Performing at Oslo Nye Teater

On Saturday, February 8, I had the pleasure of performing at Kiki Burly Q at Oslo Nye Teater – a stage that holds space for storytelling, resistance, playfulness, and raw expressive power.Stepping into my Jessica Rabbit area? Nah — just waacking and punking ❤️Yesterday’s performance at @kikisburlyq.

I have long held a deep love for the burlesque scene. Not only for its aesthetics and performance art, but because its movement language and political roots in many ways mirror what punking represents — even though the expressions themselves are different. Both styles are about liberation, identity, and ownership of one’s own body.

Punking was born in the gay Black and Hispanic disco scene of the 1970s. The dance style was highly inspired by 1930s, 40s, and 50s Hollywood movie stars, 1970s cartoons, superheroes, martial arts, ballet, gymnastics, Bruce Lee, Japanese folk dance — and even Mexican cowboys.Posing and “whacking” the arms together with the groove became a way to liberate an oppressed sexuality.

For nearly 20 years, punking/whacking disappeared from the dance scene due to the AIDS epidemic — the so-called “gay cancer” — which claimed the lives of close to one million people in the United States, mostly homosexual men. In the early 2000s, the style was reborn as waacking, and much of its essence has survived through female dancers who found it just as liberating as the creators originally intended. A way to express oneself freely — strong, powerful, elegant, and playful all at once.

A huge shout-out goes to the woman behind these incredible cabaret nights. I am a big fan of Norway’s burlesque queen @xkikicherie ❤️The work she does to build the burlesque dance scene in Oslo is truly admirable. Her performance art and skills are beyond magnificent — a feminine magnet filled with grace and elegance.

It was also such a joy to spend time backstage and connect with people from the burlesque and drag scenes. Dancers and drag queens with an unmistakable entertainment X-factor — and an absolute pleasure to share space with. I highly recommend checking out their profiles and seeing them perform live:

@vedadecadenza (Finland) @ladyrivet (Sweden) @divinepearlline (Norway) @its.bellebottoms (Australia) @ria.the.revolution.rider — also hosting many amazing fundraisers for the LGBTQ+ community in Oslo

The night was powerfully and warmly hosted by @mamaemcee 🔥🔥 And a special thank you to kitten @moxiesundae, who was incredibly helpful throughout the evening 😍

Thank you so much for filming: @ginaaleman93 and @linnkeri 🙏🏻❤️

This night was a reminder of why I love being on stage — and why these expressions still matter. To me, it’s about history, freedom, and community. And about taking up space, fully and unapologetically.

— Irlin