Performing for decades and landing in the Victoria scene in 2023, Serra Moanie is no stranger to burlesque and performance arts.
“I have been a lifelong theatre brat starting at age five,” says Moanie, “all through high school and even pursued it post-secondary for a while.”
While many local legends have curated their own ways of performing, some also give back and teach others to celebrate their bodies and spirits and to live in harmony and joy within performance. Mx. Moanie learned the sultry art of tease from local powerhouse performer Rosie Bitts.
“After leaving a particularly chaotic relationship, moving to Victoria I chose to take Rosie Bitts’ burlesque course. I fell in love with burlesque, [reclaiming] my body, self-love, and [I] fell in love with the stage again.”
One of Moanie’s favourite moments during their career has been performing a burlesque interpretation of McKenna’s Theory of Evolution.
“I perform in a monkey mask and evolve from a full monkey to a business person during a psychedelic trip,” says Moanie. (Which could lead to the question: what came first, the chicken or the monkey?)
While stepping back into the stage light, the personal journey continued. Another star was born. Lincoln Sparks came to life as an upbeat, masculine embodiment. Shimmying his way into the drag scene, Sparks is self-described as a devilish dirtbag that only the angsty ‘90s kids would understand. Moanie/Sparks wants to bring a “very powerful and ceremonial” purpose to the burlesque/draglesque numbers and give space to breathe, start to finish.
“I want my audience to feel a whole range of emotions and connect with the acts as a journey often on themes that are deep,” they say. “Medicine bundles, if you will.”
As a genderfluid two-spirit person, performance on both spectrum ends has given them space to grow and understand themselves fully.
“Those parts are very much integrated into my daily life,” they say. “It has allowed me to express the full 2S spectrum and find more masculine styles that I love and have adopted into my daily wear.”
While balancing all things in a community, there stems a deep love of being present, giving back, and supporting a home life.
“I love the community very much; as a solo parent, my times for coming out and being involved is limited,” they say, “but it’s very cup filling when I can come out either to perform or take in a show.”
Looking to the future, there are some hopes and changes that Mx. Moanie hopes to see through Victoria and the performance venues as a whole.
“[I’d like to see] a fully accessible performance venue for both the drag and burlesque community to thrive… [and] furthering of accessibility at shows and showcasing folx from marginalized communities.”
In 2015, the City of Victoria established the Accessibility Working Group, but has been slow to get the approval of funding needed to carry out plans. If successful, this could provide a whole range of opportunities to increase revenue for venues. Accessibility ensures that everyone can partake in viewing the massive art and performance scene, and have it also be attainable for performers themselves.
“It’s something we have been pushing forward as a community,” says Moanie, “it’s my intention to continue to educate myself on what that looks like and how I can co-create safer spaces for my intersectional community.”
Find @serramoanie, @lincolnspark.drag, and @imaginal.cabaret on Instagram for more information.