SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Hang onto your gender-fluid socks, Queerlesque is back.

The annual cabaret show hits the stage next weekend, part of NWT Pride festivities.

Kyla O'Connell digs to select the winning ticket of a 50/50 draw held during sold out performances of Queerlesque at the After 8 Pub last year. Show Producer Iman Kassam holds the pail while event host Skye Plowman keeps the mic in position. - NNSL file photo

"Queerlesque is more like a variety show, it's not just people stripping, there's people who are singing, there's people who are doing drag, so it'll be a good mix," said co-director Kayla Cooper.

She's also performing - in past years she's done traditional burlesque numbers and sang, but this year she's emerging as a Drag King (a woman who impersonates a man). She was inspired by past performers who came to Yellowknife for Queerlesque.

"Mine's less about wanting to feel like a man, but to challenge myself as a performer and just to do something different," she said. "And I've always been interested in playing that type of character. I'm excited about it but also terrified."

Which is a good thing, because Cooper says it's just not burlesque without the butterflies.

"It's terrifying! I feel like if you don't have nerves, yeah you're doing something wrong! But it's so much fun," she said. "The first 20 seconds I'm shaking and I'm like, 'Oh god I'm going to mess up,' and then it just becomes so much fun. And as soon as it's over you're like, 'It's over, that was the fastest three minutes of my life.'"

This year sees around 25 performers spread across 16 acts. For many of them, it's their first time on the Queerlesque stage. They've been rehearsing and putting their acts together for months - Cooper says a lot of work goes into it to create a polished, professional show.

"There's lots of first-time performers. And I'm so excited because all of their acts are so amazing, and to see the progression from their auditions to now is just phenomenal," she said.

Queerlesque is moving this year to a new venue. The show has moved downtown to The Raven Pub, an accessible location. Accessibility is important to the organizers, as Queerlesque bills itself as an all-inclusive performance.

"It's important for people who are in that community to feel accepted and feel like they're in a safe space, they can be themselves and have that opportunity to push the boundaries and play with gender norms and express themselves creatively," said Cooper.

"No one comes to this show and is like, 'Oh I can't wait to see people fail.' Everyone wants you to do well and you really feed off that energy from the crowd. As soon as the first performer walks on stage the screams start. Being that performer, you're like, 'Everyone already loves me and I literally just walked onto the stage!'"

Unlike Brrrlesque, Yellowknife's other popular burlesque show, Queerlesque has men onstage.

Tickets are on sale now at The Fat Fox and will include both the show and a DJ afterwards. Shows are scheduled for next Thursday and Friday.

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