We recently connected with Burly Bluffs and have shared our conversation below.
Burly, appreciate you joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
We (Mona & GG – co-founders/producers of Burly Bluffs) both have backgrounds in the performing arts (dance, music, theater) so transitioning into burlesque became a natural pursuit being that there is quite a bit of cross-over/community between dance artists and drag artists in the Twin Cities. We were both part of a production entitled “Holy Doña” – a creation by Minneapolis-based Venezuelan dance artist Pedra Pepa – in 2019 that incorporated burlesque into the performance. We began networking with other local performers and then both took our show at “Nudie Nubies”, a monthly amateur burlesque show at The Black Hart of St Paul – the longest running amateur burlesque show in the country! – and we immediately felt supported by everyone involved. During the pandemic, we decided to begin producing our own shows with a focus on serving areas outside of the Twin Cities (such as Rochester and Winona) to bring burlesque to new places. We had to wait a little while to get officially get started, but it was worth the wait!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Burly Bluffs, LLC is an organization (est. 2022) driven to bring Queer-centered, body-positive, anti-oppressive burlesque performance experiences to the Driftless region(s) of Minnesota and beyond. Our collective includes internationally recognized burlesque artists as well as newer performers with various backgrounds in dance, theater, drag, pole, circus arts, festival arts, comedy, music, visual art, healing arts, visual arts, writing and photography.
Performers are invited to showcase a variety of acts influenced by varied and eclectic movement practices, subcultures, themes, theatrical genres, music, costuming, personal storytelling, lineage celebration, etc. Every show has a different theme and performers are invited to interpret the theme how they see fit.
We have worked with an incredibly diverse group of human beings from Minnesota, South Dakota, Las Vegas, Chicago and beyond. It is important to us that burlesque is represented through an equitable lens; we work to create performances that include performers from all backgrounds and identities. We are passionate about compensating the talent we work with well, ensuring safe spaces both on stage and back stage.
Our audiences are equally as diverse and we’ve witnessed generations of LGBTQ2QIA+ folx share space with generations of allies; all celebrating the excitement of this art form in live performance. We’ve been told by venue owners that our fan-base is one of the most mindful and respectful crowds they’ve witnessed, making the shows even more enjoyable for them as our tech support.
We are most proud of the ways we hold ourselves accountable, continuing to grow and adjust, as needed. As able-bodied individuals moving through the world in white bodies, we recognize our privilege to art access. Thus, we continue to educate ourselves about all the ways we can make space for others – our performers, volunteer, venue partners and audience members – and find the best ways to celebrate each individual to the best of our ability.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
We want to create safe spaces for queer community, BIPOC, disabled individuals and otherwise oppressed peoples. Burlesque is a liberating art form – for performers and onlookers alike – and is meant to create a fantasy of escape. We believe this art is a type of protest – against any system that holds power over the lives of others. There is so much joy in this process of producing and performing – we hope to continue building this joy.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
It would be wonderful to see more awareness about the arts in society, as a whole, so that we could collectively design systemic change for practicing artists. Much like in other countries, this could look like an official registration system where an artist can declare their practice and automatically receive a living wage, health insurance, etc. Until that happens, supporting artists means attending their performances/exhibitions, purchasing/commissioning work (this can also include booking artists for large events), following/liking/sharing on social media. We need people to advocate and/or vote for more funding in the arts – whether that means our schools or local arts organizations.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/burlybluffs
- Instagram: @burlybluffs