 May 25-27, 2012
Boylesque? Burlesque? Aerialists, fire eaters, jugglers and acrobats? The international Vaudeville Revival is in full bloom and gets a big stage at Asheville Burlesque & Sideshow Festival.
In the fifth year of celebrating the Vaudeville Revival, ABSfest offers three days of inspiration, education, shopping, and entertainment that no lover of these arts can afford to miss. International Stars, Princess Farhana and Paolo Garbanzo, headline.
For thirteen years a soloist with the notorious Neo-Burlesque Revival group 'The Velvet Hammer', Princess Farhana has also performed extensively across Europe, the States, and the Arab world, toured with Margaret Cho in 'The Sensuous Woman', performed in music videos for Ricky Martin, Madonna and others, been the subject of a documentary, "Underbelly" which featured footage of ABSfest 2007, and has an extensive line of instructional dance and burlesque dvds. Princess Farhana headlined the FIRST EVER ABSfest here in Asheville. She's since become an international dance star and an icon of the subcultural silver screen. Her Majesty is gracing Asheville once again with her epic force of personality and scintillating skills for ABSfest's fabulous fifth anniversary.
Flying in from Europe for a second year, International Jester Competition winner (the only American to ever win) and the 2008 Fool of Muncaster Castle of England, the youngest juggler ever to win a Lifetime Achievement Award, and a former Karamazov Brother, world-famous juggler and sideshow godling Paolo Garbanzo will dominate the Orange Peel stage with his masterful skills for another wild and wonderful ABSfest. Drink deeply of these international masters, with both workshops and dazzling, technical performances during the festival. They will be joined by talent from the world over in this juried extravaganza dedicated to Vaudeville, the People's Entertainment!
Friday Night Red Carpet Gala: The theater bus pulls up, the glittering artists disembark, tumbling along the Red Carpet in a swirl of laughter, and the party starts. This is just the beginning of a three-run of debauchery and high art... a teaser, if you will. The Opening Ceremonies are followed by awards, performance, live music and more. $15.00. 9pm. Afterparty at 11pm $5.
Saturday Night Spectacular: The newly expanded Orange Peel gives the festival more footage for festivity, as the hottest show of the year explodes within its walls. Phenomenal talent, a Burlesque Bazaar, and the sidewalk sideshow will be followed by live music and an afterparty. This is the show to never, ever miss in Asheville. $25.00. 8-11 pm. The Orange Peel on Biltmore Avenue, Asheville. Afterparty at 11pm $5.
Saturday & Sunday Burlesque, Circus and Arts Business Workshops in the ABSfest Seminary ~ $20 each or 5 for $90. 10-5pm. Movement & Learning Center above FBFC, 90 Biltmore Avenue, Asheville. Train with Farhana, Paolo, and artists from around the country in stagecraft, circus arts, fire performance, burlesque and more.
The now annual Sunday Tiki Brunch: An idyllic cure for the post-ABS Fest hangover; food, drinks and more entertainment.
In a world now brimming with Burlesque Festivals, from Vegas to Amsterdam, ABSfest is known for embodying the true spirit of Vaudeville, offering driven artists a relaxed environment to network, and for a community that nurtures raw, boundary-pushing, creativity. The festival is one of several annual productions of Future of Tradition, a seminal force in the underground Asheville arts community since 1999. Executive Producer Lauren 'Onça' O'Leary lives in the Paris of the South, and also tours the nation teaching and performing dance, music and stagecraft with the Mezmer Society and with the Accidental Circus.
It is the only event of its kind in the southeast. Most cities with Burlesque fests are large & metropolitan - New York, Vegas, Boston, San Francisco, Toronto...Asheville is far and away the smallest city to offer something like this both to artist and to the public. And that is Asheville all over: pleasures of a small town, cosmopolitan amenities.
For more: www.sideshowburlesque.org
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