2nd Edition
January 24th and 25th, 2026
Venice, Teatro A L’Avogaria
A unique festival featuring a competition to crown the first Doge or Dogaressa of Venice, exclusive prizes, original workshops and a photo shoot in the most beautiful city in the world
Location
TEATRO A L’AVOGARIA
Dorsoduro 1617
30123 Venezia
Teatro A L'Avogaria is one of the most characteristic independent theaters in Venice.
A picturesque gem in the heart of the historic city, it was founded in 1969 by Giovanni Poli.
This theater is also famous abroad for its numerous international events. Its role is important for traditional Venetian performances, particularly the Commedia dell'Arte.
Teatro A L'Avogaria is located in the historic center of Venice, in the Dorsoduro district, just a short walk from Campo Santa Margherita, the Zattere, or the Accademia. The theater is accessed from Calle dell'Avogaria, next to the Church of San Sebastiano, a 16th-century architectural jewel entirely decorated with paintings by Paolo Veronese.
Teatro A L'Avogaria is easily reachable on foot from Piazzale Roma (10 minutes) or Santa Lucia Station (15 minutes), or by public water transport with the San Basilio stop just 200 meters away. The historic center of Venice is 20 minutes from Venice Marco Polo Airport and 40 minutes from Treviso Canova Airport.
Staff
Artistic Direction: Crazy Cat
Crazy Cat was born and lives in Venice and travels throughout Europe. A versatile artist, she trained in acting and classical and modern dance, including belly dancing. She fell in love with burlesque in 2013. Since then, she has been a burlesque performer, pin-up model, photoshoot model, body-painting and painting model, burlesque and burlesque-therapy teacher, event organizer, producer, and artistic director of shows in Italy.
Staff: Le Burlescose
Le Burlescose is an artistic collective founded in 2018 that, under the artistic direction of Crazy Cat, organizes burlesque evenings and shows. Le Burlescose has gradually grown to include about thirty happily imperfect women from Venice and Veneto who perform burlesque in Italy.
Logo
Here is the logo of the Venice Burlesque Festival.
Linear, clean, iconic.
Venice is the shiny iron of its gondolas. Venice is its cats, elegant and sly.
Clear writing, a retro font. Details make the difference.
An original logo. A pinch of pride.
Thanks to the graphic team of Force One Magazine of Montecarlo who collaborates on our festival
LINK: https://www.force-one.net
Jury and special Guests
Our Jury:
Prizes and opportunities
At the Venice Burlesque Festival 2026, Luca Colferai, from the "Compagnia de Calza I Antichi" Association,
will offer the winner the opportunity to perform at the historic Erotic Poetry Festival, which will be held during
the Venice Carnival on Saturday, February 14, 2026, at the Teatro A L'Avogaria.
Link: https://www.iantichi.org/
At the Venice Burlesque Festival 2026, Luca Marotta will offer the
winner a feature in the first 2026 edition of Force One Magazine.
Link: https://www.force-one.net/
At the Venice Burlesque Festival 2026, Cristiana De Giglio will offer the
winner an interview with Burlesque News Italia.
Link: https://www.burlesquenews.it/
At the Venice Burlesque Festival 2026, Jessica Frascarelli will offer
the winner one of the wonderful boas by EffPlume.
Link: https://effplume.it/it_it/
At the Venice Burlesque Festival 2026, Nicoletta Lucerna will offer the winner one of the precious corsets from
La Corsetteria.
Link: https://www.instagram.com/corsetteria/
At the Venice Burlesque Festival 2026, Francesco Briggi handcrafted
the Doge's Horn in his historic Pietro Longhi Atelier, with which the Dogaressa of the first Venice Burlesque Festival
will be crowned during the photo shoot in Venice.
Link: https://www.pietrolonghi.com/
At the Venice Burlesque Festival 2026, Mirco Fattore will select an
artist for the Vintage Circus & Burlesque 2026.
Link:
https://www.teatroabanoterme.it/events/vintage-circus-burlesque-nona-edizione/
At the Venice Burlesque Festival 2026, one artist will be selected for the Bologna Burlesque Festival 2026.
Link: https://www.instagram.com/bolognaburlesquefestival/
Workshops
Location: Teatro A l'Avogaria
Cost: 25€
Level of difficulty: open
Minimum number of participants: 4
Maximum number of participants: 15
Immerse yourself in the style of Paris’s Crazy Horse with the Festival headliner on stage at Teatro A L'Avogaria
The Crazy Horse is undoubtedly the most famous Parisian cabaret for its sensuality and iconic style. You could say the dancers are dressed in lights. The choreographic aesthetic is very distinctive, the hip movements are provocative, and the connection with the audience is seductive. Join the fun and Betty Crispy will show you how to become Totally Crazy.
Dress code: sexy clothes, bra, fishnet stockings, panties, and high heels.
Betty Crispy’s Biography:
Betty Crispy studied ballet and jazz from a young age. In the past, Betty almost gave up dancing. She had practiced ballet and jazz since childhood, but as an adult her career seemed to be heading in a different direction. That was until she decided to take a chance and audition for a dancer role in one of the biggest cabarets in France, L’Ange Bleu. Betty was accepted into the cast and soon found herself taking on roles as a dancer, magician’s assistant, singer, host, and choreographer.
She would then travel the world for 10 years with a major French company, and today she continues to travel solo, sharing her love for dance through teaching and performances.
In 2016, Betty founded the ABC Académie Burlesco Cabaret and today she continues to bring joy and authentic French cabaret wherever she goes.
Location: Associazione Arte-Mide (50 meters from Teatro A l'Avogaria)
Cost 25€
Level of difficulty: open
Minimum number of participants: 5
Maximum number of participants: 10
Indulge in a true ritual of seduction with the Festival’s godmother at the Arte-Mide Association
A workshop that invites participants to create a personal ritual of preparation for performance.
By integrating elements of mindfulness, NLP, and burlesque, each woman will develop a routine that enhances her confidence and stage presence.
Goal: To provide practical tools for managing stage anxiety, strengthening self-esteem, and creating a deep connection with one’s stage persona.
Key elements: Creation of a personalized pre-performance ritual; Breathing and visualization techniques to increase focus; Anchoring exercises to recall positive emotional states.
This workshop aims to offer transformative experiences that go beyond technique, integrating personal growth and the art of performance.
Sweet Pepper’s Biography:
A certified NLP and Personal Growth coach, burlesque performer with over 20 years of experience, author, and creator of transformative journeys for women.
She leads programs in Italy and abroad that combine stage art, body awareness, and the awakening of self-esteem.
Location: Associazione Arte-Mide (50 meters from Teatro A l'Avogaria)
Cost 25 €
Level of difficulty: open
Minimum number of participants: 3
Maximum number of participants: 8
Create your own feather mask with a Venetian burlesque performer and mask maker at the Arte-Mide Association
A hands-on workshop to unleash your imagination by creating your own feather mask. A choice of base masks, fine fabrics, and feathers will be provided to design your very own unique feathered mask. An original workshop not to be missed in Venice, the city of masks par excellence. The mask, a striking stage prop, is also a powerful element in burlesque.
Deep Soul’s Biography:
Marilisa Dal Cason, known on stage as Deep Soul, is a burlesque performer and mask maker, a student of Gualtiero Dall’Osto, who has decades of experience in his artisan workshop “L’Arlecchino” in Rialto, in the heart of Venice. Deep Soul personally creates her stage costumes, masterpieces of creativity and craftsmanship, which have earned her several awards at burlesque festivals in Italy and beyond.
To participate:
For information write an email to info@veniceburlesquefestival.it or call the number (+39) 3397337707BOOKING AND PAYMENT:
booking of workshops must be made by paying the cost through www.PayPal.com to paypal@iantichi.org specifying which workshop you want to attend (choose "Send money to a friend").
Rules & Application
Application opening: June 1, 2025
Application deadline: September 15, 2025
Notification of selected applications: September 30, 2025
How to apply:
Send your application to info@veniceburlesquefestival.it, attaching the completed application
form in PDF format and the receipt of the registration fee payment.
Registration fee:
● The €20 fee is non-refundable.
● Payment must be made via www.PayPal.com to paypal@iantichi.org from the same email
address used to send the application (if this is not possible, please clearly note both in your
application and in your payment that you are using a different name).
● Make sure to note your legal name and performer name in the payment.
● IMPORTANT NOTICE: Do not forget to include the PayPal receipt in the application email.
Commitment:
● If you are selected to perform at the VBF, you must confirm by Sunday, October 6, by
sending an email with your MP3 music file (rename your music as yourstagename.mp3), 2
web-resolution photos (1 headshot, 1 full-length), and 1 high-resolution photo (minimum 300
dpi) (rename your file as yourstagename).
● If we do not receive your confirmation by Monday, October 6, your spot will be given to
another applicant.
● If for any reason you cannot fulfill your confirmation to participate in the VBF, let us know as
soon as possible. Failure to do so will result in your application not being considered in future
VBF editions.
● You cannot perform in similar events 7 days before or 7 days after the VBF in Veneto.
● All correspondence between performers and VBF, including the application, is confidential
and must not be shared with third parties before, during, or after the festival.
Expenses/payments and invoices:
VBF does not cover any of your expenses related to the festival (travel, hotel, or meals).
Choreography characteristics:
● Nudity: Full nudity is NOT allowed.
● Fire: Fire is allowed in the theater.
● Aerial: Aerial performances are allowed in the theater.
● Glitter: It is necessary to specify if the choreography includes the use of glitter or other sticky
or slippery substances.
● No choreography changes: The choreography selected through the video must be
performed without changes.
● Duration: The choreography must last a maximum of 6 minutes.
Video:
The application must include a link to the video of the choreography you wish to perform. The
quality of the video/lighting/background, etc., is not important; we need to see your entire
choreography without edits. It is important that the video link is not password-protected and
does not expire. We recommend easy-sharing sites like YouTube or Vimeo. Do not use
sharing sites that require registration, like Facebook or Dropbox. Downloadable videos will not
be considered.
Complimentary tickets:
● Complimentary tickets are not offered to family members or friends, who must purchase a
ticket to attend the VBF.
Communications:
● Correspondence will be sent via email, WhatsApp, or the dedicated Facebook page.
● For personal questions or concerns, please send an email to info@veniceburlesquefestival.it
or for emergencies, call 0039 3397337707.
Photos/Videos during the VBF:
● By submitting the signed application form, you consent to being photographed and filmed
during the VBF and that your image may be used to promote the festival.
Venues and technical information:
Technical information regarding the stage, lighting, venue access, dressing room, etc., will be
sent later.
Lighting requests will be considered if possible.
The theater is not always available, and VBF does not have additional equipment for
choreographies. If you need extra equipment, you must request it immediately after
confirmation.
No assistants/personal helpers are allowed unless authorized.
Rehearsals:
Technical rehearsals for your choreography will be possible at the venue on the day of the
VBF. Rehearsal times will be strict and subject to changes. Rehearsal schedules will be sent
before the start of the VBF.
Contact
VENICE BURLESQUE FESTIVAL
WEB https://www.veniceburlesquefestival.it/