Thu 8/10-Sat 8/12
The Ohio International Burlesque Fest, which started as a modest one-day event back in 2011, has grown into a sold-out three-day extravaganza at the Beachland Ballroom, with afterparties, classes and a luncheon to wrap things up for the performers still in town. And those performers — 71 strong — hailed from across the country, Canada, Puerto Rico and Japan, as well as northeast Ohio, whose local talent can stand with the best of them. (A few locals subbed or scheduled out-of-towners who couldn’t make it and you would hardly have known the difference.) How to pick out the best acts? You really couldn’t because the diversity and creativity was off the charts all three nights. Whether you liked glamor, comedy, the grotesque, ballet, acrobatics, drag, torch singing, clever skits, extravagant costuming, political statements, it was all there.
All of this is thanks to the tireless entrepreneur Bella Sin, who founded and produces the festival with a growing team. She is also one of the area’s top performers, easily earning the title of Cleveland’s Burlesque Queen (She was one of Friday’s headliners.) If you missed it, you need to check out one of the themed shows she and her Cleveland Burlesque team present at the Beachland between festivals. The next is September 15 and will feature performers of Latin heritage, which includes Bella, a proud Mexican.
View the 8/10 PHOTOSTREAM here.
View the 8/11 PHOTOSTREAM here.
View the 8/12 PHOTOSTREAM here.
Cleveland, OH 44110