The Temple of the Inner Goddess with Juliette Dragon
Whether we are born with male or female genital parts does not matter, we all have masculine and feminine parts which are sacred. The capitalist system mobilises masculine energies too much: efficiency, clarity, evidence, performance, competition. One must be active to succeed, to produce, to win, to realise, to construct, to produce more and more, up to the total exhaustion of resources. This masculine force has qualities, but it is nothing without its complementary polarity, the feminine, that of gentleness and sweetness, of letting go, acceptance, rest, recuperation, welcome, not-doing, being, abandon, listening and waiting.
Nothing resists gentleness (la douceur).
The Temple of the Inner Goddess is a space to stop acting, to pose oneself, to breathe, to centre oneself and be. To stop thinking, judging, oneself or the other, to authorise oneself to be there without doing anything, to stop wanting and deciding. To retrain the harsh force of the Will, to light up the gentleness of acceptance. By stopping one connects to the universe (le grand tout), and lets happen what must happen, with fluidity and simplicity. Insupportable suspense? What will happen? Does it make you anxious to stop trying to master everything? Close your eyes, breathe, smile softly, the universe is welcoming. Life is sweet. Everything is marvellous when you welcome the gentle force of our inner goddess.
(Translation Peter Banki)
Juliette Dragon is a multidisciplinary artist. She has been a model for Martin Margiela and Jean-Paul Gaultier and dances for music bands all over Europe.
She has learned the circus arts and open-air theatre and specializes in fire. She was trained by Cassavetes's assistant, Kim Massee as an actor’s director.
In 2003, she created the Collectif Surprise Party, a new burlesque cabaret company, regrouping exclusively female dancers, acrobats, singers, comedians, pin-up and other performers that she directs in shows the she produces.
In 2008, she created l’"Ecole des Filles de Joie", which is the first New Burlesque Cabaret School in France. Whatever their age or body, the school teaches artists to use every trick in the book to seduce their audience. The goal of this school is to share professional tips with the students to help them to get rid of their inhibitions and boost their self-confidence by accepting their own bodies. Good times with the girls, to share, laugh, taming their feminity and develop self-assurance: a unique experience where you’ll meet yourself and your body, learn to love it and reveal its seductive powers. Fun and original art-therapy for all, even the shyest.
In 2009, she co-produced the first Paris Burlesque Festival thus federating the entire international scene for the Parisian audience’s pleasure.