Friends,
Over the past few weeks, the Great Burlesque Exposition, along with its producer and staff, have been the victims of a vicious smear campaign perpetrated by some local producers. They have targeted performers who were cast in this year's event and who are members of traditionally under-represented groups. These "poision pen" letters falsely told those performers that they were neither safe nor welcome at The Great Burlesque Exposition. They described a fictitious history of misogyny, body-shaming, homophobia and other vile behaviors which are antithetical to the core philosophies of the Great Burlesque Exposition. Further, they implied that continuing participation in the event would be harmful to the performers' continued standing in the burlesque community.
Sadly, these fear-based attacks worked, and a number of performers withdrew. This snowballed and we have reached the difficult realization that we no longer have enough performers to present the event that we promised our audience or participants. It is with a combination of great sadness and great anger, that we are canceling the Burlesque Expo scheduled for April 2024. All tickets will be refunded.We do not know what the future holds. We thank you for your support and understanding and we hope to see you next year.
Welcome
The Great Burlesque Exposition (or "BurlExpo") is an annual (well, mostly annual), multi-day event that brings performers, instructors, special guests, vendors, and aficianados of burlesque from all over the world to Massachusetts. This is our 15th exposition (but not our 15th year. It's complicated...) and our 3rd year in bewitching Salem, MA.
No matter how you're involved in burlesque, we hope you'll join us for three magical days and nights of classes, shows, shopping, community building, and more!
News
Wed, Feb 7 2:06 PM
We hope to have all notifications sent by 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, February 7
Tue, Jan 16 8:27 AM
2024 Applications are closed. We had over 250 acts apply! Thank you to everyone who took the time to submit an act. Notifications will go out the first week in February.
Wed, Oct 4 1:55 PM
Your show preferences are not showing up correctly. We know -- and they are being saved correectly
Wed, Jun 14 7:04 PM
BurlExpo #15 will April 25-28, 2024 in enchanting Salem, MA
Code of Conduct
The Great Burlesque Exposition is committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment for all attendees, performers, and staff. By attending the event, you agree to abide by the following Code of Conduct:
- Respect others: Treat everyone with respect, dignity, and kindness, regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical ability, or any other characteristic. Harassment, discrimination, and bullying will not be tolerated.
- Obtain consent: Always obtain explicit, enthusiastic consent before touching or interacting with another person in any way. Do not assume that someone wants to be touched or involved in any kind of physical activity. Respect the personal boundaries of others. Do not touch or engage with someone without their explicit consent. If someone says no, stop immediately and respect their wishes.
- Be mindful of language: Use language that is inclusive, respectful, and appropriate for all listeners. Avoid using derogatory, discriminatory, or hateful language.
- Report violations: If you witness or experience any violations of this code of conduct, please report them to event staff or security personnel immediately. All reports will be taken seriously and investigated thoroughly.
By following this Code of Conduct, we can create a safe and welcoming space for everyone to enjoy The Great Burlesque Exposition. Additionally, although not explicitly connected to conduct, all attendees are expected to follow all rules and guidelines set forth by the event organizers and venue staff. Failure to do so may result in removal from the event.
Thank you for your compassionate cooperation and your participation in creating a positive experience for all attendees.
The Great Burlesque Exposition
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ABOUT US
The Great Burlesque Exposition supports and funds the American Burlesque Collection, a unique museum that explores the history of The Art of the Tease and profiles its practitioners. The event is three days of spectacular community-building, shows, education, special events,and shopping. The Great Burlesque Exposition is produced by The Professional Burlesque Society, a registered 501(c)3 non-profit founded in 2007.