Our newly crowned Miss Coney Island is a star of New York burlesque as well as a martial artist and weapon wielder, and is about to hit the stage for burlesque’s biggest night in the city. We submit to Dominant Jeane! [Cover photo: Kazimir Skye]
Thotyssey: Hi Jeane, thanks for chatting with us today!
Dominant Jeane: Hi, Silvestri! Thanks for having me be part of this interview!
It looks like that long, wet slog of a Nor’easter is finally over-ish. Did you survive it easily?
The Nor’easter did not affect me physically, as I was still able to show up to Miss Coney and have a relaxing weekend… but it did affect me mentally. The thought of having this very important pageant by Bambi Mermaid be possibly canceled was weighing on me heavily.
Congrats on your Miss Coney Island win!
Thank you! I’m still in disbelief.
Tell us everything: what were your thoughts going into the pageant, how did you get along with everyone, what was your talent number like, and how did the win feel?
I knew that if I gave it my all, I had a fair chance of winning. But with the Miss Coney Island Pageant–and especially this group–it’s like picking between ready to eat apples, bananas and oranges. So, winning was near a clear goal for me.
Most of the people in this year’s pageant I’m in group chats with, and I even had beach days over the summer with some. We are having a watch party once we get the full video of the event to celebrate each other’s hard work
I forgot to wear eyelashes for the entire night–very much a faux pas in the burlesque scene–but I was so excited backstage helping my friends put on their costumes and chatting that it completely slipped my mind.
My talent was a Bruce Lee / Kill Bill inspired number with black and yellow. I even customized my shoes to look like the yellow Onitsukas. I approached it from a glam burlesque perspective, with whips and nunchucks hidden in my very large black boa. I also wore my Muay Thai fighting arm bands (pra jiad) for the talent portion. Martial arts has connected me with my body since I was seven years old. However, I always kept it to myself as it kept me grounded when I needed it the most in the performance world. I made the connection to The Warriors, and created the storyline of me fighting to get back home as part of my act.
Can you share a bit of your origin story with us: where are you from originally, and how did you become involved with martial arts at such a young age, and then with weaponry?
I was born and raised in Washington Heights as the only daughter to Dominican parents. I have three older brothers, and spent most of my time playing video games with them. It is through playing fighting games like Tekken, Street of Rage and Street Fighter that we became interested in martial arts. I then took Tae Knwon Do with my brothers as a child, and Capoeira as a teenager before falling in love with Muay Thai in my 20s. I’ve been to Thailand to train, and see myself moving there at some point to compete.
The weapon skills was something I never took seriously. I’ve been playing around with swords and nunchucks as my older brother always had them around the house. After breaking one too many remotes from spinning them around, I got my own pair of chucks.
Here is the question I’m sure all martial artists get asked: if you saw, like, a little old lady getting mugged, could you definitely beat up her attackers?
That’s hilarious! Depends on who the attacker is, but if they’re trying to beat an old lady up then they at least deserve some trouble. I have very sharp reflexes, and don’t need a large weapon to defend myself. So, I will say… most likely. Worst case, I can distract them with my sharp burlesque shoulder shimmy moves!
How did burlesque come into your life, and what about it appealed to you?
I started dancing in the sixth grade, and then attended a performance arts high school in the Upper East Side as a musical theater major. My mentor Patrick Gallagher passed away during my senior year–and with the added passive aggressive environment of musical theater, it took a lot of the passion out of me. I did not perform for a while. The next ten years I spent singing and playing the bass guitar while I studied to become a corporate lawyer at The New School University. where I studied mob mentality and the psychology of evil.
In my mid-20s, I felt a need to get back into my body in a way that wasn’t related to martial arts. In that desperate time, I started the “artist way”… and by week four, something just clicked! I Googled “burlesque” and realized that I’ve been going to burlesque shows for years, and didn’t ever consider it as I was painfully afraid of showing my body in public. I then took classes with Jo Weldon at the School of Burlesque, and the rest is history.
What’s a song or a bit or a costume that you’ve been dying to use in an act someday, that you haven’t quite gotten around to yet?
That’s hard to say, because the song I’ve had in mind to use for the past six years was the one I used for my Miss Coney act: “The Mexican” by Babe Ruth.
Prior to Miss Coney Island, did you have an all time favorite gig or moment performing? How about a notable “EEK” moment?
Ooh, it’s hard to speak on any specific moments! But I will never forget the first time I worked a clown night at House of Yes in the beginning of my nightlife career. I was able to be myself in a way that wasn’t even obvious to me. I jump at any gig that pushes me– and when it doesn’t, I push myself by adding a challenge.
My EEK moment was when an audience member stole my performance bra that fell off the stage as I performed at the New York Burlesque Festival. I was able to get it back quickly, but the lack of respect for an item I worked so hard for… to me, is also a lack of respect for the craft.
That’s someone I would’ve liked to watch you beat up!
Haha! I’d rather ruin their sense of self with my words. Fun fact, I’ve never been in a real fight before. I was taught by my instructors to never even insinuate that I can “win a fight or beat someone up”–unless it’s in the ring. Violence is always the last resort.
You’re appearing at the New York Burlesque Festival’s Golden Pastie Awards this Sunday at Le Poisson Rouge! This is probably the biggest night in NYC burlesque… how excited are you, and what can newbies expect from the night?
I’m so excited to perform at the Golden Pasties! It’s a room full of people I’m either close to or have had gigs with throughout the years. On occasion, I’ve also met some great up-and-coming performers. Always feels like a little reunion!
You’re also going to be a part of C*nt Punk: All Hallows Emo at The Sultan Room on October 11!
I’m performing in the Punk show–just booked it a few days ago! It’s more of a fun, cathartic show with a live band to emo music.
What else is coming up for you?
I’m also in the Muevanse Festival [October 9th-11th at Brooklyn Art Haus], an all Latine burlesque festival produced by Mizzaddy and now co-produced by Miss Frankie Eleanor.
Have great gigs! Do you have any closing words?
I’m just excited to keep growing as a person, and see where else this takes me–and to learn new skills. And I’d love to perform more with live bands, and hopefully perform in other parts of the world.
Winning the Miss Coney Island Pageant didn’t make the imposter syndrome demons go away. It is because I was able to banish them in the first place that I was able to give myself permission to win. I’m excited to see what I do with that energy. It’s an ongoing work in progress, but I’m here for the ride.
Thanks, Jeane!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for Dominant Jeane’s upcoming appearances, and follow her on Instagram.
