I got to meet Dixie thru the Assassination city roller derby. She's a great derbyer, but also does fire tricks and fire eating! She was in my roller derby music video and she agreed to a lil' Q&A. Read on!
Q: When did you begin doing fire tricks?
Dixie: About a year and a half. I taught myself fire fans around New Year's this year.
Q: How did you learn how to eat fire and do fire tricks? Were you scared at first?
Dixie: When I was in New York, I was in the experimental and gothic belly dance troupe Chovexani and later a duo called Diablerie. We really wanted to create a old-fashioned vaudeville or carnival vibe for our shows so we started inviting all kinds of performers: burlesque girls, musicians, poi spinners, glass walkers. I even got put inside a giant clear latex balloon once! I figured I needed my own circus trick so I learned fire eating from a friend of a friend in San Francisco. I don't burn very easily so it seemed like I would have a knack for it!
I hula hoop too, so my next project is working with a fire hoop!
Q: When and where do you get to do fire tricks at? Do you practice at home?
Dixie: I usually get talked into lighting things on fire at Assassination City after parties or friends' birthdays and I sometimes do fire along with my belly dancing gigs. Fire usually goes over well at outdoor festivals, carnivals, with bands, at burlesque shows, barbeques...stuff like that. I'd like to start doing more shows around DFW now that I've moved back.
Q: What sort of fuel is used? Does it taste bad? What does it taste like?
Dixie: I use naphtha or "white gas". It burns pretty cleanly and at a fairly low temperature. Well... a low temp for fire! It smells like lighter fuel but doesn't really have a taste, although I've bitten down on my torches and they taste like burned marshmallows.
Q: Have you ever set yourself on fire or burned yourself?
Dixie: Not really. I've singed some loose threads on my clothes before, but they sizzled and went out before I even had a chance to swat at them!
Q: Do you have any crazy stories you can legally share with us?
Dixie: funny you should ask. I'm always wary of getting busted by an overly cautious police officer, but law enforcement wandering by tends to be some of my most enthusiastic fans!
I think the balloon thing was the strangest thing I ever go myself into. I thought it was kind of silly... get in a balloon, dance around until it pops... but out of every act that night that was the one everyone remembers. Maybe everyone had a combo latex/asphyxiation fetish! I think I learned a little too much about the audience that night.
Q: Where'd you get the name Dixie Witch?
Dixie: It was intended to be a pun on "the Dixie Chicks" but it is also the name of a band from Denton. I liked it because I am both very Southern and am a pretty devout witch.
Q: You're also a roller derby girl. How did you get involved with that and why?
Dixie: It seemed like a fun way to keep myself occupied and meet new people. It's kind of taken over my life, but in a good way. My teammates are like my sisters.
Q: Have you ever combined roller derby and fire tricks?
Dixie: I'm pretty sure that would be a recipe for disaster for someone, if not myself, but I never say never.
Q: What sort of bands and singers do you like? Are there any that get you pumped up to do fire tricks or derby more than others?
Dixie: I listen to devil music. Rock, classic rock, metal, industrial, gothic, gypsy punk. I think White Zombie is just about the best music to do tricks to and was pretty excited when we picked "Black Sunshine" as the LSA intro theme.
Q: What else do you enjoy doing besides fire and derby?
Dixie: Well, my day job is fashion design and I do a little freelance illustration too. I spend a lot of time at the library. I'm a nerd at heart.
Q: how can people contact you to book you for firey performances?
Dixie: My myspace (/thedixiewitch) has photos, videos, contact info, and upcoming gigs.
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