An Interview with RAW Sydney Performing Artist of the Year 2013: Kelly Ann Doll
Today we wrap-up our 9-day blog showcase of the RAW Sydney 2013 category winners. We've had a blast featuring and interviewing such talented individuals, and wish them every bit of success with their work for the year ahead!
We are also super excited to present today's RAW Sydney 2013 winner to you - Kelly Ann Doll. Kelly Ann Doll has been performing on-stage around the world for over 15 years now, and her impressive career highlights includes being crowned 2nd in the Miss Burlesque Australia 2011 competition, obtaining the title of Miss Burlesque Victoria and Miss Burlesque NSW, as well as performing as a headline artist on almost every major burlesque event in Australia since 2004. Most recently, Kelly Ann Doll has been awarded the well-deserved and prestigious titles of not only RAW Sydney Performing Artist of the Year 2013, but also RAW Australia Performing Artist of the Year 2013.
Kelly Ann's website explains: "Dubbed Australia’s BIGGEST little lady of Burlesque; Kelly Ann Doll,with dance moves Fred Astaire himself would be proud of, combined with champion skills in swing dancing and circus with a twist of her signature high energy tease, Kelly Ann Doll creates a unique combination of fusion performance art that leaves her in a class of her own!"
It is evident that those who have witnessed Kelly Ann's performances only have spectacular things to say about her. Nicole Wilson from Red Letter Day Events states, "Words can’t describe the level of enthusiasm and talent she has in person and on stage! Some people are born with talent some people learn it and Kelly is the one born with it.”
Whim recently chatted to the award-winning performing artist to congratulate her on her recent RAW Sydney and RAW Australia success, and to ask her all about her love of performance:
Q: Congratulations on winning first place in the performing art category! Please tell us, what have you loved the most about your RAW Sydney experience?
A: Thank you so much! It was an absolute surprise, its been such a massive year for me, and was just so grateful to be asked to even perform! I guess the best part of this experience is being showcased to so many different art genres. I was luckily enough to see some of the amazing artists at the Sydney showcase this year and was truly blown away by how much undiscovered talent there is! To have any one ever truly acknowledge your hard work is a show business luxury, and being selected has reminded me why I love doing what I do and what we all put ourselves though to achieve it.
Q: What was your initial reaction when you heard the news that you would go on to represent Sydney in your category?
A: Total shock! I was checking my phone all day and I assumed I would get an email, I didn’t realize it was on the video response so I could have seen it anytime. It wasn’t until I was going to bed I started getting all these messages of congratulations one after the other so fast. It was such a lovely feeling as I had already had time to process that I didn’t win …. Gave myself the day off, thought I earned it :)
Q: When did you first discover your love of burlesque?
A: It was 2005 .. and It was love at first sight I fell head over heels straight into the tassle twirl rabbit hole, and I knew exactly then and there that it was the world I wanted to be apart of and I never looked back.
Q: What inspires your creativity the most?
A: I believe the only way to create is to be honest.. I just get out there and let my acts be a representation of how I feel or what I want to say, most of the time it comes from a light place and I just love to make people smile if they're laughing at me or with me, I don’t care, its all so worth it. Sometimes I'll feel the need to go somewhere deeper and usually it's coming from a place of sadness or pain, which is rare, but I think its important to channel the energy and release it, because if you don’t, eventually it will be what blocks you from moving forward to continue to create.. I have had the honour of being able to showcase my performances on some of the biggest stages in Australia, and being able to just do it my way. I cant lie, it's pretty amazing
Q: What do you hope to achieve with your performing art career in the near future – are there any exciting, upcoming plans that you would like to share with us?
A: Wow so much. This year I had an injury set back, so I missed out on a lot of travelling, but 2014 is definitely going to be my biggest year yet ..I'll be heading to Vegas, New Orleans and Edinburgh, and working on a lot of events for around the east coast, but first up I'm excited to be headlining shows for Twisted Vaudeville Circus at Perth Fringe Festival all of Feb. Tickets are on sale now at: https://www.fringeworld.com.au/program/event/b241f61f-1324-4a37-bd89-ba8dd0928a87/
We highly recommend that you check out Kelly Ann Doll's unique performances, and you can keep updated with her upcoming shows on her website and Facebook page. You can also support emerging artists by 'liking' the RAW Sydney and RAW Australia Facebook pages.
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