KATRINA GAY

I first met Katrina on Halloween. She was performing at a party as a fire dancer, literally dancing with fire, and she wore these crazy blank contacts that completely erased her pupils. She was, immediately, one of the coolest women I’ve ever met.

Katrina is a member of The Va Va Vixens, a Louisville based burlesque troop, and will be performing this weekend in their Va Va Tapestry of Variance show at The Art Sanctuary.

How did you get your start in fire dancing?

Katrina: I got started in fire around 2012. I saw a girl with an LED Hula Hoop at Rock on the Range and I was super intrigued so I went and bought one. 

After doing some research, I discovered there are retreats you can go to that teach you all different props and fire safety. 

I went to Flow Camp 2012 for my first one and after two days of beginner hoop classes, they had an intro to fire spinning where I got to spin fire for the first time and was HOOKED! 

Now I spin hoop, poi, fans, levi wand, staff, double staffs and fire eat! I don’t like breathing fire, that’s often what people resort to, it’s so dangerous and that actually does scare me. I sought out a personal one on one instructor to learn how to do it vs a class because I wanted individual attention. 

DE: Really excited to see you this weekend in the Va Va Vixen’s Va Va Tapesty of Variance show. What can you tell us about this show?

Katrina: Va Va Tapestry of Variance is our 10 year anniversary!!!! I’m super excited about this show because there’s a lot of controversial think pieces that make you pay attention, there’s a lot of emotional pieces, my solo included, and of course, our group numbers and stripteases are on point!

Photos by Sky Wild Photography (header) and David J Hunter