Sat 3/30 @ 8:30PM
Twenty years ago, a young Mexican immigrant who had moved to northeast Ohio from Denver made her first tentative steps toward creating what’s become an expansive, thriving burlesque scene in this area. The performer/producer known as Bella Sin founded her troupe, La Femme Mystique, to put on shows in various local venues. At the time, several small groups were dabbling in burlesque; most have fallen by the wayside.
But Bella’s group, now called Cleveland Burlesque, is now at the forefront of a scene so event- and talent-packed that it’s earned itself and its creator a national reputation. In 2011, Bella founded the Ohio Burlesque Festival, which has taken place every August (with a pandemic break) at the Beachland Ballroom and grown from a one-evening showcase of mostly regional performers into a three-night event with upwards of 70 artists from across the country and even overseas. Themed shows throughout the year are often sell-outs, and through her burlesque school and giving novices the chance to perform, Bella has helped to build a pool of professional-level local performers. In addition, over the years, she has used her company and her shows to support numerous charities, especially those serving the Hispanic and LGBTQ+ communities. She’s been a leader in advocating for immigrants and reproductive rights and has received numerous citations for her work from the City of Cleveland.
All this year Cleveland Burlesque is celebrating its 20th anniversary, with shows such as its upcoming Nouveau Decadence, again taking place at its home base, the Beachland Ballroom. As usual, you can expect to see acts representing the full range of neo-burlesque: glamour, humor, thoughtful storytelling, spectacular costumes and special effects, acrobatic moves and more. Performers include Lola Loveletter, Empress Dupree, Monica Mod, Jade X Cvny, A Girl Named Jack, Ruby Rabbit, Cha Cha Nova, Rose Faluda and of course Sin herself, as well as debut performances by students of the Cleveland Burlesque Academy. Many are frequent performers on these shows but you can typically expect to see brand-new acts from these creative artists each time they hit the Beachland stage.
VIP and reserved tickets are already sold out, as is often the case: these loyal fans know a good thing and snap them up. But there are still (as of this writing) general admission tickets, and there are almost always a few available at the door. Go here for tickets
For more information on Cleveland Burlesque go to ohioburlesque.com.