The Isle of Tease Burlesque Festival celebrates the variety and history of burlesque while showcasing the diverse backgrounds of burlesque performers.
Event co-producer Champagne Sparkles—also the co-founder of Victoria’s popular Cheesecake Burlesque Review, celebrating 18 years of being a burlesque troupe this March—says that what the Cheesecakes do is only part of what burlesque is capable of, which is where the Isle of Tease comes into play.
“Burlesque is much broader than what [Cheesecake Burlesque] puts on as a troupe,” says Sparkles. “We kind of have our style and perspective. Burlesque is a very diverse art form.”
One of the misconceptions in mainstream burlesque, Sparkles points out, is the belief that it’s only classic burlesque corsets, boas, feathered bands, and sparkles. While that remains part of burlesque, performers come from a diverse range of backgrounds, use different music, or base their art on political messages, which is all presented at Isle of Tease, as are acts that are full of dancing and fun energy.
“We definitely want to take people on a really good adventure in the festival and showcase what burlesque is across the spectrum,” says Sparkles.
In addition to diversity of performance styles, Isle of Tease showcases diversity in artists. It highlights performers from the BIPOC, 2SLGBTQIA+, disabled, and other marginalized communities; there’s also a strong focus in showing how burlesque is for all backgrounds and interests. And ages: Burlesque Hall of Fame inductee Lorna Legend, who is 80 years old, is one of the headliners and will be performing both nights and giving a talk on her life as a performer. (Afro-Indigenous performer from the Mohawk territory of Kahnawake, Quebec Lou Lou la Dechesse de Rière and burlesque education convention BurlyCon executive director Iva Handful are also headlining.)
“We get to hear about what burlesque was like in the ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s, [and] ‘80s, and hear about some of what the burlesque legends got up to; some pretty great adventures,” says Sparkles about Legend. “And they also faced a lot of challenges, a lot of stigma with this type of performance.”
Being in Canada we don’t see as many international acts; being on an island lessens the number even further. That’s why Isle of Tease tries to bring in as many performers with diverse styles, backgrounds, and ages as possible. Isle of Tease also gives locals an opportunity to mingle and connect with performers from across Canada and the US.
Sparkles encourages everyone, whether they’re familiar with burlesque or not, to escape the dreary January weather and head down to the festival.
“We will challenge you,” says Sparkles, “and you will get to see things that you never knew existed.”
Isle of Tease Burlesque Festival
Various times,
Thursday, January 25 to Saturday, January 27
Various prices and venues
isleoftease.com