Teaching at BurlyCon is more than leading a class.
For fourteen years, BurlyCon has created space for artists to step forward—not only as performers, but also as teachers, mentors, and leaders in our field.
And now, we’re thrilled to share that Presenter Applications are officially open.
Teaching at BurlyCon means more than leading a class. It means joining a lineage of educators who have shaped conversations, refined technique, documented history, and challenged the industry to grow. Presenters have guided thousands of artists through choreography breakthroughs, business clarity, costume construction, embodied storytelling, creative practices, and professional sustainability.
At the same time, our classrooms have welcomed both first-time teachers and seasoned icons. They have fostered practical skill-building as well as brave, vulnerable conversations. In turn, presenters have sparked collaborations that extended far beyond the convention weekend and into lasting artistic partnerships.
What Can You Teach?
BurlyCon offers three distinct class formats, each designed to support a different kind of learning experience:
- Standard Classes: Sessions that share knowledge through lecture, discussion, or movement-based instruction. These classes span technique, performance development, costuming, business practices, and more.
- BurlyLabs: Hands-on, small-group workshops where participants learn by doing, whether building props, refining makeup skills, or developing technical craft.
- Master Ecdysiast Track (M.E.T.): Advanced or specialty offerings for experienced performers seeking depth, refinement, and sustained exploration through one- to three-part series.
Each format supports intentional teaching and plays an important role in our educational ecosystem.
Preparing Your Submission
Before you apply, we strongly recommend reviewing the Presenter Submission Guide. The guide walks you through what we’re looking for, how to frame your class goals, and how to articulate your intended audience and experience level. Drafting your materials offline first will help you refine your ideas. Impactful classes balance expertise with accessibility, and structure with flexibility.
Why Teach at BurlyCon?
BurlyCon presenters contribute to the ongoing development of burlesque as a theatrical art form. They help preserve history while pushing creativity and agency. If you have knowledge to share, a method to teach, or a perspective that can help our art form grow, we invite you to step forward.
Presenter Applications are open! We can’t wait to see what you bring to the classroom!
