It isn’t all Christina Aguilera and Cher singing “Show Me How You Burlesque” in sequined costumes. It’s a form of art.
Well, maybe it’s a little about the sequins and singing as Ottawa’s first ever Burlesque Festival debuts this weekend with an exceptionally diverse roster of performers.
“There’s a hint of what you see in movies actually in the real thing,” said James Demjan, festival co-founder.
But movies like Burlesque (2010) and even further back to Moulin Rouge (2001) are a driving force behind reducing the stigma surrounding the sultry performance by putting it front and center in a big Hollywood production. Now with suburban moms signing up for pole dancing 101 fitness classes, you’d think we’ve reached a common acceptance of the art – but that’s not always the case.
“Burlesque is not stripping, there’s no full nudity,” stressed Demjan. In fact, the festival aims to promote quite the opposite. It’s a celebration of self-confidence, regardless of body type or identity. It’s the freedom to express yourself through an art form that makes you feel sexy in your own skin.
Demjan acknowledges that all this exposure has popularized burlesque into one of the hottest entertainment crazes, but it’s still an uphill battle.
“It’s a show that you wouldn’t necessarily expect in Ottawa, but people will embrace it once they see it for themselves,” he said. “All other major cities already have them.”
The festival came to fruition after a chance encounter he had with Miss Helvetica Bold, a veteran burlesque performer and founder of Ottawa’s longest standing burlesque troupe – Rockalily. The pair bonded over their love of the performing art. Combining Demjam’s “sports and entertainment hospitality” skills (He’s General Manager of Stonebridge Golf Club) with her insider knowledge was the obvious next step in their partnership.
Six out of the existing eight burlesque troupes in Ottawa will be making an appearance this weekend, including Rockalily. A panel of judges, including Demjan and Miss Helvetica, sat through hours of audition tapes and handpicked the 60 performers from around the world who will take the stage this weekend.
Being the first festival of its kind in Ottawa, at least half of the performers are homegrown local talent. The other half were chosen on an international scale, including special celebrity guests who will be headlining one of the three shows: Scarlett James (Montreal), Sydni Deveraux (New York City), and World Famous *BOB* (New York City).
“This is art, it’s just a different from of it.”
So if you’re 19 or 50, there’s a show time for you because you don’t want to miss Ottawa’s first Burlesque Festival.
Catch the late show, The Dark Side of the Merkin, on Friday, Sept. 19 at Gladstone Theatre at 10 p.m. Or the evening show, Opulence and Oddities, on Saturday, Sept. 20 at Bronson Centre at 6 p.m., but don’t stop there. The Ottawa Burlesque Festival is a Nuit Blanche host, so hit the streets and keep on partying all night long. The weekend wraps up on Sunday, Sept. 21 with Sinners’ Brunch at Café Nostalgica at 12 p.m.
For more information, follow Ottawa Burlesque Festival on Facebook and Twitter. Pick up your tickets here.
