2018’s Queen of Burlesque among the guests at this year’s Vancouver Interational Burlesque Festival

February 25, 2019
SC
By Shawn Conner
3 min read

The reigning Queen of Burlesque 2018 is among the featured guests at this year’s Vancouver International Burlesque Festival. Taking place at the Vancouver Playhouse (600 Hamilton St.), April 3 – 6, the festival features “dazzling dancers, naughty nerds, bawdy drag performers, and satirical stripteasers from around North America.”

Besides Inga, the first Indigenous performer to be crowned the Queen of Burlesque, VIBF also welcomes the “stripping sensation from the Mohawk Nation” Lou Lou la Duchesse de Rière (Montreal, QC). La Ducesse de Rière is currently ranked in the top 20 burlesque performers worldwide.

See what else the festival, now in its 14th year, has in store below.

Pillow (Anchorage, USA)—Crowned Miss Exotic World 1995, Pillow’s career began in 1976. She was a pioneering force in the development of women’s bodybuilding in the early 1980s and earned the titles Miss Alaska Physique in 1981 and the Gold’s Classic Women’s Champion in 1983.

“Acrobatic stocking peels, rock and roll fan dances as well as an erotic performance tribute to Harry Potter” aer among other treats scheduled for this year’s festival. The emphasis is on celebrating “all forms of sexuality on our stage” and presenting “performers who reflect the people living in this dynamic city,” says VIBF President, Sparkle Plenty.

“Representation is important, and seeing someone like yourself on stage creates a sense of belonging, proving that sexiness transcends size, age, race, and more. Every body is a burlesque body!”

Inga performs at the 2019 Vancouver International Burlesque Festival. Max Shaw photo.

This year’s burlesque fest includes:

TIT Talks (Teach. Inspire. Transcend) (April 4, Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art, 639 Hornby St.)—The VIBF’s take on Ted Talks, this is described as “an intimate evening… presented by esteemed performers, academics, and producers.”

The Showpony Soiree (April 5, Vancouver Playhouse)—Headliners include Inga and Lou Lou la Duchesse de Rière.

The Glamorama Gala (April 6, Vancouver Playhouse)—Inga, la Duchesse de Rière, and Pillow are featured, along with local burlesque performers. Fancy or at least out-there dress is encouraged.

For individual tickets and weekend passes visit vibf.ca/tickets. Learn more about the VIBF at vibf.ca.

Vancouver International Burlesque Festival
Queen of Burlesque 2018
Inga
Lou Lou la Duchesse de Rière
burlesque performers
Vancouver Playhouse
burlesque festival 2019