reflections in the rain part one - a look back a BurlyCon

It's Sunday November 30th and I'm sitting in my apartment trying to be productive. It's hard when this fluid filled cough won't go away and it's raining outside. And just as I finally sat down to type out this blog all about BurlyCon, when Missy Elliott's The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly) comes on my itunes; shuffle is so my favorite way to listen my music.

How fitting. And suddenly I find myself calling this post "reflections in the rain" not at all what I had written in my journal. But I'm gonna go with it because I believe in trusting the process...

The road to BurlyCon started at the New York Burlesque Festival back in September. Friday night backstage I met Miss Indigo Blue and she told me about BurlyCon. That night I went home, checked out the website and got excited when I saw one of the panels was about cultural apropriation, racism and exoticism. When I saw Miss Indigo Blue the next night I asked if I could be on the panel and she said yes. Fast forward to my birthday in October, my husband gave me the idea of asking friends to make pledges to get me out to BurlyCon and it worked!

BurlyCon was awesome! I am so happy that I made it out to Seattle to take part in the first year. And I couldn’t have made it out there without the complete support of my strong community of friends and family who by giving $10,$15, $20, $50 and two $100 pledges, allowed me to buy the plane tickets and the BurlyCon admission ticket. So thank you to (in alphabetical order) Akynos, Alanna, Baba, Becky, Dame CuchiFrita, Desiree, exHOTic other, Fanya, Fem Appeal, Gale, Jeanine, Jeremy, Lady Luscious, Maya and Michael, Mo, Mtume, Pamela, Pamela and Steve, Paul and Ricky, Piper, Rebecca, Rozz, Sarah, and SunShine Fayalicious.

And let me say it one more time, BurlyCon was awesome! Congrats to Miss Indigo Blue, Dane Ballard, Dale Rio, Jo Boobs and all the volunteers and presenters and participants.

Okay, okay, I’ll get onto the meat of it…

BurlyCon was the silver lining in the rain cloud. Actually more like the wild glittered rainbow that comes out after the rain.

I arrived at the conference Friday just after noon, because I missed the welcome at 11am at first I felt a bit shy and unsure. Scheduled for the lunch hour were various meet and greets, one for new performers (0-3 years), one for new producers (1+years), another for POC (people of color), and a final one for new teachers (1+years) I was torn, a part of me wanted to go to each, but then I heard there was free food in the hospitality/vending room, so of course I practically ran there first and prepared myself a sandwich. Then I decided to head to the POC meet and greet. When I went to the room where it was scheduled I didn’t see anyone so I basically just sorta wandered around and introduced myself to Alotta Boutee (one of the founding members of the Harlem Shake) who I found chilling in the lobby. It was great to meet her, she was really down to earth and friendly, and I think I did of a pretty good job of not geeking out at her (warning, tangent upcoming)
See when BGB was just this small group of women sitting around Shimmy's living room in Brooklyn discussing what burlesque was to each of us, Harlem Shake, the first burlesque troupe of all Black women, was a huge inspiration to us.

Stay tuned for the next installment, where I talk about more of Friday afternoon's activities at BurlyCon.

peace,
Aurora

a quiet moment of reflection before I dive into BurlyCon

It’s Friday morning and I’m sitting on my friend’s couch in Seattle, excited and just a bit nervous about tomorrow. Tomorrow is Saturday. And Saturday is the day I get to participate in a panel on cultural appropriation, racism and exoticism within burlesque at BurlyCon. I’m excited because this is a topic I’m passionate about, and nervous - not about what I’m gonna say, but because I’m wondering who will feel motivated to come to this panel, and I’m hoping honest conversation and communication will spring forth. With all that has happened nationally this week, I'm feeling inspired to build connections and bridges...

Stay tuned for more updates from BurlyCon throughout the weekend. Now it’s time for me to get ready and head over to the first day.

peace and pasties,
Aurora