Women Taking The Stage: Valentina Tafferini
Photo: @tafferovski
Our next performer is Valentina Tafferini. She is a Pyro Pro and costume designer from Milan, Italy. Valentina worked for Cirque du Soleil, Cirque le Soir, The Box and Paris by Night.
Hi Valentina! Can you tell us briefly about yourself?
Hello Noilencers!
I'm Valentina Tafferini a variety artist based in Milan, but I spend my life traveling with my show all over the map. I'm specialized in fire eating and burlesque.
What's your morning ritual?
I like to sleep a lot, so I usually don't wake up early, the perfect time Is 11 am. After this, I prepare my cup of tea, a massive cup, and chill for half an hour and start replying to email and messages. After this? Shower. I'm a tea collector, I have tea bags from everywhere I'm been and I'm drinking like 2 liters of herbal tea a day.
Tell us about a normal workday.
A normal workday begins with a long journey, so I usually take a plane or train headed to the event! In my big luggage, I got costumes and props, and in my backpack, I have makeup and hairstyle stuff , because I'm preparing part of my glam along the journey. Arrived at the location I do rehearsal and fitting, meet my friends and colleagues, then straight to the backstage terminate creating my character. After the curtain call, I love to drink a glass of wine and talk with my colleagues about the show.
What do you love most about what you do?
I love to create my costumes, I love to do makeup and hair, daydream about new acts, research music, meet ing people all around the world, and how I feel on stage when my dreams become reality.
Who, past or present, has inspired you most? Why?
I get inspired constantly with different things around me. Not just people, but if I have to choose some artists I can say: Violet Chachki, Mosh, Betty Page and Shade Flame Water. I love them for glamour and technical skills.
What's the best advice you've received?
" You don't have to do too much on stage , dancing and moving like crazy...just feel classy, sexy and move slowly“ - Ivan Sala.
Which other artist/s would you love to work with if you have the chance?
The ones I get inspired like Mosh and Violet, but also Raquel Reed and Frankie Fictitious.
Can you tell us how you got started?
When I was 16 I joined a circus academy in Turin but at that time I didn't know that it could have been my career later on. I always thought show business was like a clan, hard to get in. Meanwhile, I started to dance in clubs as gogo and be part of big parties around Europe as a performer ... it's been there I realized that I could transform my job and create my acts...So I moved to London and start doing castings in show clubs like Cirque le Soir and The box, after 4 years in that scene I went back to Italy where cabaret and variety culture was about to bloom. After a couple of years of the show in Italy, I choose to move to Ibiza and do a Cirque Du Soleil casting... To my surprise, I was caught! So happy, so lucky!
What's on your bucket list?
On top of my list, there's one month in Tokyo performing and discovering. Second place, I would like to be part of some shows in America ( I know which ones but I'm not gonna telling you :p ) Third: buy my own house. Do you think I'm dreaming big?
Where is your favorite place?
I still haven't found my favorite place on this planet, there is still so much to see.
Do you have any upcoming projects you're excited about?
In this particular pandemic period no, I'm waiting for everything to return to normal, this would already be exciting! get my life back!
What gets you into bed at night?
I love eating and cooking, so I think what gets me in bed is a full stomach and a nice cup of detox herbal tea!
What's your favorite Noilence piece?
With no doubts Edge Earrings.
You can find Valentina under
IG: @tafferovskii
FB: Valentina.tafferini