Dita Von Teese: Americans have forgotten Burlesque history

Dita Von Teese is looking forward to starting her two week residence at Paris' most famous nude revue - insisting the French appreciate burlesque as an art form rather than a racy routine.

The raven-haired siren will titillate audiences at the city's notorious Crazy Horse venue, with her stint running through the most romantic day of the year - St. Valentine's Day on 14 February.

And the star - whose famous routines include using larger-than-life martini glasses and carousel horses - can't wait to return to the city of love, because her fellow Americans have forgotten that her performances are entertainment and not just strip-shows.

She says, “I’m just trying to bring back the original art form.

“Unfortunately it seems that now in America they’ve lost all sense of what burlesque really is. It’s just something very racy for them.

“It’s not like in France where they still remember names like Mistinguett and Josephine Baker. In America they’ve completely forgotten this and have a hard time coming to terms with the idea that striptease could’ve been a form of classic entertainment. I like coming here to be appreciated.”

Dita loves Paris

Dita Von Teese wants to move to Paris.

The burlesque dancer - who recently unveiled her own underwear collection for Wonderbra - says the French capital is her favourite place and she dreams of living there.

She said: "I love being in Paris more than anywhere else. There is something about the beauty of the city that can't compare to anywhere else for me.

"I feel at ease and that somehow I really belong there. I am quite sure it will become home for me someday."

Dita also revealed troubled British singer Amy Winehouse once performed for her and her family.

She added: "I will never forget the time I went to Amy Winehouse's home and she sang and played guitar for two hours for me, my mother and sisters.

"I listen to a lot of artists from the '30s and '40s but Amy is the most important and interesting vocalist of the modern era."