How long have you been dancing and did you had any training?
I have been dancing for almost six years; full-time for four years. I did not have any dance training, in the sense of ballet when I was younger etc., but I did do two courses at London School of Striptease (LSOS) which gave me my way into the industry. 

How did you come to first start stripping?
I had first had a fantasy of being a stripper when I was six years old. I was a proper ugly duckling in my teens though and there was no way I thought any man would pay to see me naked, so instead I worked hard at school and ended up being the first person in my family to get a university degree. Around this time I was with my first boyfriend, who I saw for over five years, during which I was barely aware other men existed. Then I split with that him and found myself single and in London, going out partying for the first time, and discovered men actually fancied me... Suddenly being a stripper didn’t seem quite so impossible. Then I saw an advert for LSOS, signed up for a beginners’ course, and it all went from there.

What was your first time on stage like?
My first time on stage was nerve-wracking, but not in the way you might think. I wasn’t worried about the dancing or being naked in front of a pub full of men; I was worried I wouldn’t enjoy it, as if that had been the case, my entire life’s dream would have crumbled. Luckily I loved it.

Where do you dance and do you combine it with any other work?
I dance for Rainbow and Angels agencies, as well as Olympia Moments and other occasional private events such as burlesque shows. I also model, teach for London School of Striptease, and do some freelance writing (my Diary Of A Stripper is on www.StrictlyNews.com). I also do some charity work through the Erotic Awards and the TLC Trust, performing for people with physical and sensory disabilities, and some political campaigning through the International Union Of Sex Workers, to try to stop the adult entertainment laws becoming any more restrictive.

What advice would you give to a new girl starting out?
If she was in the UK I’d tell her to try out lots of different venues – and definitely to try the traditional pubs - before deciding whether this is the right industry for her. The table-dancing clubs are such a totally different world from the pubs, yet so many new club girls don’t even realise the pubs exist. I’d also say to be polite, professional and have a smile on your face at all times; leave any personal problems at home. But the main thing is to have fun – if you are having fun, your audience will be. If you really don’t find it fun at all, you’re in the wrong job.

What is the part of stripping you enjoy most?
I enjoy creating an erotic fantasy with my audience. People often ask if stripping is a power-trip but for me it isn’t, because a great striptease experience is a two-way thing, it requires the right attitude and attention from the audience. There are occasional moments when you realise the performance and the shared moment has transported everyone in the room – including yourself – to a place away from whatever our lives outside that room entail, away from whatever our current stresses or concerns are, to an alternative sexy and beautiful place where everyone is included. I love that feeling the best. But I don’t want to get too high-brow... I also just love showing my pussy!

Do you like role playing and have you a favourite?
I always have a few themed outfits in my work bag as it’s fun to play roles. I like to make every show different from the last, so I’ll follow something elegant and classy with something dark and fetish-y then with a themed outfit. I have an air hostess, nurse (I just got a proper metal stethoscope), army girl, police officer, boxer girl, secretary... I think my favourites are the police officer, complete with real handcuffs of course, and the secretary. Sometimes I’ll wear an actual business suit, with full lingerie and seamed stockings underneath. That’s fun in pubs in the City, where guys who’ve just come in aren’t sure until I stand up and start collecting whether I’m one of the strippers or just a saucily made-up office girl. That’s always a popular show.

How long do you intend to continue?  
I’ll continue so long as there are people wanting to look! Hopefully for a long time yet – the longer I work in this industry the more I love it.

You can find out more and contact Solitaire via her website atwww.SolitaireLondon.co.uk