The Dutch acrobat Michiel Tange van Leeuwen is one of the most fascinating performer. From his burlesque performances to the dazzling shows he produces, his presence is just as mesmerising whether he’s on or off the stage. We caught up with him in his current hometown of Copenhagen and talked to him about his life as a performer, the act of performance and what he loves most about his job.
Describe what you do.
“I create customised stage performances for a range of different events – circuses and burlesque shows – but I also work in the field of arts, which I often prefer. I use my acrobatic skills to gain the audience’s attention so I can communicate a certain message. Most of my work is aesthetically mesmerising and very physical.”
How would you describe your life as a performer/artist?
“I feel very privileged to be an artist and to be allowed to be creative every day of my life. But that said, I have to admit it is hard work maintaining those standards. Most of the time, art doesn’t quite pay off financially. So either you have to do a lot of entertainment gigs to earn a living, or you have to constantly fill out grant applications to finance your work. And you can’t always count on getting the grants. Office work in general occupies my daily life quite a lot – way more than the actual performances I do.”
Tell us about Copenhagen’s Grotesque Burlesque show.
“I have performed at Grotesque Burlesque a couple of times now and I’m impressed by how the audience members always make a huge effort to dress up themselves. And that really pushes me to create more spectacular costumes than before. I am spending more and more time sewing costumes to match a certain concept, and my walk-in wardrobe is growing day by day.”
“Another fun thing about Grotesque Burlesque is that they always have a certain theme besides the burlesque, such as fairy tale or Western. But within that theme you are free to do what you want – as long as it is daring enough.”
What does it take to be an artist?
“It takes dedication and belief. You need to believe that what you want is possible. My head is full of strange ideas and images that only make sense to me. As an artist, my role is to share that with the audience. So I need to be able to transform a feeling or some vision I had into a concrete frame that communicates in the correct way. It also takes a lot of courage to actually insist on the way you present your work.”
“Another important skill for an independent artist to have is to be able to step away from your work and look at it from the audience’s perspective… which is very difficult when you’re physically in it.” Have you ever had stage fright? “Always. Because I always keep some space for improvisation, I depend a lot on the audience. If they for some reason can’t connect with my stage character, I have to adjust things on stage. And that is both a confusing and risky situation to be in. So I’m always nervous about that. Sometimes – when I’m dripping with cold sweat – I wish that I could just close my eyes and disappear.”
What is the best show you have ever had?
“The best show so far was for a dodgy cabaret somewhere in Switzerland. I created a show named Devil Party Crash, where I was dancing around on 1 metre-high stilts, dressed up as a faun. For some reason I really got hold of the audience; they were almost screaming on the front row. I had never tried anything like it before. In the end, I crowd surfed away over the audience.”
What do you think about body modification?
“So far I only have one single piercing and no tattoos, because I want to have the freedom to look different from one day to the next. But I have a lot of respect for those who involve themselves in body modification. Sometimes I wish I could be a little more daring when it comes to that. For now, I’ll have to work with fake tattoos. But there’s quite a bit of room for shock value in my flexibility sometimes.”
What musicians do you like?
“I am mostly into alternative electronic music from the Berlin underground. Bands like Iberia and Easter are some of my favourites. I also really like Grimes and FKA twigs. For my shows I often use opera music.”
Who are the most obnoxious people you know?
“Concerning my work, I can really get annoyed by people who hire me as a sort of ‘room filler’ and don’t see the potential of an actual performance. They really don’t care what I do, as long as I look pleasant. That really feels like selling your body.”
What is the set-up of your dream burlesque performance?
“I’m actually going to Italy soon to perform for a super-rich family there. I was told it will take place in the wine cellar of a luxurious resort hotel in the countryside. For me that sounds more crazy than I can imagine.”
Credits:
Words by Koko Ntuen
Photography by Erika Svensson