05/28/2026
Accessibility at the Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekender is an ongoing practice.
The Burlesque Hall of Fame Accessibility Committee was formed in 2023 to support more equitable participation across all aspects of the Weekender, from performance and adjudication to audience experience, venue access, backstage conditions, and public-facing communication.
The Committee brings together working artists and practitioners with lived and professional experience across burlesque and disability, including Alyssa Kitt Hanley, Jacqueline Boxx, Lakota Shekar, and VaVa Vashti, with prior contributions from Apple Angel, working alongside Director Dustin Wax.
Our work is both practical and structural. We collaborate with producers, venue staff, volunteers, performers, and community members to identify barriers to access and implement site-specific solutions within the realities of a large-scale live event. Our work responds to the specific conditions of each venue, event structure, and community context.
Since 2023, the Committee has contributed to key changes, including review of judging frameworks and selection criteria; the development of an accessibility addendum for more inclusive evaluation practices; earlier integration of accessibility into production planning; venue walkthroughs; backstage assessments; performer circulation planning; quiet / low-sensory space; ASL interpretation; accessible seating and service models; and expanded Know Before You Go materials.
Our approach is responsive and iterative. Working within the constraints of historic venues, production timelines, and live performance environments, we focus on identifying barriers in real conditions, implementing practical and achievable solutions, and building accessibility into the structure of the event.
Accessibility at the Burlesque Hall of Fame continues to evolve. Our work includes ongoing review of adjudication frameworks, performer experience, audience access and experience, and communication strategies, as well as developing longer-term approaches to inclusion across the field.
We welcome feedback and engagement from performers, attendees, and community members as part of this process.
Read the full Accessibility Committee statement and access information here: https://bhofweekend.com/bhof-accessibility-committee-statement/