Fabulous science: this burlesque show combines glamour, dance and STEM

In a dazzling display of creativity and intellect, the second annual Queerd Science event takes the stage at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9 at Club Congress, merging the vibrant world of burlesque performances with engaging scientific research. 

This unique collaboration aims to celebrate diversity in the LGBTQ+ community while promoting LGBTQ+ researchers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Hosted by science communicator and burlesque dancer Dr. Pamela Pelletier, also known as Posie D'Lish, the event features a lineup of burlesque dancers each paired with a STEM researcher representing a different scientific discipline. The pair will interpret the field of study of each researcher through dance and music as a way of telling their LGBTQ+ STEM story.

Pelletier, outreach coordinator for the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research at the University of Arizona, is the host and founder of Queerd Science.

“I came up with the idea of Queerd Science because Nov. 18 is International Pride in STEM Day and I wanted to do a production that would really highlight the LGBTQ+ representation in STEM, which is surprisingly lower than any other groups within science and STEM,” Pelletier said.

Pelletier experienced combining arts and science when she went through her PhD program. She incorporated a science-themed burlesque show as part of her PhD project, called “Eden,” and produced it to showcase science through dance and performance.

She continued to combine her science communications experience with her love for burlesque after getting her PhD as she connected with other local performers and researchers to start Queerd Science.

“It was really important to me as a queer woman to be able to highlight the fact that there are a number of LGBTQ+ representatives in STEM — it’s just once you get to the level of academia, the STEM pipeline for women and folks who are LGBTQ drops off,” Pelletier said. “So the whole premise behind Queerd Science is to highlight and spotlight their work in STEM and presenting it through the lens of burlesque.”

The first Queerd Science show was held at Club Congress, 311 E. Congress St., in 2023. Pelletier partnered with the American Geophysical Union Voices for Science program, the Tucson LGBT Chamber of Commerce and the UA College of Science to put on the show. The initial show featured burlesque performers paired with researchers, along with music, a science talk and a raffle.

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“We had a fantastic show last year and we sold out,” Pelletier said. “We had a raffle last year too. I partnered with the Pride Committee at the Pima County Public Library, to have the raffle benefit their team and we raised $500 for them which they used to bring in an extra LGBTQ+ author this year for their programming.”

This year they are partnering with the Pride Committee at the Pima County Public Library again, as well as the Sonoran Institute.

This year’s show at Club Congress will also feature 10 burlesque acts, each 3-6 minutes long. 

“The creativity that these performers bring is incredible — to be able to interpret fields of STEM like molecular biology or environmental science or folks who are doing work in HPV research,” Pelletier said. “I think it is super interesting how the burlesque performers come up with a way to convey the research through dance and music and costume.” 

The emcee for the show alongside Posie D'Lish this year is Natalia Reagan, a former professor of anthropology who became a science comedian. The show will also feature local talent and highlight a wide variety of STEM research, according to Pelletier. 

Queerd Science 2024 is for ages 21 and up and will feature local burlesque dancers like Matt Finish, Doxy Divine, Ms Midnight and Dallas Van Dyke, just to name a few.   

Pelletier continues to advocate for LGBTQ+ representation and achievements in STEM by hosting shows like this in Tucson and across the nation. She has presented similar shows at science communications conferences across the country.

“It’s such a unique kind of show and I really hope that people who are interested in science come to this show and experience a different way of communicating science through art and burlesque,” Pelletier said. 

Tickets for the show can be found through Club Congress and are $10 in advance and $15 the day of. For more information, visit the Queerd Science website.