Legends of Dominance - 20

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This article is titled
Legends of Dominance  - 20
by Mistress Michelle Peters et al.
and posted with permission
(All information herein is provided by author)

Legends of Dominance Article Index
Also see: Name Cross Reference

Mistress Ava Taurel

AvaTaurel.jpg
Eva Norvind, Mistress Ava Taurel.
(b.May 14,1944 March 14, 2006)

I remember going to one of the clubs doing a show. After the show, Mistress Ava Taurel came up to me, we talked and we became friends. She passed away yesterday March 16th, 2006, she was one of the pioneers in our community. Our Sympathies and Condolences go out.

--Mistress Michelle & slave english

Belle de Jour

BelleDeJour.jpg
From DDI , No. 47, 2002
Editor's Note

DDIs Domina Piles has been an integral and popular editorial department of our DDIMAG.COM website since its on-line inception in 1997. In the Domina Files we look back at mistresses from the past, both professional and amateur.

Some of these exotic women plied their trade more than 65 years ago. Some dropped from the scene only yesterday. In each case we highlight what is remembered about them, detail something of their careers, publish what photos remain in our files and explain their whereabouts today. At present we have nearly 250 of these mini biographies published on our website.

In the last issue of DDIs North American edition we introduced our Domina Files in print. Our report on Monique Von Cleef was met with tremendous interest and approval.

The number of letters and e-mails we received, thanking us for the update on Monique, amazed us. Since one good Domina File deserves another, this issue we are pleased to present a look back at the illustrious career of New York's Belle de Jour. We hope you enjoy it.

If I only had one word with which to describe a certain dominatrix, what would it be? Cruel? Mesmerizing? Flamboyant? Simpatico? Undependable? Gorgeous? Bizarre? If we had but one word to describe Belle de Jour, arguably New York's most famous dominatrix during the modern era of SM, the word we would use to describe her would be "shrewd." Take no offense! We don't mean it in any negative fashion. Professional dominas have come and gone with mind numbing regularity since before we began publishing DDI. Many of these leather-clad ladies departed "the life" with little to show for it except an unusual and impractical wardrobe, some cumbersome, highly uncomfortable furniture. and a name and reputation which is usually usurped by another, younger dominatrix before the first mistress by that name has packed her bags! The fact is, since 1975 when Belle de Jour began her career in the world of erotic dominance, she quietly and carefully constructed a.'name that was uniquely hers, a reputation that is unforgettable, and a lifestyle that has paid off with dividends. As we just mentioned, Belle entered the world of professional dominance in '75. A business woman from the start, she already owned a cosmetology company with three salons around Manhattan. Though Belle is sparing with information about herself pre-B&D, her connection to the beauty business is no carefully guarded secret. In fact, her hair and make up background is what got her into the whips and boots biz. One of her salon clients back in the mid '70s was an ex-Broadway dancer and showgirl who discreetly dominated and cross dressed eager gentlemen out of her upper west side apartment. There are few secrets in a beauty salon and Belle was fully aware of what her client did. One day while this lady and Belle were chatting, the woman propositioned Belle (so to speak) asking if she would like to sit in on one of her sessions? The man in question was a conservative college professor who liked to dress up in sexy lingerie, high heels, a naughty black cocktail dress and vamp around under the stern but approving eye of a dominatrix. Belle took part in this tableau the next time the professor called his showgirl dominatrix for a session. She brought her make up case, helped style the prof's wig. and had a great time!

From this first enlightening experience Belle realized two things. First, she enjoyed the whole concept of feminizing and dominating men. Second, and shrewdly, she saw career potential in becoming a dominatrix. The professor wanted to see her again, pronto. The upper west side domina offered to work with Belle more often. Belle's cosmetology business was running smoothly and didn't need her presence at the salons as much as she might have thought. So, after deciding that professional dominance was something she really wanted to do. Belle went after it with her typical confidence and aplomb. Priority number one was a name for herself. As all of you should know by now, 99.9 of all professional dominas, and at least 50 of amateur dominas who advertise for slaves have mistress names that are not their given names. Belle was no different, but she wanted to keep tilings simple. Her first, or given name really is Belle and she wanted to use it. In 1975 the Catherine Deneuve film, Belle de Jour, was out in theaters and on everyone's minds because of its scandalous story line about a "good" woman who, motivated by her curiosity, her persona) fantasies. and a desire for some extra cash, goes to work at a bordello. In French, Belle de Jour literally means "girl of the day," or "beauty of the day."

Though Deneuve's portrayal of a submissive prostitute was completely contrary to what Belle was pondering, the name was catchy, nonetheless, and she adopted it. For her first few professional sessions Belle worked with Natasha, the ex-Broadway dancer and salon client. This was up on W. 68th St. It wasn't long though before Belle was advertising in Screw magazine and working out of her own place. Her first dungeon was a modest but very private, single room facility near the corner of University and 13th Street

. Sensible business woman that she is. Belle kept her rent commitment small until she acquired adequate SM ecmipment and fetish costumes, and until she could gauge her success. Tilings immediately went well and her equipment and costume collection swelled. Belle's next step as a dominatrix was much bigger and bolder. She left the little space at 13th and University, and acquired the entire 10th floor of a commercial building at 6 W.18th St. She sectioned off part of the rambling loft into small dungeon rooms for private appointments, but reserved most of tile floor space as one giant common area to be used for sessions during the day and parties and SM stage performances every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday night. The room liad a hardwood floor which echoed Belle's boot heels magnificently. It had a raised stage and backdrop against one wall. It had retractable gymnasium bleacher seating against the opposite wall, for the audience of course. It also had a chain link caged area in one corner, ostensibly used to contain unruly slaves. Aside from a thriving private practice, Belle's thrice-weekly SM shows quickly became the talk of Manhattan. It was the end of the '70s, beginning of the '80s, and until then only one other person had thought of staging B&D performances for the public. At the off, off, off Broadway, Workshop Theater, on Grand St. in Soho, a professional actress named Leil Lowndes, along with her then partner, Chip , had already been performing sexual fantasy vignettes entitled "Another Way To Love," to rave reviews. Belle attended one of these performances and got the idea to create a similar show, but much more SM and fem/dom specific, more graphic, and more audience interactive. After each of her bondage and domination performances, which always included other mistresses and slaves, Belle would invite one or more members of the audience to come on stage and enact their fantasy with her. This was hugely popular with individual submissive men who came to Belle's performances religiously.

However, a surprising number of suburban couples, out-of-towners, and even other dominant mistresses came to Belle's show nights. In fact. thanks to copious media coverage from the likes of Screw and the Village Voice, even the enrollment of the drama center at New York University showed up from time to time!

The amount of press and prestige Belle garnered from her SM shows was formidable. Newspapers, magazines, and even a book, written by a Japanese author for release in Asia, established her name with both the lay public and the worldwide SM community. In the eyes of submissive men, Belle gained unequaled status. We did several photo-illustrated features on Belle ourselves, back in the early '80s. She appeared in Fantasy Register. Stiletto and in the first few issues of DDI. In fact, most of the photos that accompany this profile were taken by our publisher around that time.

As anyone who knows her can tell you. Belle never rests on her laurels.

With the success of her 18th St. studio, Belle opened another SM chamber on 21st St., between 6th and 7th avenues. It was named Leather Ladies and run by a fellow? named Angelo. This studio lasted for quite a few years, though autonomous from Belle herself. Towards the late '80s Belle gave up the 10th floor at W. 18th St. and moved her dungeon and performance activities to a much smaller building at 192 3rd Ave. There she built a cramped, horseshoe-shaped theater and continued her popular performances. She also set up additional private playrooms for B&D sessions, just like at her last place. It was an interesting space. You walked in from behind and underneath the raised, purpose-built seating structure to get to the mini theater. It was like entering a sports stadium, only kinky. The performances were up to Belle's usual erotic best. In fact, it's on these slave-built sets and stages that many of her admirers really got to know her. She's a rather private person in most ways, but on stage, with her boots polished and her whip in hand, she was bigger than life! Lots of submissive men served and suffered for Belle in private sessions, but many more applauded her from the seats of her makeshift theaters. Belle's 3rd Ave. studio prospered for several years, but eventually closed in the mid '90s after a fire of unknown origin did serious damage to its interior. She still owned her cosmetology enterprise, she had diversified SM scene business interests around town, and she had responsibilities of a restaurant and she had recently opened. Despite a genuine love for the B&D, fetish and scenes on a personal level, her growing list of commitments occupied most of her time and she realized how little time was left for her devoted slaves. In the mid-'90s Belle de Jour went into semi-retirement as a professional dominatrix..

Is Belle de Jour still working? Is Belle de Jour still into the scene? These are the kinds of letters we get regularly at our DDI editorial office, asking after this trail blazing New York domina. The best way we can answer these queries is to say that Belle officially retired as a working professional dominatrix about seven years ago. This is not to say that she's not still involved with the business of SM and transvestitism. It's in her blood. She just no longer advertises, and as far as anyone is concerned, no longer accepts slaves for training. These days, Belle dabbles in real estate investment more than dabbing blush onto the ruddy cheeks of overly excited gentlemen.

In case any of you are skeptical about this article, particularly if you think you knew Belle or served Belle during her heyday in the SM scene, let us forewarn you. What we have written here, and how we have written it, is all quite deliberate. Lest you feel we've left things out of her professional chronology, or neglected to emphasize specific dates, names or places, we have not. First of all, we talked with Belle before wanting this about her. We reconfirmed use of her photos and we checked our facts carefully. If this article is not as exact as you think it should be, that is Belle's wish. As we indicated before, she is a rather private person. As Belle de Jour she was, and is, beloved by a multitude of submissive men. Two of the adjectives most often used about her are "warmth" and "sophistication." We agree completely. But don't forget what we said when we began this article. Belle is a very shrewd woman. She's happy for us to mention that she effectively invented semi-explicit, live dungeon performances on a public level in New York.

She's flattered that so many of our readers remember her and want to know what she's up to. She's also proud that after so many years of involvement in professional B&D, her personal interest in the erotic arts of SM, fetishism, bondage, domination and transvestitism is unwavering. What Belle will not tolerate is an expose, divulging facts about her that she prefers to keep private. The very discretion that endeared so many sumbissive men to her over the years is the same discretion that she wields in this article, regarding her own affairs. As always, Belle continues to reside in New York City. She also has a summer home out on Long Island and various business properties she manages in Manhattan. As we said, lately she remains incredibly busy with real estate dealings. The first time our publisher met Belle was at a mid-town Manhattan coffee shop on a cold, wet afternoon. It was around 1982. She walked in wearing a black leather, double-breasted jacket, black leather trousers tucked into black leather, studded knee boots, a black leather brimmed hat and black kid gloves. There was a short whip in her black leather purse. They were meeting for lunch before going over to W.18th St. (10th floor) for a photo session. She wasbwell mannered, genuinely pleased to make his acquaintance, and undeniably in charge of the conversation, whether our publisher liked it or not.

Nothing, whatsoever, has changed about Belle. Not then. Not now.


Philosophy of Dominance

by the late Mistress Charlene Deering

Many times I have been asked why I want to dominate and train submissives. I have given it a great deal of thought, besides reading various theories. I know the desire to dominate has been within me since I was very young. Until I reached a certain age, I thought I was the only one who felt this way. When I discovered other people like me, I jumped into it wholeheartedly. I met my first slave in 1974,1 still see him occasionally. He is an errand slave. At the time, I still didn't realize why I was doing what I was doing, I just knew it was me. I discovered the contact magazines, ran ads and experimented with the people I met. I tried out anything I read about, within reason. Then I tried my own ideas. I discovered so many facets to myself. Most importantly, I discovered that dominating people made me feel complete. Yes, it is a sense of power to me. But it is also fulfillment. I knew a long time ago that I was different from the other dominants in this country. One thing, sex has never been the focal point for me.

Most of the time, I had a female lover who was not a submissive, while I trained male slaves. I did not use slaves for my sexual outlet. My choice to live two separate lives was not altogether wise. I could not get complete fulfillment with my lovers because my needs to dominate were too strong. Of course this caused problems of all types. I tried to compromise by giving in to my lovers, but that didn't help. In 1982 I ended my last non-S/M relationship with a woman. Since that time, I have continued training male slaves. I have also attempted to find a female who could be both my slave and my lover; I came to the conclusion that this is the only type relationship that would work for me. I looked into the lesbian S/M scene and found that it was not what I wanted. The lack of femininity didn't agree with my tastes. Also, the lesbian groups seem to be anti-scene. I have a more traditional, feminine approach and this is what I wanted in a relationship. My male slaves could never fulfill my needs. Those who knew me well understood this and tried to help me find a female slave. I met a sometimes on loan from a husband or lover, but most of them were still interested in men, this was not what I wanted. I started a relationship with a woman in 1983. We started out as equals. However, I soon found I could no longer maintain a non-S/M relationship with a woman. I began to dominate her. She took to it and her behavior adjusted. But it wasn't enough. She proved uncontrollable unless kept in chains at all times. This wasn't practical, so it ended. I continued training my male slaves while looking for another female slave. Several short-term arrangements followed. I have recently acquired a female slave. In the process of working with her, I have had time to do a good deal of thinking. I know my decision to combine my two lifestyles was the right one. I have also found that the sense of power and fulfillment is still there, but I have now found dominance to be a sexual turn-on.

This is a surprise to me because I had always denied the possibility in the past. I believe that most of the problems in a S/M relationship are caused because the dominant half tries to fulfill the dominant role at all times. This gets tedious very quickly. Someone who is comfortable with her dominance isn't afraid to be human. I don't feel the need to constantly prove I am dominant, I know I am. The idea that the slave's life must be constantly difficult, unfair and one-sided is ridiculous. If a dominant wants respect, fear and love from her slave, she must inspire it. Like any other kind of relationship, it takes a lot of work from both parties. If either stops trying, the relationship is no longer nourished and soon dies. Keeping someone against his/her will is OK for a fantasy, but it doesn't work in real life. A successful S/M relationship is a combination of both parties' expectations and needs. If compatibility exists, the relationship will work as much as the effort that is put into it. Hopefully, the one I have begun will be a success.

Femina Society School

MsCharlene02.jpg
From The Chatt
No. 11, 1994

The late , Mistress Charlene Deering, more photos at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LegendsofDominance

Femina Society School

i am a Branch Worker Trainee of the Femina Society and would like to tell you a little about what this entails and my training. Let me say right off that as a submissive male i am happier now than i have ever been in my life, because i have been lucky enough to find this opportunity to become a useful servant to Feminine Authority.

Not that serving a Femina Society Domina and the Society is easy. i am receiving postal training that is rigorous and thorough. One of the first things i learned is A SLAVE HAS NO FREE TIME, FREE TIME IS FOR FREE PEOPLE AND SLAVES ARE NOT FREE.

All my time belongs to my Owner/Instructress and through Her the Femina Society.

Part of my training is in sensual servitude and in this respect it is all i could ask for. Besides the sensual lesson tapes i receive, i am constantly instructed to do erotic writing assignments that give free rein to my fantasies. Topics have included giving my Mistress an extremely erotic massage (10 pages worth), worshipping Her feet, serving Her in the bathroom and many others, i have been given lessons in humility and taught the Femina Society's 12 positions of respect, so i will know how to behave properly when i am given the reward of being allowed to serve a Domina in person. This, however, is only part of my training, a necessary but not the most important part.

Another aspect of my training is the serious study of Female Supremacy; why it is natural, why it is right and why it is necessary. For example, i am currently working on a Center For Matriarchal Studies Summer Study Project. To complete this project i must read and report on three books. Not fuck books; but serious studies on the natural Superiority of Women, the origins of human society as a Matriarchy and how the patriarchy has unnaturally reversed the roles of the sexes and oppresses Women. Another topic of study in this project is male violence in this society and against Women in particular. Also included are lessons in honesty, loyalty and how to be a proper and pleasing servant; which means learning to do useful work and serve only to please the Mistress effacing my own wants and desires. As you can see this is serious, all encompassing education.

i am also being trained in networking to promote the growth of the Femina Society and to spread the Society's goal of Female Supremacy. In order to describe this training i need to describe the nature and structure of the Femina Society. The Femina Society is a Sisterhood dedicated to reestablishing Women in Their rightful place in the world, that is as Rulers of society and men. Men are allowed to participate in the Society only as students, servants and workers.

WOMEN ARE CATERED TO, MAKE ALL THE DECISIONS AND HAVE ALL THE RIGHTS; MALES HAVE NO RIGHTS BUT SIMPLY SERVE, OBEY AND CARRY OUT ASSIGNED TASKS. The Femina Society is definitely not a sex club and males who only want to have their fantasies fulfilled have no place in it. Submission to Feminine Authority is serious business and requires a serious attitude, i have a saying that applies, "if it was fun and easy they wouldn't call it work"; and being a servant is work and not always fun. Structurally the Society consists of the Mother Chapter, Sister Chapters and Associate Branches. Located in New England The Mother Chapter, under the leadership of the Foundress, Ms. C., organizes all facets of the Femina Society work.

Education is carried out through the School for Servants and the Center for Matriarchal Studies. Networking is carried out by communication with Sister Chapters, Associate Branches, other non-member Dominas, mailing projects and advertising. The Mother Chapter is the final authority in all matters concerning the Society, especially membership, but works closely with Sister Chapters.

Sister Chapters are established under die auspices of a Chapter Leader, a Domina Who wishes to promote the teachings and goals of the Femina Society in Her geographical area. In the Society hierarchy a Chapter Leader is second only to Ms. C., but is considered a partner not a subordinate. The activities of a Sister Chapter mirror those of the Mother Chapter.

This brings us to Associate Branches, which is where i enter the picture. A Branch exists where tliere is a worker or trainee but as yet no Domina has stepped forward to become a Chapter Leader. It is the duty of a Branch worker to conduct networking through mailings, advertising and in person work to promote the growth of the Society. Branch workers are assigned to the Mother Chapter and receive instruction and supervision from it. This letter is an assignment; i would never undertake anything like this without permission and direction from a Domina/Instructress. The goal of a branch is to become a Sister Chapter and i very much look forward to the day when this goal is accomplished. In conclusion, whether you are a submissive male who wants to surrender to Feminine Authority in all aspects of your life or if You are a Woman who wants to work toward the rule of Women in a Matriarchal society (either as a Domina or as a Handmaiden who serves other Women, but no Woman in the Society ever serves males in any way), i urge you to consider the Femina Society as the place where you may fulfill yourself and advance your goals.

The male will find a life of useful servitude (which is the reward he seeks) and the Woman will find a Sisterhood that offers both a shared vision and practical support for Her lifestyle.

A dedicated Femina Society worker.

See also Fifty Rules

--Compiled by Mistress Michelle & slave english

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