Based in London and Berlin, and founded by Miss Veronika Valentine & Mr Simon Kennedy, Dark Burlesque was Born in 2008. Veronika & Simon met on the Burlesque Circuit in late 2007 and formed a strong professional relationship. Independently, both have had vast and varied experience within the arts and entertainment field.
Veronika grew up dancing, singing and acting, progressing from a talented amateur to a dazzling professional over a period of twenty years experience. Veronika trained in ballet, tap, modern and street dance at the Patricia Stevens School of Dance, (later becoming the Barker Lewis School of Dance) and also danced at the Royal Academy of Ballet as a young Girl. Veronika receiving further training from the super talented Mr Gareth Walker, who amongst others has choreographed for, "Take That", "LuLu" & "The Ministry of Sound Fitness DVD's" Veronika choreographs for Burlesque Performers and works in conjunction with Christina Davidson, (Top choreographer and ex-professional dancer) on the show choreography f. She also has performed/worked in T.V (BBC & ITV), Radio (BBC), Theatre, (London, Beck & Compass) and Mainstream & Underground Clubland. Aside from this Veronika has also worked as P.A to Assistant Director, John Colclough, of the world renowned "Spotlight" in Leicester Square, gaining invaluable experience in the heart of the Arts and Entertainment world. Her other experience includes: working as a promoter for a top London club, Glassshouse (Purity & Smartie Partie) in 1999/2001, and producing and directing her own events in her own right, including, 2008 "One Night at Fire" @ FIRE Club in Vauxhall, (This event was featured in "Alternative Fashion" Magazine, and gay magazine, "British Boyz"). In 2008 Veronika won the "Big Burlesque Bout UK" with one of her signature Acts "Pretty Evil". She has also performed at prestigious venues including: Glastonbury Festival, Dubai Middle East (Royal Event), Madame JoJo's, CoCo De Mer, Lounge Lover, Pigalle Ballroom, Proud.
As a founder Member of SAS Projects, Sound Circus , Simon Kennedy has been described as "a artist most at home in the backroom of a seaside joke shop". Artist, Performer, Lecturer, and Prop maker extraordinaire Simon is a man of many guises who, like Veronika, grew up with an intense passion for the arts. Mischievous, playful, roguish even, he is an artist of the anomalous and a dedicated observer of the under current; for it is here, adrift in an emotional landscape of greasy chip-forks and lost ice-creams, he makes art with the kind of disreputable perfectionism we might expect from the needle on a tattoo artists' gun.
Simon is also an internationally renowned sculptor of burlesque objects and creator of burlesque acts, who has undertaken many high profile shows and commissions, including work for: Veronika Valentine, Gentry Lane, Vicky Butterfly, Trixee Sparkle, Honey LuLu and Annette Betty . Aside from this Simon also makes regular appearances as a compare and performer for private and public events in the UK, Berlin and West End theatres and clubs.
