While they have performed on some of the biggest stages in burlesque — from Philadelphia to Switzerland, Texas, Vienna, and all over North America — Holly Von Sinn is all about Edmonton and their little burlesque troupe on the prairie. As they stare down a 15-year career in this business of tease, Sinn is putting together a birthday bash featuring some of the best Edmonton talents, from up-and-coming acts to legends like the 75-year-old Judith Stein. The goal here for Sinn is to showcase everything they love about this art, which they hope to help foster and grow sustainably and safely within our northern city.
Regrettably, I’m something of a burlesque virgin. I’ve never been to a show, I have never met a performer (until now), and I’ve never even seen the movie Burlesque. Thankfully, Sinn is a great burlesque historian and was kind enough to share some of their insights about this subculture. “It’s not vaudeville, cabaret,” they say. “It’s not heels dancing… and no shade on any of these.” To them, Burlesque is a broad form of expression that is tied to stripping culture, queer culture and sex work.
“Burlesque is queer, historically,” Sinn says. “Drag and burlesque basically came up together in a lot of spaces and were deeply interlinked.” Looking at it today, it makes sense. From the makeup, the glamour, the dramatic and theatrical moves, and the use of sexuality and gender, it’s clear that these art forms have much in common. But drag has been making headlines a lot lately, whether that’s from RuPaul’s Drag Race or angry protestors outside the Edmonton Public Library. In the face of this bigotry, Sinn believes burlesque performers should work in solidarity with their drag siblings. Sinn’s goal is to create a safe escape where people of any identity can have freeing, uplifting experiences, regardless of the reactionaries. “I kind of feel like the MC in Cabaret at the end,” says Sinn. “The Nazis are outside, but we’re going to keep dancing.”
Sinn says that Burlesque can be so many things. The acts can be very sensual, sexual and intimate, but they also could be relatively chaste. Their upcoming show includes many acts from a minutia of different performers, each with their own interpretations of this art. Some may have deep political statements and stories. Some may be sweaty, steamy expressions of individuality. Others may be comedic and humorous. Sinn’s Burlesque is about uplifting people and allowing them to experience joy. It is about giving a safe space to people of oppressed identities. It is a type of escapism that isn’t avoidance but a resting place: “See some boobs, see some butts. See some beautiful humans celebrating our bodies and celebrating the joy of being alive.”
Join the burlesque birthday party May 6 at the The Starlite Room.
