There are seasons in an artist’s life when everything feels uncertain.
Moments when the stage feels farther away. When inspiration runs quiet. When community feels fragile or difficult to access. In these moments, continuing becomes a choice, and not always an easy one.
For Dahlia Foxx, 2025 was one of those seasons. Below is Dahlia’s reflection on how one weekend at BurlyCon shifted direction, renewed purpose, and redefined what Artistry as Agency means within personal creative work
Purpose, Community, and Returning to Self
When I attended BurlyCon 2025 I was in a period of life where I wasn’t sure if I wanted to continue performing or producing. 2025 overall was not kind to me and I felt “lost” in a sense, navigating feelings of being uninspired and unsupported by my community. By the end of the weekend, I was ready to dive back in headfirst. Not only am I part of a much larger community, I returned to my local scene with new ideas, reignited passion, and a goal to foster a tight knit community. If I had chosen to stay home in November I do not think I’d still be Dahlia Foxx, the swamp witch of NorCal.
It is so hard to choose just one (moment that stands out)! I’d say the biggest moment for me involved my group’s accidental kidnapping of Madame E (sorry!) and getting to spend time hearing not only stories from Madame E’s life, but receiving burlesque advice from the legend herself. That time on the Link will follow me for the rest of my time on Earth.
“To me, Artistry as Agency means that my art has purpose, which means that I have purpose.”
BurlyCon reminded me that my existence matters, especially now more than ever, and I have the power to leave an impact and make a change, just like those I met at BurlyCon left an impact on me. Just like BurlyCon changed me.
– Author: Dahlia Foxx (@thedahliafoxx)
Returning to the Work
Dahlia’s story reminds us that artistry does not move in a straight line. It pauses. It questions. It reaches moments when continuing feels uncertain.
And then something shifts. Community widens. Wisdom moves across generations. A single weekend reframes what feels possible.
Artistry as Agency is about choice. It is about remembering that our creative work carries meaning, and that we carry meaning within it.
We’re grateful to Dahlia for sharing these reflections!
Share Your Story
If BurlyCon has shaped your artistry in ways big or small, we would love to hear from you. The “What BurlyCon Means to Me” series continues to gather stories of inspiration.
