Debriefer: Joey "Go-Go Jo-Jo" Kipp

When living in New York City, it's best to put on your best sparklies, glam it up, and bring the city to its knees. New to the scene but definitely not shy, Joey Kipp is budding boy-lesque performer/choreographer extraordinaire. When he's not up on stage shaking his moneymaker (catch him Friday night at Think.Coffee), or dreaming up silly but stirring routines, Kipp's spreading the love for his birthplace of Brazil.

We're going to imprison you in the city of your choice for the rest of your natural life. You can do anything you want there, but you must stay in that city forever. Where would you choose?
Oh my god! ...I guess Bahia -- in Brazil.

Why would you live in this city forever and not somewhere else?
Because there, there I feel like this is the city I'm originally from and it has everything: nature, beauty, the liveliness of the people. Living there would be something beautiful to have in your life forever. Bahia has flavor and to have flavor, love, life and culture is to have everything.

In what part of the city would you reside?
By the sea. Specifically the Rio Vermelho. The sea relaxes me and allows me to experience soothing scents and sounds. This is also the location where the Festa de Yemanja (the celebration of the goddess of the sea) occurs.

Where and what would you eat?
I would have a pot of Bobo do Camarao at Porto do Moreira for its fragrant odors and its bohemian atmosphere.

What would you do for fun?
I'd go shopping. I'd chat with locals every morning at the market. That sounds so Shirley Valentine. I'd be the Shirley Valentine of Brazil!

Where would you go for a night on the town?
I would go to hear live music at the Igreja do Passo, then off to Off Club and dance dance dance!

What kinds of shops are worth going to?
Any local market.

And on the flip side: What city would you never, ever visit again, if you had a choice?
Las Vegas. Besides the desert, there is nothing there for me to do or see. I don't gamble, and all the shows there lack culture. It's just too overwhelming; it's exciting but completely without culture. There's no sense of a true culture, at all. And yes, I may be a tacky person, but I'm tacky in true spirit, and Las Vegas is just total showgirl. I've got no interest in Las Vegas. Whatsoever. Sorry.

Why go-go?
During the summer in the city, I'd be going out at night. I went to Smashed! Block! and met Anna Copa Cabana and was just really into the scene. Men of color are not really revered in gay society at all, and most of the guys in the go-go scene are out with their dicks out and just super-slutty. For them, there is nothing but a thin line between go-going and stripping. I wanted to create for me, something that's just fun and silly, sexy and artistic. Besides, I love glam rock makeup. What I love about the scene is the chance to meet a lot of interesting people, like Glenn Marla -- my favorite. It's also a place where I just get to be me. I've been go-going in the club scene for about six months, but have been a trained dancer for many years.

What makes the best crowds? Where is your favorite place to perform?
An audience that's open-minded and willing to have fun is the best crowd to have. I've had some bad experiences with people while I'm on stage; one time, a girl kept giving me nasty looks, and there's been people talking about me behind my back. Yeah, you can see this when you're up onstage. I've been verbally accosted on the subway, which sucks. You have to put up this unpleasant exterior which isn't me, and look like you're going to slash someone's throat, just to deal. People will fuck with you. Though, my favorite place to perform has to be Love Muscle at Happy Ending and Rififi for TRASH. Both places are my favorite for the regulars, the hosts, and the space. Space is important too. If you feel uncomfortable, then it shows. Rififi has a stage -- so the performer in me can hit it and dance. Love Muscle at Happy Ending is a different sort of place. You walk around and it's completely interactive. Interactive go-going. The atmosphere changes depending on the people you meet.

What's the hardest part about burlesque?
The costume. In my head, I have an idea of what's going to be done and what the costume should look like. It's hard to formulate the piece around the costume. I always have an idea of moves, but once the costume's together it can add to or completely change the piece. Or even, vice-versa. Sometimes, the costume just has to be changed.

Your upcoming show at Think.Coffee is called "Afterthought Burlesque". What's an "Afterthought Burlesque" and what can we expect to see?
It's a way to perform burlesque in a living room setting. It's informal, homey, but sexy and silly. "Afterthought Burlesque" is also an amateur event -- we're bringing in people who want to perform or are just beginning at burlesque, like a coming-out, a chance to make their premier. Though we do have professional burlesque artists as well - Miss Clams Casino and Spanxxx La Tusheee are planning to be there to perform (these girls are fun) and we've got Rosie Rebel doing something with bananas and rollerskates. But we're not sure ... I'm hosting and performing; my piece, "Party in my Pants" is done to music by Queen and it's sort of based on the concept of changing your mindset from being lonely and sad to creating a party for yourself in your day-to-day life. Sarah Reiley, owner of Think.Coffee, really wanted to do a burlesque night at her café. I told her, well, I'm a boy-lesque dancer and we decided to move on this and create this evening of magic in a coffee shop. I'm really just hoping that the idea of burlesque translates throughout the room; when something's unzipped, people should cheer, clap. It's a sign of encouragement. Nothing's worse than undressing in silence.

[Photo]

Debriefer is a weekly interview of random individuals about their favorite cities. If you'd like to be interviewed for Debriefer, let us know.