Meet The 2025 Selection Committee
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Recently relocated from Toronto to Halifax, Babia Majora is a trans non-binary artist who saunters all the way along the gender spectrum. Named one of Canada's top 3 Xlesque (non binary burlesque) performers, they thrive when making spaces for trans, non-binary, and gender nonconforming and performers. They can be seen performing around North America and occasionally headlining in international festivals, such as the 2024 Booklover's Burlesque Festival in Portland.
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Honey Fury is a performer and instructor from St. John's, Newfoundland. She has been doing burlesque since 2008, both locally and in cities across Canada, including at the inaugural Atlantic Burlesque Festival. In addition to burlesque, Honey has been training in and teaching heels dance over the past ten years.
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Born and raised in Miami, FL, Miami Minx has been performing since 2017 across
Canada down to South Florida. He was crowned Princess of Striptease 2023 at the
New Orleans Teaser Festival. He combines
high glamour classic burlesque with gender-bending fierceness. His exuberant
stage presence and high energy result in a fire-cracker performance of sexiness,
high glamour, and comedy.
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Kage Wolfe has been teaching dance in Toronto for over 10 years. He has a variety of dance training from various styles of street dance, African dances, and Jazz. He has taught burlesque dance and character workshops throughout Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, and B.C. Canada.
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Worker bee by day, and a bag of seduction by night, Beef Pattie is a black mixed with black with a splash of sass drag/clownlesque performer, who gives viewers an experience no one wants to miss but only a few can handle. Part masc, part fem, full fool, Pattie loves to add a little comedic flare and genderfuck essence anytime they hit the stage. A memeber of the Neo Novas, Beef Pattie continues to leave audience members of all kinds, in awe. Reminding you that amazing things come in big packages and Pattie is bursting at the seams. Your boyfriend, girlfriend and sweeties in between are hungry for Beef Pattie.
Photo Credit: Seymore Snaps
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Honey de Mele (she/her) is the sweet glamour clown of the East Coast! With a background in musical theatre Honey definitely has a flair for the dramatic…and comedic. Honey is proud to be working to help promote and uplift burlesque in Cape Breton and the Atlantic Provinces. She was last seen on the Neptune stage in a Midsummer Night's Dream merging her two passions theatre and burlesque and before that she appeared as Magenta in The Rocky Horror Show. She has performed with Neo Novas, Dis Drag, Crescent Moon Cabaret, Clue at the Halifax Fringe and twice at Hal-Con as well as gracing the stage of the inaugural Atlantic Burlesque Festival.
Honey’s burlesque journey began by creating Theatre Inamorata’s Virgin Burlesque fundraiser. She has taught across Nova Scotia and performed as an actor across the country.
Photo credit : James MacLean Photography
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Where retro tease meets house beats and playful charm, Vanessa blends seduction and silliness, promising a spectacle filled with giggles and jiggles.
With a background in dance and figure skating, she brings natural rhythm and grace to the stage. Vanessa performed at the inaugural Atlantic Burlesque Festival and appeared in Clue: A Murderlesque Mystery during Fringe. Most recently, she made her theatrical debut at Neptune Theatre, showcasing her burlesque and singing talents as Mustardseed in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, adding a new dimension to her repertoire.Photo credit: The Secret Sessions (Ashley Brown)
Who is the Selection Committee?
The Selection Committee comprises three members from our cooperative and four community representatives. The entire board chooses this group to create an experienced, informed, and diverse team. This team represents and comprehends the Festival's objectives, ensuring a well-rounded and inclusive selection process.
What does an adjudicator do?
Adjudicators observe and evaluate every performance, receiving only the participant's stage name, a brief biography, the title and description of the act, notes, and a video link. Adjudicators will not have access to any personal information of the applicants, including real names, email addresses, personal links, location or nationality, or any declarations of identity. They work in isolation, ensuring that each adjudicator's scoring sheet remains unseen by others.
How are applications scored?
Four areas of consideration include:
Overall Artistic Expression
Costume & Styling
Movement & Musicality
Entertainment Value & Stage Presence
These general areas have descriptions that detail and define what we assess in a submission.
The criterion will be scored on a scale from 1 to 5.
The numbers are defined as:
1 - This area is not yet festival-ready
2 - This needs workshopping
3 - This is in average shape/almost festival-ready
4 - This is consistent and well performed and festival-ready
5 - This is “blow me out of the water” festival ready
Want to look at our scoring rubric? Click below to review what we’re looking for.
How involved is the ABF Board of Directors in the act selection process?
Along with the three board members above who are on the selection committee, our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee reviews the acts to ensure that they align with the values of the Atlantic Burlesque Cooperative and promote a safe and inclusive environment for all performers and audience members.