Mia Merode

Mia Merode is a United Kingdom-based burlesque dancer and cabaret performer. She also works as an actress, dancer, singer and pin-up model. Merode trained at Liverpool Theatre School and College and graduated with a distinction in Professional Musical Theatre.

Early years
Merode was born in Chester in 1985. Showing a passionate interest in theatre and performance from a young age, she attended dance and singing classes; training in ballet in association with The Hammond School. She later performed with the Chester Gateway Youth Theatre and several amateur dramatics companies, including Tip Top Productions and Ellesmere Port Light Opera, who gave Mia her first leading role at the age of sixteen as Yum-Yum in Gilbert and Sullivan's operetta The Mikado.

After leaving high school, Merode gained a place at Liverpool Theatre School, training intensively in singing, acting, and dance under tutors including Michael Beare and Marion St. Claire (founding members of London City Balle), and former members of the D'Oyly Carte Opera and English National Ballet. She graduated with a distinction in Professional Musical Theatre in 2007.

Burlesque
After graduation, Merode toured extensively with several bands, performing to crowds of up to 5,000 at international festivals, and also worked as an actress on several short films and docu-dramas. It was at this time she attended her first burlesque show, and immediately fell in love with the glamour and beauty of the dancers on stage.

Merode made her burlesque debut in July 2008. Since then she has performed across the UK and Europe, most notably with Kittie Klaw and the Ministry of Burlesque as part of their productions High Tease and The Burlesque Show, gaining positive reviews across the country.

She is also a regular on the cabaret scene at the international Edinburgh Fringe Festival after first visiting with the House of Burlesque as part of their sell-out, award-winning "Circus Burlesque" show in 2010.

She is known for her glamorous showgirl acts, which fuse classic bump and grind with an Art-Nouveau aesthetic; including the show-stopping "Sugar" (covering herself with a champagne bottle full of glitter), her dramatic, sensual "Midnight", and her "Cottingley Fairy" inspired pointe act.

Now based in London, she continues to perform regularly at popular cabaret events as both a dancer and singer.

Acting
While at college Merode gained distinctions in all of the higher level LAMDA acting exams, and has performed on-stage and in several short films. She has also appeared several times on television, most notably on Coronation Street and Living TV's Four Weddings, and was also consulted as a "Burlesque Expert" for the U.S. Travel Channel's show Baggage Battles (due to be screened in late 2012).

Modelling
Merode is also an in-demand model, represented by Spirit Model Management, and has modeled for companies as diverse as The Old Vic Theatre, Mico Couture Latex and Red's Ribbons.

Award-winning costume-maker Louise O'Mahony designs many of Merode's pieces.