Do It Anyway: Reflections on My First Burlesque Festival
Ana Actual Performing at the 2026 Vermont Burlesque Festival
I got my photos back yesterday from performing at the 2026 Vermont Burlesque Festival. This was the first festival I've ever participated in as a performer, and I have to be honest– to no fault of the photographer, I was disappointed with my photos. I knew I would be, but let me start with some back story.
The festival ran Thursday to Saturday and was smaller than previous years. They actually weren't going to do it anymore, but everything was still well done and very professional. I arrived Wednesday because I made the decision to do the drive– approximately 7 hours. I didn't get to really experience Vermont until Thursday. It was so cute. We visited the small shops during the day and got to speak with locals. We learned how to pronounce "Barre" properly 🙂…it's like "Barry" not "Bar." Montpelier is the city of bridges, which added to the charm of the city. We stopped at a "dispensary" for catnip…which I'm currently denying my cats because we had an incident, but otherwise it was the best (LOL cats being cats). We finished the night at the first show of the festival and had a blast. As introverted as I can be– I got to meet performers and make new friends, one of which will be in our upcoming spring show!
Friday morning hit and I was feeling good. I tend to schedule lightly on performance days because I like to think of them as a self-care spa day. Everything was going well until I ate. I have a history of stomach issues and sensitivities, so this immediately sent me into despair as I felt my body ballooning up. I was uncomfortable, I had a headache, and my hormones were a mess. The moment I had been anticipating suddenly felt ruined. I tried to make the best of it, but I felt so disconnected from myself that it was difficult, and the pictures reflect this. The bummer was that the very next day my body returned to normal. Literally the one moment I was waiting for was the only letdown.
Despite this, I'm very grateful I got to experience my first burlesque festival as a performer. I loved meeting new people despite being kind of shy and introverted– honestly, everyone was pretty quiet due to nerves until the show, and then we all loosened up. I always see those posts on social media: "Do it tired, do it scared, do it anyway…" and I think there's real truth to it. I would have been disappointed to have missed this experience, despite not feeling my best. I'm human, I'm female, and I have a sensitive stomach. I'm learning that the first time doing anything means the routine that works best for me isn't built yet. I'm trying to give myself some grace– it takes experience. I loved Vermont and look forward to traveling to other places to perform.
