Stoke Newington is well known for the cultural and artistic diversity of its inhabitants and a striking example of this is the exotic and multi-talented Valeria Dragova, the subject of this issue’s cover photograph taken by local resident and renowned photographer Seamus Ryan.

Engaging, articulate and perceptive, Valeria has seemingly not wasted a moment of her twenty-eight years. Born in Stockholm to Bulgarian parents (her father was solo cellist with the Stockholm City Orchestra), she moved with her family to Nuremberg in Bavaria when she was five years old. By the age of 14 she had already abandoned a career as a professional ballet dancer. She moved to London when she was 19 (‘I just loved the buzz’) and graduated from Wimbledon School of Art with a degree in Theatre Design. By now fluent in five languages – Bulgarian, Swedish, German, French and English – Valeria trained as an actor and began a career as a solo performance artist, combining dance, song and sensuous movement in the increasingly fashionable genre of burlesque (think Sally Bowles in the movie Cabaret). This dark, glamorous and tantalisingly decadent tradition is at the core of her act and she performs across London two or three times a week in such venues as the Atlantic Club and the Great Eastern Hotel. 

It comes as little surprise to discover that she supplements her income with modelling assignments (the resemblance to a young Marie Helvin is uncanny) and she is currently considering enrolling on a post-graduate acting course to expand her range of dramatic techniques. Valeria has lived in Stoke Newington for over three years – ‘it’s the most interesting place in London. I love the community and the characters’ – and she shares her home off the High Street with a classic 1978 Yahama XS 650 motorcycle (perched behind her on the cover) which transports her in style around her various assignments and gigs.

Unfortunately, Valeria will be sunning herself beside the Black Sea and so will be unable to display her talents at the N16 Fringe Festival on 11-13 June. However, she will be performing in April/May in London so watch our website (www.n16mag.com) for details.
Come to the cabaret!

photo by Seamus Ryan