the Fast & Luxurious/the Femme & the Furious
Joy Rider is a multi-award winning international burlesque artist and headliner. She is a 3-time winner (Most Innovative, and Best Small Group 2023, Best Debut 2022) at the Burlesque Hall of Fame in Las Vegas, burlesque’s most renowned international competition and showcase. Based in Tiohtià:ke/Montreal, she is a featured regular performer at Montreal’s most established burlesque venues, the Wiggle Room and le 4e Mur. She uses her signature blend of glamour, power, storytelling, and sensuality to create acts about identity, queerness, struggle and joy.
Born in Manila, Philippines and raised in the Canadian Prairies, Joy began dance and musical theatre at the age of 6 years old. Since starting burlesque in 2018 she has made waves including winning the 2019 Edmonton Burlesque Festival Bunny Competition, competing as a finalist at the 2022 Miss Viva Las Vegas Burlesque Competition, being voted into CultMTL's Top 5 Burlesque Performers in Montreal in 2022, 2023 & 2024, and performing in Las Vegas, New Orleans, the United Kingdom, Toronto, Vancouver, and beyond!
Her work has been supported by the Canada Council for the Arts, MAI-Montréal, arts interculturels, CanAsian Dance, Tangente Danse, and Festival Accès Asie.
In her time offstage she is an art therapist/mental health counsellor in private practice and is either roller dancing or cuddling her cat Pony.
Awards & Accolades
2024
Burlesque Hall of Fame M-Exotic World Finalist
CultMTL Top 5 Best Burlesque Performers in Montreal
Parbleux Inception Residency
2023
Burlesque Hall of Fame Best Small Group Winner
Burlesque Hall of Fame Most Innovative Winner
CultMTL Top 5 Best Burlesque Performers in Montreal
Canada Council for the Arts Explore & Create Grant
MAI Montreal Arts Interculturels Studio Residency
2022
Burlesque Hall of Fame Best Debut Winner
CultMTL Top 5 Best Burlesque Performers in Montreal
Miss Viva Las Vegas Finalist
MAI Montreal Arts Interculturels Alliance Program
2019-21
MAI Montreal Arts Interculturels Alliance Program & Studio Residency
Edmonton Burlesque Festival Bunny Competiton Winner
Select Performances
HEADLINING & FEATURED GUEST PERFORMANCES
2024
Toronto Burlesque Festival, Toronto, Ontario, Headliner
Festival of New Dance, Neighbourhood Dance Works, Newfoundland Co-headliner
Sticky Rice Magazine x Fierte Montreal, Montreal, Headliner
Pride Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Headliner
Prideful Sinners, Toronto, Ontario, Headliner
Cabaret Pénurie de paillettes, Festival AccesAsie, Montreal, Headliner
Tailfeather Productions, Ottawa, Ontario, Headliner
Limestone City Burlesque, Kingston, Ontario, Headliner
2023
Carnivale de Sensuale, Oriental Theatre, Denver, Colorado, Headliner
A Suivre, Montréal Arts Interculturels, Montréal, Co-headliner
CanAsian Dance Kickstart Festival, Meridian Arts Centre, Toronto, Co-headliner
CanAsian Dance Kickstart Festival, Tangente Danse, Festival AccesAsie, Montreal, Co-headliner
Fierte Montreal x Blush Party, Montreal, Headliner
What the Funk Festival, Seattle, USA, Headliner
Highway to Hull, Hull, United Kingdom, Headliner
Bagel Burlesque Expo, Featured Guest
2022
Deanne Taylor Theatre Festival, DellArte Burlesque Festival, Headliner
Revival, Arts Court Ottawa, Featured Guest
2020
Vancouver International Burlesque Festival, Featured Guest (rescheduled due to COVID-19)
SELECT SOLO PERFORMANCES
2023
Festival Phenomena, Montreal
Burlesque Hall of Fame, Movers, Shakers & Innovators, Las Vegas
Teaser Festival, New Orleans
2022
Burlesque Hall of Fame, Las Vegas (Winner: Best Debut)
Miss Viva Las Vegas International Burlesque Competition, Las Vegas
Bagel Burlesque Expo
2020
Burlesque Hall of Fame, Las Vegas (rescheduled to 2022 due to COVID-19)
Bagel Burlesque Expo (rescheduled to 2022 due to COVID-19)
Teaser Festival, New Orleans
2019
Edmonton Burlesque Festival, Edmonton, Alberta
Pride/Fierte Montreal, Parc de Faubourgs, Montreal
2018
Ottawa International Burlesque Festival
Montreal Fringe Festival
RECURRING PERFORMANCES
2018- Present, Wiggle Room, Montreal
2022- Present, 4e Mur Montreal
2023- Present, Playground Casino Kahnawake
2022- Present, Société de développement commercial Village Montréal
2019- 2023, Cirque de Boudoir
