“We’re weird enough and lucky enough to be open about our bodies and sexuality. I’m not saying we’re perfect, but it’s better to be queer here than in many places,” says Margrét Dórothea Jónsdóttir, explaining why the alternative art scene is thriving in Reykjavík. Balancing her office job with a passion for burlesque, Margrét — known on stage as Margo — performs either solo or with her troupe, Dömur og herra (Ladies and a Gentleman).
Margrét Dórothea Jónsdóttir, 34, sales manager I’ve worked in sales pretty much my entire career. Currently, I work in the sales department for Keahotels — just a plain office job. But my side hustle is burlesque and cabaret.
Seven years ago, I went to a burlesque class in Kramhúsið. There was a group of us that met in that class, most of us didn’t know each other before then. We took another class and then another; eventually we put on a show because it just clicked and was really fun.
That group became my burlesque troupe, Ladies and a Gentleman. We’ve been putting on shows semi-regularly since. It sort of just happened.
As a millennial woman, this is one of my ways of trying to not hate my body. I like weird and alternative performances, like drag and burlesque, and I’m into the heavy metal scene here as well. It made more sense than, I don’t know, karaoke.
We used to do monthly shows with my troupe. We’d meet at Kramhúsið once a week to workshop shows or discuss things, especially whe.