La Morrigasme: Shape-Shifting Seduction & Queer Rebellion

La Morrigasme is a genderless, shape-shifting creature who connects with humans through a blend of dance, drag, burlesque, and contemporary arts. Straddling both worlds and disciplines, she defies easy classification. Brought to life by Brussels Art Pole, incubated by Cablab, unveiled by Queeriosity, and confirmed by Cabaret Mademoiselle.

KET: Tell us a bit about yourself. What has been your journey ?

La Morrigasme: “Shape-Shifting Seduction & Queer Rebellion“I studied film directing because I knew I wanted to tell stories but I didn’t know where to start. Within the film industry, I have explored a bit of everything for about ten years: script writing, documentary, animation, production, and even costume designing, makeup and sets building. One day, I agreed to go with a couple of friends to a private pole dance initiation. I had absolutely zero prior experience in sport or dance. I was a shy person and afraid of making a fool out of myself. I had never seen pole dance before and I have to admit that I didn’t really have any interest into discovering this discipline. However, this initiation instantly changed my life. I immediately saw it as an artistic medium. It is through the pole community that I discovered the world of queer shows, drag performers and cabarets. After only 3 months of practice, I signed up for an open call for new performers and got on stage for the very first time. I was in full agender creature bodypaint. I didn’t realize back then that I was in fact doing drag. I discovered via performing arts (not only pole dancing but also others forms) a new expression power that I had never suspected to have within myself. When disappearing under the skin of a mythical and creepy creature, I felt like I could truly express myself. La Morrigasme was born. Almost instantly, the sanitary crisis lockdown hit and everything stopped for 2 years. After the lockdown, I started with underground scenes and moved to more visible scenes as Cabaret Mademoiselle. I feel a lot of gratitude because cabaret show producers trusted me blindly and gave me carte blanche. It then officially became my full-time work. Unsurprisingly, pole dancing and persona creating also led me to sex work as a stripper and (occasionally) domina. For me sex work is another field where I get to create and impersonate fantasies. Nowadays, I create my performances, make my own costumes, edit my audio tracks, …while still pole teaching and pole training. t’s almost a 7/7 24/24 work.”

KET: What are your current or future projects ?

La Morrigasme: Shape-Shifting Seduction & Queer RebellionCurrently I’m performing mostly in cabarets, clubs and festivals in Brussels. You can find all my public gigs in the story highlight « Next dates » on my Instagram profile @la.morrigasme. I’m part of a new collective « Draguna Ma Tata ». Each edition we invite various artists to subvert Disney classics and turn them into a colorful and joyful queer and pro-sex feminist propaganda. We just organized one edition so far and I’m excited for what’s to come. I keep teaching, coaching new artists, providing advice to « babies performers » and help around by being the little hands here and there like stage kittening at Queeriosity. I want to support the blooming talents around me more and open new doors. I’ve been offered a comeback to film directing. It will certainly happen but in the mid-long-term future as these things take time. I’m also starting a one-year residency with multidisciplinary performers from various backgrounds to put a new concept show together. I keep writing a lot for myself. Particularly on observations and reflections about what being a stripper taught me. Maybe after some time of writing I’ll give it a form: a book, a documentary, a show, a mix of all of that…I still have no idea. Finally, I want to keep upgrading my skills in pole dancing, costume making, makeup, performing, sound editing, lip syncing, show producing, coaching/teaching,  and travel more!

KET: What does being a part of the Brussels queer community mean to you ?

La Morrigasme: Shape-Shifting Seduction & Queer RebellionI grew up being a loner in the countryside with zero queer representations so I’m thrilled to now contribute to this cultural change through my work. At first, I wasn’t really finding the queerness within my artistic work because I was looking only for an unidimensional idea I had of « queer » but then realized that as a queer AFAB neurodivergent sex worker, all these issues are intertwined between themselves and wholeheartedly part of myself. My queer is feminist and pro-sluts and this is inextricably tied up to my artistic expression.

When I first encountered the Brussels queer night life as a teenager, it seemed that there was nothing really there for AFAB/lesbian people. We even faced « gay men only » spaces’ rejections. Now I’m filled with joy to witness more spaces and initiatives opening and more diversity within them. However it’s still a work in progress for some minorities within the community. For me the community should be about creating safer places for all of us.

KET: What are your queer influences ?

La Morrigasme: Shape-Shifting Seduction & Queer RebellionUnsurprisingly, a lot of my influences come from watching movies. They’re not necessarily queer but growing up with zero representations, I have developed a skilled mind at subverting them with my imagination. My another main source of influences are mythologies and legends. Luckily these ones don’t need to be subverted with imagination.

Regarding real life influences, I don’t really have major icons as models (beside Lady Gaga of course). My major real life influences are essentially people around me.

KET: What Brussels or Belgian queer initiatives are you fond of ?

La Morrigasme: Shape-Shifting Seduction & Queer RebellionI’m fond of every initiative that brings community together. It can be a group of friends starting a knitting club, pole dancers celebrating sluttiness in the open-air, any person launching workshops, reading sessions, any reflection group about how to bring more inclusivity …this is what keep the community alive and blooming.

As a performer, I would particularly advice show venues and collectives : Queeriosity, Cabaret Mademoiselle, The Agenda, Les Grands Carmes, Brussels Art Pole, Jezebel Studio, Cablab, Propaganda, Playback Shows, Crash-Test, Just the Tip, Les Peaux de Minuit, La Barakaking, Copycat, Show Les Macrales, Freaks & Merveilles, Homografia, Fame Festival, SNAP, RecyclART, Queef, Cinema Nova,Pink Screens Festival, Porn Film Festival Brussels, Radio Vacarme, Brasserie Atlas,… I’m afraid I’m not citing them all but I advice following the Instagram account @DragInBelgium who does a fantastic job at listing a lot of them !

www.instagram.com/la.morrigasme