- Department Christmas do offends some staff
- Monash Uni apologies and offers counselling
- Now burlesque performer defends her show
A burlesque dancer who performed at a university department’s Christmas party has defended her performance after the educational institution apologised to staff and offered them counselling.
Evana De Lune performed at Monash University’s Department of Banking and Finance end-of-year bash on December 1, in the Le Bar Supper Club in Beaumaris in Melbourne‘s south-east.
Some staff were reportedly shocked and appalled when De Lune stripped down to only a G-string and nipple tassels.
‘It’s so Wolf of Wall Street,’ one anonymous attendee told The Age.
Some staff were reportedly shocked and appalled when De Lune (pictured) stripped down to only a G-string and nipple tassels. The university later apologised and offered staff councselling
Evana De Lune (pictured) performed at Monash University’s Department of Banking and Finance end-of-year bash on December 1, in the Le Bar Supper Club in Beaumaris in Melbourne’s south-east.
The organisers of the event were reportedly not aware there would be a live performance.
University bosses scrambled to apologise to staff members for the ‘breakdown in standards’ and offered them counselling.
‘In future, the Department is committed to a more thorough vetting of venue choices, to better reflect the values and preferences of our Department and the Monash Business School,’ an emailed apology to all department staff read.
Now, De Lune has hit back at the furore around her show.
‘As far as I’m aware, the venue hired me because burlesque was on the menu. And I’m not cheap!’, De Lune said.
‘But no one should need counselling after my show… I hope.’
De Lune, who has performed all over the world and teaches burlesque workshops, said some Monash University staff members made their concerns clear on the night.
‘After my first act, someone politely mentioned to me they were concerned about the strip tease… so for my second act I kept my bra on and did a fan dance instead,’ she said.
The Banking and Finance Department at Monash University (pictured) said it would vet future venues
‘But everyone was really nice and respectful, people still clapped and cheered. A few came up afterwards to compliment the performance.
‘I’d say it was about 50/50 enjoying it and not enjoying.’
But De Lune empathised with those who were shocked by her performance.
‘If people didn’t know that’s what they were going to, I can empathise with that,’ she said.
‘It should be clear upfront. Consent is really important. So I understand why there’s been a bit of outrage with the Monash University staff. Burlesque isn’t for everyone.
‘Still I did do that gig at the State Library so you can’t say all academics don’t like burlesque,’ she laughed.
‘…no one should need counselling after my show… I hope,’ De Lune said
Dina Fergadiotis, the owner of Le Bar, an adults-only Parisian restaurant and bar which hosts jazz, cabaret and burlesque nights, would not comment on the party’s booking for privacy reasons.
‘We were asked to put together an event,’ Ms Fergadiotis said.
Monash University previously said: ‘The staff involved regret the unintended consequences that resulted from this breakdown.
‘They have been appropriately counselled. The head of the department has sincerely apologised to all the staff who participated in the function.’
No disciplinary action was taken.