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Los Angeles and Seattle-based burlesque company Burlesque & Chill is turning the spotlight on the personal significance of art for its performers and leadership, with several company members sharing their perspectives on how creative expression has served as a source of stability during periods of personal and collective difficulty.
The company’s Founder, known by her stage name Miss Lady Legs, opened up about her own relationship with art while recovering from an ACL injury, describing the performing arts as a constant she has relied on through various challenges.
“Art has been the greatest love of my life,” she wrote in a message to the company’s supporters. “No matter what I’m going through, I can always turn to music, dance, film and theatre to lift my spirits, connect to a sense of community, explore my own emotions and make sense of the world around me.”
She described 2026 as a particularly difficult year on a personal level, but noted that the impact of art has resonated with her more deeply during this period than at other points in her career.
A Company Born From Isolation
Burlesque & Chill was founded during the pandemic-era shutdowns, when live performance venues were closed and performers and audiences alike faced extended periods of isolation.
Since its inception, the company has continued to serve as a point of connection for its community through shifting circumstances – from the initial pandemic lockdowns through to what Miss Lady Legs described as “today’s political and economic anxieties, to personal losses and challenges.”
“Whether you’ve been with us from the beginning or you’ve found us more recently, our entire company is forever grateful for your support and belief in our work,” she wrote. “Our biggest wish is that we’re able to offer you the same comfort, joy and light that you offer us.”
Company Members Share Their Own Reflections
Following Miss Lady Legs’ reflections, several Burlesque & Chill company members offered their own accounts of art’s role in their lives.
Cassie Dailey, a Dancer with the company, spoke about the communal dimension of creative work.
“Art has saved me more times than I can count. It gave me purpose during some of the hardest moments in my life and introduced me to people who became family,” Dailey shared. “Every class, rehearsal, performance and creative collaboration reminds me that art isn’t just something we make… it’s something that brings us together, helps us heal and gives us hope.”
Xochii de la Noche, a Soloist, described performance as a way of processing and externalising emotion.
“Art to me is important because it’s how I transform pain, grief, joy, love and all my other emotions into something tangible for everyone else to witness and to potentially see themselves in,” de la Noche explained.
La Frida Lokah, a Demi-Soloist, framed her art in more explicitly political terms, invoking the words of musician and civil rights activist Nina Simone.
“In these times, my art is my voice. It’s both my shield and my sword. Nina Simone said it best when she said, ‘An artist’s duty is to reflect the times in which we live.’ Regardless of the feeling, joy or pain, I choose to always leave it all on stage. Literally,” La Frida Lokah stated.
Mz Juicy Jones, also a Soloist, highlighted the way creative practice extends beyond the stage into daily life.
“Art has been my escape, my refuge, my temple, my community. Creating concepts, costumes, performances and collaborations gives me more purpose and contentment. Art carries over into my everyday existence, influencing everything I do,” Jones reflected.
Upcoming Performance And Support Options
The company has an upcoming performance scheduled for Friday, July 31 at The Cat’s Crawl in Los Angeles. The show, titled Unfastened with The Teasers: Summer Heat, is described as a relaxed evening of comedy, music and burlesque performances.
Burlesque & Chill also offers membership and one-time donation options for those looking to support the company’s work on an ongoing basis. The company has indicated that supporters who donated to its The Little Mermaid production process will receive membership access once video content from that project is ready for viewing.
Main photo of Grace Amore A and The Teasers by withthe.band.
