Marta Martinez

From the recent blockbuster film Burlesque to shows that are springing up in clubs and bars around the country, it is clear that the neo-burlesque movement that began in the 1990s is still growing strong. Queer women of color occupy a particular niche in neo-burlesque that synthesizes complex identity discourses. For queer women of color who are spectators, these performances offer a sense of belonging and community by recalling shared histories. The performers’ intersectional identity also exposes viewers from outside their communities to new visions of interpersonal understanding, as dancers turn the stage into a site of imagination, education, and transformation. A close reading of “Dominatrix of the Barrio” reveals the ways that La Chica Boom uses humor, sensuality, sass, and political savvy as a means towards resistance, survival, and self-liberation.