Disabled Minneapolis Woman’s Dream Comes True: DisabiliTease Festival Takes the Stage

This weekend, the DisabiliTease Festival, a burlesque festival spotlighting performers with disabilities, will present live shows in Minneapolis and online. This festival celebrates disabled bodies and the art they create, featuring burlesque, drag, cirque, and cabaret performances. It is not just about entertainment but fostering a supportive community where all forms of creativity are celebrated.

The festival kicked-off on Friday, July 19th, at the Capri Theater in Minneapolis. The following day, a virtual show will include performers from around the world. On Sunday, July 21st, three workshops will be held, all events accessible online with live captioning. An ASL interpreter will be present at the Friday and Saturday shows. The event is also taking measures to ensure a COVID-safe environment.

Minda Mae from Minneapolis, Lakota Shekhar from Cleveland, Ohio, and Scarlett Tart from Denver, Colorado, are producing the festival. Mae, the festival’s founder, shared her journey, saying, “My dream started in 2019, with the plan to host our first show in July 2020. I realized that the reason you didn’t see many disabled bodies on stage was that some of us literally couldn’t get on them! Many performers felt the need to hide their disabilities to be booked. I wanted to create an accessible event for other disabled performers so they didn’t have to worry about accessibility. They could just have the opportunity to shine.”

While COVID put the in-person aspects of the show on hold, Mae was able to host events online. Now, in 2024, it will be a hybrid event. “It’s my dream come true. It just took 5 years to get here,” she said.

The DisabiliTease Festival, now in its fourth year, aims to challenge and overturn the notion that individuals with disabilities are less desirable, alluring, or competent as performers. The festival provides a safe and inclusive environment for disabled performers to express themselves and receive the recognition and validation they deserve.

Attendees can look forward to a diverse array of performances and the opportunity to participate in workshops. The festival is designed to be accessible and inclusive, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their physical abilities, can enjoy and participate in the festivities.

Tickets and further information about the festival can be found on the DisabiliTease website.