Thu 7/30-Sat 8/1
In 2011, the idea of creating a major burlesque in Cleveland seemed like a tall order. And it probably would have been — to anyone but Bella Sin.
Sin is the dynamo who founded northeast Ohio’s longest-running burlesque troupe, Le Femme Mystique, 11 years ago, mentoring several generations of area burlesque entertainers. As she was doing so, the neo-burlesque movement was growing, with cities across the country spawning troupes and festivals.
The first Ohio Burlesque Festival in 2011 at the Beaçhland Ballroom was a success, and it’s continued to grow each year. For its fifth year, it’s expanded to three days for the first time (all at the Beachland) with the theme “Harmony Through Diversity.”
It’ll feature more than 70 performers from all over the country, doing old- and new-school burlesque, comedic, romantic and artistic routines, acrobatic and pole acts, drag queens and variety acts of all kinds. There’s singing, there’s dancing, there’s aerial tricks. And the performers come in all colors, shapes and sizes — a particular passion of Sin’s.
Because the festival has established its reputation for quality, it had its pick of acts.
“The growth of the festival has been magnificent,” says Sin. “We had about 120 applications in past years. This year we had 200 applications and we accepted 70. People want to come here, to be in Cleveland, to perform at the legendary Beachland Ballroom. We faced a bit of adversity when one headliner wasn’t able to make it here; but we were able to find a replacement — the Maine Attraction [pictured above] who was in the Tony Bennett/Lady Gaga PBS performance.”
She’ll headline on Saturday, along with Las Vegas’ Aya Fontaine. Friday’s show will feature Minnesota’s Foxy Tann, along with NYC”s Dangrrr Doll, Chicago’s Bazooka Joe, and Sin herself as headliners. Both shows are packed with stars — including, says Sin, a number of Clevelanders now living in other cities who wanted to come back and perform for the hometown crowd.
She says she’s really excited about Thursday’s show.
“Thursday is a rock and roll opener,” she says. “Every performer in the show is up-and-coming. They are people who are being watched in the burlesque world because they are doing things other people aren’t doing. They’re the new ones. They’ve all been performing for under 5 years and are noted for their style and class and for doing things that are different. It’s a variety of people just starting to get the attention of burlesque world. They are people you can expect anything from.”
“They’re funner to watch because you can expect anything from them and you’ve never seen them before,” she adds. “It’s their first festival, it’s their first experience in Cleveland. I’m very excited to see that show. It eases you into the festival, helps you get into the groove of things.”
Friday, says Sin, is the all-stars.
“Those are people in the burlesque world that we like to think are the ones who give no fucks,” she says. “They take chances, they take risks, they truly know who they are as a person and a performer. The whole show is nonstop. The numbers, the costumes are breathtaking. You’re really seeing the mission of burlesque itself and what its future is holding — from striping polar bears to beautiful, elegant, expressive modern dance numbers, to drag that is totally different, taking gender-bending to a whole new level.”
Saturday’s show will be packed from beginning to end, the longest show the Ohio Burlesque Festival has staged.
“We have everything from interpretive dance to singing, stripping, fan dancing, drag, boy-lesque, sideshow artists, to good old school burlesque and very sensual burlesque, sideshow artists. We have a male belly dancer. If you’ve never been to a burlesque show before that’s the one you want to see. It’s definitely geared to the person who has not seen burlesque before. It’s a fun night. I can’t explain what a burlesque show is to you until you come see it.”
Sin is particularly proud of the fact that each year’s festival is a charity fundraiser, the only festival in the country that is, she claims. This year’s charity of choice is Dare2Care, an anti-bullying advocacy group. The festival also includes an afterparty each night at Aura Ultralounge. Thursday’s is a fundraiser to help cover the costs of the rescheduled Pride Festival, for which Sin is a longtime volunteer. Friday’s and Saturday’s will benefit Dare2Care.
“Our celebration this year is a special one,” says Sin. “We started at a bad time in my life and burlesque’s life in Cleveland when I thought it would not survive. Five years later, it’s still happening. When we accepted the proclamation from Mayor Jackson, there was not one person there with us did not cry. Hard work and dedication pay off.”
They have indeed for Sin and her troupe. The festival shows sell out, so if you want to snag a ticket, do it now. They’re $20 per night in advance, $25 at the door if any are left.
For the full lineup, sponsor list (all local small businesses which will have tables at the shows) and ticket information, go here.