We recently connected with Minda Mae and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Minda, thanks for joining us today. Has your work ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized?

When I started burlesque in 2018, I performed walking, often in high heels. You wouldn’t know by looking at me that I was disabled. I started burlesque as a way to get my confidence back and have a creative outlet. Over the next year, my body started taking a turn. I have fibromyalgia and Ehler’s Danlos Hypermobility Disorder. My body was literally falling apart. I could no longer wear heels, so I switched to wheels!

Using a wheelchair doesn’t limit me at all – it gives me freedom. Freedom to leave the house, and freedom to dance. The only problem is that people don’t always see a confident, outgoing, happy dancer – they see someone who is “wheelchair bound”, unable to do things on their own, and someone who is “brave” for leaving the house, let alone dancing.

I enjoy proving them wrong! Not only can I still be confident, and still dance, but I can do moves in my wheelchair that I could never do standing. There are so many talented performers with varying disabilities around the world, and the only thing that holds us back is the inaccessibility of venues and the assumption that we are “too much work” to book.

Assuming that disabled performers can’t be in a show for whatever reason doesn’t do anyone any good. We can decide for ourselves what shows we can and can’t be in, and can plan ahead to make our participation easier. This could mean bringing an aide to help with physical tasks like carrying our bags or getting into a costume, wearing medical devices or braces, or bringing comfort items, we’re setting ourselves, and the producers up for success. Often, all we ask for is some accessibility information ahead of time.

We #DisabiliBabes would love more stage time – not just to perform, but to crush any preconceived judgments folks may have about people with disabilities – both on stage and off.

(To see some amazing disabled performers from around the world, visit www.DisabiliTeaseFestival.com to watch our 2020-2022 virtual festivals!)

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am 40 years old and live in Minneapolis with my lab mix, Willow. I am a photographer, graphic/web designer, disability advocate, and burlesque performer, who is disabled and an ambulatory wheelchair user. I am also the founder of the DisabiliTease Festival and DisabiliTease Academy, both geared towards burlesque, drag, cirque, and cabaret performers with disabilities and their allies.

Without burlesque, I wouldn’t have such an amazing community of friends and supporters, or the passion to make this industry, and everyday life, more accessible.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My mission is to support, uplift, and create accessible spaces for performers and instructors with disabilities. There aren’t many spaces or services available to people like me, so I decided to create the DisabiliTease Festival and DisabiliTease Academy. Both provide programming that benefits those who might not be able to perform in local venues or attend traditional movement and performance arts courses due to physical, financial, or transportation constraints. Each performer, instructor, and student brings their own lived experiences, background, and viewpoints. Representation in performance and learning settings can be life-changing.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

In addition to going from heels to wheels, I’ve also had to deal with many other medical issues – both with my physical and mental health. In spite of these, I have found ways to continue my work and enjoy my life. Although my life looks completely different than it did even 5 years ago, having these spaces, and the people that are in them with me, are things I am immensely grateful for.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mindamae.com
• Instagram: @MindaMaeBurlesque
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/MindaMaeBurlesque

Image Credits
Andrea Baue, Emmerlee Sherman, Mikhayl Dominguez Fotografia, Upper Boundary Photography