It's the biggest underground arts and entertainment event of the year! If you have not heard about it yet, overcome your shock! Be not flabbergasted! Vancouver's best kept secret festival, the Vancouver International Burlesque Festival begins April 24th to unleash a 10 day extravaganza of entertainment stretching all the way to May 4th!
This is the third year that this fledgling festival takes to the stage. The dramatic difference is that after only two years, the Vancouver International Burlesque Festival has veritably exploded into a multi-venue, multi-production smorgasbord complete with workshops, karaoke, discussions, forums and movie screenings!
The multitude of productions includes foremost performers from Vancouver's vast and ever evolving burlesque scene. It begins with Burlesque Between Worlds, a show featuring 3 of Vancouver's busiest troupes: Sweet Soul Burlesque, Cross'd Lovers & The Starlet Harlots. In true variety form, colorful community collaborations manifest in shows such Pink Flamingo Burlesque and Kitty Nights VOX which bring you dazzling dancers, knee-slappin' laughs and incredible live musicians all at once. The Banquet of Broads is also not to be missed as burlesque flirts with modern pole dancing, belly dancing and aerial silk performance! A fresh theatrical production takes the stage at the Anza entitled "By the Seat of Our Panties" by Vancouver's trailblazing Screaming Chicken Theatrical Society and internationally renowned musical sex-comedy duo the Wet Spots.
In addition, performers from exotic locales such as the Victoria's Cheesecake Burlesque Revue, Saskatoon's Rosebud Burlesque Club and Seattle's Miss Indigo Blue will shimmy across Vancouver's sequin and glitter spangled stages in shows such as Evil Bastard's International Showcase! The full festival program is online. Finally, the festival comes to a climax with the exclusive VIBF Red Carpet Gala with all the glamour of the Oscars but only a fraction of the class.
Did we mention also the many workshops, discussion forum and lecture by UBC professor Becki Ross regarding the history of striptease in Vancouver? Yes, there's indeed something for everyone!
Last year's festival brought out thousands of audience veterans and newbies to the burlesque scene. This year, record-breaking numbers are expected due to the overwhelming explosion of the burlesque movement worldwide.
This is an arts event not to be missed—you are invited with welcoming whispers to come celebrate with Vancouver's unique and soon-to-be fully roaring-in-celebration burlesque scene!
The 3rd Annual Vancouver International Burlesque Festival
Brought to you by the Vancouver International Burlesque Festival Alliance
April 24th to May 4th, 2008
Various Venues and Showtimes Throughout the City
