Finding Voice, Legacy, and Power Through Burlesque
Written by Otaymah Bonds
Otaymah Bonds is a second-generation burlesque performer of color hailing from Detroit. She shared her story with us and is teaching “History of Performers of Color in Burlesque” at BurlyCon 2015.
Discovering Burlesque and Finding Expression
My journey into the magical land of all things glittery and burlesque has been tumultuous to say the least. I have been dancing and performing for over 20 years. Before burlesque I’d been more focused on classical types of dance. Their structure gave me both discipline and freedom. But here was a dance where individual expression reigned supreme. The confidence with which the women of different shapes and sizes peeled made me feel like this was a world where I could be accepted and actually express myself.
Dita von Teese and Immodesty Blaize sparked my interest in performing neo-burlesque. They displayed the grandeur that burlesque is. (I discovered burlesque through my mother, Dr. Judy Hankins, who used to do burlesque in its heyday). However, it was seeing the shining and beautiful Perle Noire that let me know that I could actually do burlesque today.
Inspiration, Legacy, and Representation
Although I was armed with talent and performed locally, I still had a heck of a time getting booked for shows. This was (and is) because burlesque remains predominantly Caucasian. When I was accepted into the Fierce Burlesque Festival, I learned I wasn’t alone in my thoughts about this imbalance. I learned that burlesque can indeed be a family word.
Fierce gave me the opportunity to teach classes and to hold a panel to openly discuss the issue of race in burlesque, not just in Detroit. The response was startlingly positive!
Performers of color came forth with their stories, feelings, and experiences of being in burlesque. Viva Valezz (founder of Fierce) helped me understand I am welcome in burlesque; and that it is a community in every sense of the word. It was here that I met JZ Bich and learned you can not only make great professional connections in burlesque, but also friendships that are lasting and real. I later performed at HyperGender Burlesque in New York, which was established by JZ Bich.
HyperGender was enriching because it was here that I ceased to be labeled as a performer of color. I was hired as a performer for the first time since I entered the burlesque world stage. My talents and skill level were revered, and my skin color was not looked at as a hinderance.
Hearing the Call of BurlyCon
During these experiences I kept hearing the word BurlyCon, like a preeminent whisper. Everyone at festivals and shows kept talking about BurlyCon as an arena to openly learn and hone your craft in a loving environment.
This year I plan to apply. I hope I to experience classes that will help me to enrich my body of work and to improve as an artist. I also hope to take courses where being a performer of color is discussed openly and honestly. I seek to add my voice to the burlesque scene, because I will be applying to teach as well. Let me tell you . . . although it hasn’t been easy being a performer of color it’s been interesting. Overall, I’m happy with my experiences as a burlesque performer because they made me who I am today. I can proudly say I am a peeler baby! I look forward to what is to come!
Come meet the compelling Otaymah Bonds at BurlyCon 2015, where she’ll be presenting her class, “History of Performers of Color in Burlesque,” November 12-15 in Seattle, WA!
