House of Cheek presents:
September 25 - 27, 2025
Welcome to the most colourful burlesque event on Lekwungen Territory:
The Shade Burlesque Festival!
Originally Victoria's first all BIPOC burlesque event launched in 2019, Shade is transforming into a vibrant international multi-day burlesque festival starting in 2025. We are here to uplift and celebrate the boundary pushers and the inspired. It is our mission to uplift the BIPOC Legacy through art, celebration, and education to promote intergenerational resilience. We are committed to positively influence audiences by bringing authentic BIPOC stories to our stages from innovative and groundbreaking performers. This is our vivacious reclamation.
Where We Reside
We acknowledge and respect the lek̓ʷəŋən-speaking Peoples of the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations, who have been the caretakers of the land where we reside and produce since time immemorial and whose relationship to this land continues to this day. We also recognize the interconnected nature and sovereignty of the surrounding nations within this area, including the Tsartlip, Tsawout, Malahat, Pauquachin, Tseycum, T'Sou-ke, Scia'new, and Pacheedaht First Nations, who's territories overlap within the southern tip of Vancouver Island. We recognize our privilege with being able to produce on these lands as the local Nations and many others across the globe continue to reclaim their space and sovereignty for their people. As an Indigenous-owned company, House of Cheek is honoured to walk alongside our extended relatives to share stories of resilience, tradition, and teachings.
To learn more about our local nations and ways to support them and uplift their voices, you can do so by visiting their websites as listed here: https://crdcommunitygreenmap.ca/firstnations
Got a steamy tease for the ages? Do you want to share your culture through the art of burlesque or drag? Or maybe you have a group act that's absolutely wild? Whether it's political, classic, weird, comedic, sultry, edgy... We're looking for it all!
There are TWO nights of glamorous performance performers can apply to:
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Friday Night Showcase - Featuring acts across genres highlighting BIPOC burlesque and drag, Friday night is all about showcasing the diversity across burlesque to light up the stage!
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Saturday Night "Caber-Shade Competition" - We're all royalty here. Caber-Shade is a night dedicated to uplifting the BIPOC Legacy and celebrating the melanated trailblazers of past, present, and future. More than the usual glitz and glamour, this competition will showcase a variety of styles of burlesque and drag to inspire community and pride in identity - because everyone deserves a crown.
Shade's goal is to highlight the intersectionality and unique expressions that exist within burlesque and drag. Apply with anything you've got! Don't wait to get your applications in for House of Cheek's first year of the Shade Burlesque Festival!
Applications are now closed for 2025
Want to Be a Part of the Legacy?
Honouring Bipoc Spaces Policy
House of Cheek is dedicated to fostering safer spaces that highlight and uplift safety for our performers, staff, audiences, and anyone who enters our space.
House of Cheek has a zero tolerance policy for racism, colourism, homophobia/transphobia, ableism, sexism, islamophobia, antisemitism, or any form of discrimination.
The Uplifting BIPOC Spaces Policy is currently being updated for 2025. The final document will be publicly available here once complete.
