Begin 90’s Shirley Hart worked as a club dancer al over the world, like Ibiza’s Pacha and Miami’s Bash. There she was discovered by Joost van Bellen, and she joined his team in the legendary club RoXY in Amsterdam. Now she’s a clown in the Rock ‘n Rave Circus that at one point in the show will blow up like a balloon at a terrorist party. We asked her about dressing up and her crush on the drummer of Diesel:U:Music contest winners The Melomanics.

When is a party a good party and what is your role in it?
Well, the other night I went to Italo Elite, a monthly party in Amsterdam, and when I entered people immediately yelled: “Shirley is in, let the party begin!” I guess that says it all…

How do you like the shiny costume Bas Kosters made for you and would you wear it on a Tuesday morning to buy croissants?
I love it! The other day I was riding my bike back from a promotional photoshoot for the Rock ‘n Rave Circus. I was still wearing the costume and left my make up on. People in the streets were staring at me with an expression that I could only interpret as: “She is not crazy, she just looks very good!” So I would go to the bakery for sure in it, no sweat!

At a certain moment during the night you are wearing a blow-up costume that transforms into a huge bouncing ball. Are you never afraid of exploding and ending up in a thousand pieces?
What a fantastic costume that is! It was made by Nepco (costume designers, specialized in blow-ups, red.) so I am never afraid it will explode. You know what would be great? If I could swing through the venue on a rope in this costume with Joost van Bellen clamped between my legs, wooooeeeeiiii!!

How do you like a party crowd best?
That depends on whether there is a theme or not. Sometimes I am really astonished by the creativity of the public and how they make something of it. For example during a party called Manifesto last year the theme was: financial crisis. I saw this girl dressed like an ATM looking very depressed. That is hilarious and really ads to the whole atmosphere!

Can you describe your ideal groupie?
Haha, well if I can choose, I would go for the boy that climbed up the stage during the opening night of the Rock ‘n Rave Circus in Amsterdam to give me a French kiss. I was so perplexed I couldn’t move for a few minutes and just enjoyed it.

What is it like to be working in an almost all male circus?
They’re all nice boykes. And with some of them I have a really good connection.

Like you have with the drummer of the MeloManics? Might Shii-Chii be a little bit in L-O-V-E?
Ow deary, I am blushing, leave me ALONE!!

Backstage paparazzi photo’s by Mirla Klijn

Which anecdote about the Rock ‘n Rave Circus would you tell your grandchildren 60 years from now?
Listen kids: the way you dress now is how I looked on stage back in the days. Because I believe that how I dress up for an act nowadays is how people will dress for work in 2069.