her to achieve proficiency in numerous dance forms outside of belly dance - including ballet, jazz, and musical theatre.
Joanna’s love of SWANAHT (South West Asian, North African, Hellenic & Turkish) dance has thrusted her into the international realm, where she's had the chance to join international musicians on tour across Australia, and performed on festival stages across France, Spain and Greece.
With her technique based, culturally accurate and history driven teaching style, Joanna aims to encourage her students to find their niche and distinctiveness in belly dance. Her priority is to advocate how welcoming this dance form is of all ages, sizes, experience levels, and gender identities.
Cora Noire
Somewhere between a glamorous showgirl and a scene kid, Cora Noire grew up feeling very at home on the stage doing musicals, dance competitions and music videos.
Never quite finding exactly the right place in that world to be truly themself, Cora turned to more alternative performance styles eventually moving to Melbourne and tumbling into the world of burlesque.
As a die-hard fan of pop-punk and metal, Cora has found a way to combine this with their high energy and at times camp burlesque performance style.
Cora has also been teaching dance for nearly 10 years, with over 20 years of dance training under their belt including a Cert 4 in Commercial Dance and Musical Theatre.
As a teacher, Cora is really passionate about making every single person feel comfortable, seen, empowered and encouraged to be unapologetically themselves.
Lauren Bok
Lauren Bok is an award winning stand up comedian and burlesque artist with big attitude, big energy and big face.
Nominated for the Golden Gibbo at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in 2019, she has been described as 'jaw-achingly brilliant' by The Music and 'a joy to watch' by the Herald Sun.
She is one of the resident hosts of the Burlesque Showboat, and regularly hosts burlesque including the Cherry Popper's Showcase, The Apprentease and more. Her acts have graced the stages of Mx Burlesque, Burlesque Idol, Moulin Beige, and her one-woman burlesque variety show BOKLESQUE has toured to 5 different festivals in Victoria and interstate, nabbing her a nomination for Best Cabaret in Newcastle Fringe, and a prestigious Green Room Award nomination for Outstanding Direction.
Her signature class at Maison Burlesque, Comic Strippers, is part year 7 Drama, part year 7 Arts and Crafts, part year 7 recess and you're in the shelter sheds having an illicit ciggie with your mates. If you love to hang out, create together, get loose and want to have the time of your life on stage, then you are one of my students. Welcome to the Cult of Bok.
Valerie “Va Va” Valentine
She's blonde, buxom and beguiling. She's Melbourne's own Boudoir Babydoll. It's Valerie "Va Va" Valentine!
As far back as she can remember, Va Va has been star-struck with the glitz and glamour of the silver screen, rummaging her mums makeup bag and prancing around in her shiny Saturday night heels always waiting for anyone and any occasion to soak up the spotlight. As a formally trained classic ballet dancer with a bust and booty that just won't quit - Valerie spent many a moon dreaming of a home to shake it the way she was meant to.
A Maison Burlesque alumni herself, after her dazzling debut in 2019 at Cherry Poppers Solo Showcase, Va Va has sauntered stages over the east coast of Australia and graced many a lap(top) worldwide through digital cabarets in London and Spain. She has also been featured on the cover of many pinup publications in both Europe and America. Known for her cheeky charm this vintage vixen takes you back to the golden era of Burlesque one bunny hop at a time, like a living, breathing MGM Glamour Girl. Follow in the slipper clad footsteps of Marilyn, Mamie and Mansfield to learn a trick or three about pinup perfection.
Winter Greene
Two parts emo boy and one part Disney princess, it’s the androgynous burlesque drag kid of your fever dreams, Winter Greene!
An award-winning versatile artist, Winter is the winner of the MEDEA Burlesque Rising Star Award (2024), and titleholder of Mx Burlesque Melbourne (2023). They have entertained crowds across the nation including:
Touring Australia with Bonez Alternative Queer Party, performing at Perth International Burlesque Festival, Melbourne Fringe, World Pride 2023, and many, many, (many) more.
As a teacher, Winter primarily focuses on theatrical techniques, character, musicality, and making sure everyone is having FUN.
Willow
Fusing acting with burlesque, bouffon and butoh, Willow is a multi-disciplined theatre practitioner who has run riot as a performer and teacher across the globe for over 20 years! She has performed on iconic local stages such as La Mama, 45 Downstairs, Chapel off Chapel and Theatre Works; danced in avant-garde butoh cabaret shows in Japan, Germany AND Mildura; and with her most recent venture, she's been screaming her feminist heart out as the frontwoman of the post-punk theatrically fuelled rock group The BandShe! Willow’s Mx Burlesque Australia 2016 award winning butt has performed nationally and internationally in ohhh sooo sparkly shows and venues including Burlesque Hall of Fame (Las Vegas), London Burlesque Festival, The Spiegeltent, Finucane & Smith’s Dance Hall and The Aussie Flim Flam Revue (Tokyo).
Other credits include ensemble member of Yumi Umiumare’s Green Room award winning production DasSHOKU SHAKE!, White Day Dream, ButohOUT, Dirty Pictures (Carlton Courthouse), Elmo (La Mama), Dressed to Kill (Voodoo Trash Dolls), All of Which Are American Dreams (Theatre in Decay), Sensing Murder (TV series) and choreographer for the tele-movie Mystery of the Hansom Cab. Honouring fierce, provocative and smart as f---women who paved the way, Willow created, choreographed and directed two successful sell-out seasons of The Living Museum of Erotic Women (2014, 2015)
With a love of sharing her skills and knowledge, Willow has taught Burlesque to 1000’s of students across the world – igniting passion and inspiring many through this seductive, evocative and political form of dance, movement and theatre!
Sham
Shamita is a multi-faceted performance artist and theatre maker who specialises in movement and devised work. A trained dancer from an early age, after over 16 years of ballet training, as well as a broad range of other dance styles; she developed an interest in dance theatre forms such as Butoh alongside her acting. She holds a BA Performing Arts from Monash University, supplemented by training with Film & Television Studios International, Stella Adler AoA Los Angeles, AAFTA, and Meisner Technique.
As a performing artist her work has travelled across Australia and overseas, from the tropical islands of Guam and Brunei, to cosmopolitan Singapore. She often incorporates intercultural practices and cross disciplinary elements into her work, inspired by everyday experiences, music and sound, and socio- political issues she is driven by.
When not on large scale stages and screens, she is an active performer of Australia's queer cabaret scene, and is passionate about creating high energy performances with her signature style. Behind the scenes, Shamita is also a keen writer and director, and is popularly consulted for movement direction.
Melba Peach
A theatre kid at heart, all singing all dancing Melba is a chameleonic performer who pops up in a variety of places including behind the reception desk.
Her love of costume and performing translates into an almost encyclopaedic knowledge of classic film and musical theatre.