In 2025, we’re celebrating six unforgettable years of the Kootenay Burlesque Festival! To mark this milestone, we’re bringing in 6 AMAZING PERFORMERS! This year, our lineup of Performers and Emcees proudly showcases the talents of male-identifying artists, highlighting the incredible talents and artistry within our vibrant community!
As part of this celebration, one male-identifying performer from our applicants will be selected as a FEATURE PERFORMER, honored for their exceptional artistry and unique flair. This is your chance to take center stage, showcase your talent, and elevate your performance to new heights!
We welcome and celebrate all identities , and our commitment is to create a lineup that showcases the diversity, creativity, and artistry that make up our performing arts community. From burlesque to drag, circus to vaudeville, we’re bringing together a spectacular mix of talent for an unforgettable weekend experience
The Kootenay Burlesque Festival is a vibrant space where artists come together to connect, inspire, and showcase their brilliance. Get ready for a weekend filled with creative expression, passionate performances, and moments that will stay with you long after the curtain falls.
Our next Headliner isn’t just a vision of glamour, they are Burlesque Royalty! Known far and wide as the Princess of Tease, they’ve captivated audiences with their sultry moves, undeniable stage presence, and an artistry that leaves jaws on the floor.
But don’t let the tiara fool you, this performer is as fierce as they are fabulous! They’ve conquered the stage and claimed the title of Burlesque Brawl Champion, proving that their talent is as unstoppable as their allure. And as if that weren’t enough, they’ve also been crowned the #1 Most Influential Burlesque Performer of 2025!
They are the Venusian creator of queer content and the Nonbinary fine winery of New Orleans. This Festival Darling is a total swoonfest with moves that cut through silk. Expect the unexpected and then expect BIGGER as this performer knows how to make an extra large impression. Open your hearts and your wallets for the fan dancing black swan of the swamp, it's the one and only Qween Quan!
Born in Brazil and raised in Costa Rica, this BIPOC powerhouse is bringing his artistry and sensuality to the stage! A classically trained dancer who has traveled the world performing with prestigious dance companies, he has called New Orleans home for over 20 years. With multiple national and international awards and nominations for his choreography, he continues to leave his mark on the industry.
Your God of Love, your God of Sexiness, putting the X in EXTRA, Eros Sea has dazzled audiences across the U.S. and beyond as a celebrated Boylesque performer and an advocate for performers with disabilities, being disabled himself. His extensive resume includes appearances at top festivals such as the New Orleans Nerdlesque Festival, Midwest Nerdlesque Festival, Oklahoma City Weirdlesque Festival, the Savannah Burlesque Festival, and many more. A decorated titleholder, he has earned accolades including Golden Legends Challenge Championship 2019 award winner, Best in Burlesque 2024 (SDBF), and overall winner of the Golden Variety Challenge Championship (formerly Burlypicks) 2021.
As the co-founder of Scorpio Boys Entertainment, New Orleans’ premier all-male Boylesque troupe, Eros brings sizzling performances to venues across the city. Beyond the stage, he is a dedicated mentor, teacher, and producer, helping shape the next generation of performers. With a double major in theatre and architecture and recognition as one of AGMA’s top ten artists in the nation, Eros Sea is the perfect blend of brains, body, and brilliance.
Raphael De La Getto got his burlesque start in 2015 at the Midnight Martini Burlesque Booty School in Denver, Colorado. He has performed in multiple festivals across the United States and internationally, including several virtual appearances.
Raphael has competed multiple times in the Golden Legends Championship Challenge, where he won the Evil Regal Judge’s Choice Award and Golden Hustler in 2018. He also competed at the 2019 ABurlyQ Festival, earning 2nd place in the Best Boylesque category, and was crowned Best in Boylesque at the 2021 Croatian Burlesque Festival. He was a selected headliner for the 2020 Utah Burlesque Festival and a featured performer for the 2020 Itty Bitty Burlesque Festival before the world shut down.
In addition to performing, Raphael has produced his own shows under the 5280 Glittertainment brand in Denver, Colorado, including the 2021 Rocky Mountain Burlypicks Regional Competition.
When not under the bright lights of the stage, Raphael trades tassels for takedowns, having been a well-traveled and highly decorated independent professional wrestler for over 19 years.
These days, he is rarely seen on burlesque stages, but when he is, it's always a spectacular sight. That’s what makes him the Halley’s Comet of burlesque
Get ready to meet the Man of Mystery himself… Daft Hunk!
A true enigma wrapped in charm and charisma, Daft Hunk commands the stage with effortless allure. His journey of seduction and artistic wit began right here in Nelson, where he honed his craft alongside local luminaries like Scarlet Mary Rose, Vesper Valentine, and LeeLee La Belle.
It wasn’t long before the spotlight beckoned, and Daft Hunk answered with style, confidence, and a signature strut that leaves audiences begging for more. With a blend of playful tease and undeniable stage presence, he’s become a force to be reckoned with, bringing sharp wit, smooth moves, and an irresistible magnetism to every performance.
But when he’s not perfecting his craft on stage, Daft Hunk is sculpting masterpieces—quite literally! A renowned ice, sand and wood sculptor, his breathtaking creations have earned national recognition, even landing him a spot on two seasons of Canada’s Race Against the Tide. Whether he’s chiseling away at ice or melting hearts on stage, one thing is certain—Daft Hunk is a true artist in every sense of the word.
So get ready, because this mysterious marvel is about to carve out a moment you won’t soon forget!
HEADLINER
Qween Quan
New Orleans