juggling sideshow favorites Forty Fingers & A Missing Tooth, the Bombs Away Cabaret troupe and New Orleans-based brass band the Soggy Po’ Boys, among many others. The whole schedule has been planned with the intention of embracing not only the burlesque tradition but the entirety of vaudeville. O’Leary is quick to recognize that what works for other locales doesn’t necessary fit in Asheville. Some big-city festivals center on a competition, “but I’ve always thought of this as more of a cooperative village approach to entertainment, where everyone’s bringing their very best to create something exciting together, rather than [pitting] artist against artist,” she says. There’s also this misconception to address: “People think burlesque is just a parade of people emulating the beauty standards of the past,” says O’Leary. “But, to me that’s not the point. As an artist, pushing the envelope is not the point. The point
T he
is using every tool — costuming, athleticism, comedy — to explore social issues.” There are signs that our culture needs such a wakeup call: “Any kind of violence is OK in the public sphere but breast-feeding is a crime and a perversion? That’s insane,” says O’Leary. “We need to air these things out until people [start to think], ‘Oh, maybe bodies aren’t inherently evil.’” The ABSFest schedule ensures that folks attending aren’t simply entertained. There are also plenty of workshops and lectures to teach audiences about the history of the form, the purpose of the performances and how they can use the craft themselves. Offerings this year include an in-depth education on working a boa, playing ukulele, peeling off clothing, enhancing a belly dance routine and a 90-minute aerial dance class called “Strong Is Sexy.” O’Leary wants people to understand that it can be fun to watch, but joining the show can be even more thrilling. And empowering. X
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