The Toronto Burlesque Festival is an exciting whirlwind of bump ‘n grind! Now in our 3rd year, the Festival offers a unique opportunity to experience the best of burlesque and variety entertainment. Each of our performances features outstanding acts from Toronto locals, burlesque and variety artists from across Canada, and many international headlining acts that have earned top accolades in the Burlesque world!
In 2010, we build connections with the history of our art form with the current Revival, and turn our eyes to the future for “MeTOPolis: The Future of Burlesque!”

For audience members who are new to burlesque, our Festival is the perfect introduction to a classic art form that is enjoying an enthusiastic revival. We aim to bring together the many fans of different burlesque troupes here in Toronto. Each show is unique and will introduce you to new and fabulous performers you have never seen before from diverse cities. We have hosted performers from Montreal, Vancouver, San Francisco, New York City, Chicago, Key West Florida and even Paris!

The Festival also goes beyond the burlesque shows to offer performers and fans the opportunity to engage in the exchange of ideas and resources. Artists from many different mediums are coming together at many events and workshops held at popular Toronto venues. The Toronto Burlesque Festival includes an Art Show (in partnership with Dr. Sketchy Toronto), a Photography Exhibit, and a Burlesque Bra Auction with all proceeds going to Boobalicious for the Weekend to End Breast Cancer.

New in 2010, we plan to hold social events, including film screening(s) and an international edition of “Naked Girls Reading.” We are also thrilled to include a full schedule of workshops for Canada’s only “Burlesque University.” We invite those new to burlesque and experienced performers alike to take advantage of our star-studded faculty of internationally acclaimed teachers, including many Miss Exotic World title-holders!

The Toronto Burlesque Festival was just a dream for many years but it came to fruition with the dedication of our Committee Members, our crew, volunteers, sponsors, and of course, the ever growing support of our audiences. Our Committee is spearheaded by members of Skin Tight Outta Sight Rebel Burlesque, “Canada’s pioneering posse in pasties” (The Montreal Mirror).

Skin Tight Outta Sight has been in existence since 1998, making us one of the very first burlesque troupes in Toronto and indeed North America. We have played an active role in fostering the local burlesque community, with the founding of the web-based Toronto Burlesque and Vaudeville Alliance (TBVA) in 2003. On the international stage, Skin Tight Outta Sight has appeared for the New York Burlesque Festival, the Miss Exotic World Burlesque Hall of Fame in Las Vegas, The Boston Burlesque Expo, The Vancouver International Burlesque Festival, the L.A. Rock ‘n Roll Strip Show, and The Spiegel Show at Toronto’s Harbourfront in 2007.

To make The Toronto Burlesque Festival a reality, we have partnered with such luminaries of the alternative arts scene as Coco Framboise, Boylesque TO, Ceci My Playmate, Miss Mitzy Cream, The Wolfman, Mysterion the Mind Reader, Dr. Sketchy’s Toronto and more!