Community Highlights: Meet Melanated Ménagerie

Today we’d like to introduce you to Melanated Ménagerie.

Hello Melanated Ménagerie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
Melanated Menagerie, Denver and Las Vegas-based, is a Black Cabaret Troupe that focuses on a mission of promoting and showcasing underrepresented performers of color.

Providing Black, Brown, Indigenous, and other POC Performers with equitable pay in addition to a space to perform, to learn from other performers of color, and an all-around sense of kinship. All while supporting sex work, sex workers, and promoting sex positivity and consent culture. Bringing more representation and awareness to a community that lacks it! Disrupting and Decolonizing Burlesque one Stage and Performance at a time.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It absolutely has not been a smooth road! Some of the struggles we have endured are everyday constants such as our art isn’t valid, our bodies don’t match the aesthetic, we’re too aggressive with our messaging, we aren’t as beautiful as the Euro-centered images pushed upon us, etc.

And to be honest, these are the exact things that fuel our fires. We will continue to actively stomp out those bumps and make a smoother road for those that follow.

We’ve been impressed with Melanated Ménagerie, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Melanated Ménagerie is an All-Black Burlesque Troupe bringing you curated Live Art that’ll leave audiences craving for more. A main thing that sets our shows apart from others is our casting. Each show is fully casted with Black, Brown and Indigenous performers. Along with performers of all body sizes and gender identities. We believe in everyone bringing their true authentic selves to the stage.  If you’re interested in supporting marginalized BIPOC Artists and sponsoring the upcoming 2023 show season, this is where you can do just that. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Irok7VykIKW-XYtK9W0yRJu0_F95-ZK5uXifCwfuVEU/edit?usp=drivesdk

Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
We have always been adamant about – WASH YOUR HANDS, WASH YOUR LEGS, WASH YOUR FEET, COVER YOUR MOUTH!

Pricing:

• $50 VIP East Vs. West
• $40 GA East Vs. West
• $60 Infused Courses & Corsets
• $50 Non-Infused Courses & Corsets
• $30 GA No-Plate Courses & Corsets

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.allurrremvelvit.com/event-details/courses-corsets-dinner-show-ticket
• Instagram: @MelanatedMénagerie
• Facebook: TheMelanatedMenagerie

Image Credits
ALLurrr’em VelvIT at the 10th International Ohio Burlesque Festival, Bridget Caswell