Defiant Silk

About

Nominated "Best Performing Arts Festival 2023 & 2024" by the Chicago Reader!

In celebration of AAPI Heritage Month, The Newport Theater hosts its third annual festival of fringe arts from Chicago’s Asian American Pacific Islander community. It’s a jam-packed month of burlesque, bellydance, circus arts, drag, music, cultural dance, and more!

Dawn Xiana Moon, Producer

Dawn Xiana Moon is the Founder/Director of Raks Geek / Raks Inferno, a bellydance and fire performance company that's been featured on MSN, UK Channel 4 TV, WGN-TV, and more. She herself was named "Best Stage Performer" (twice), "Best Dancer" (twice), and "Best Choreographer" (twice) by the Chicago Reader. She's taught and performed in London; Toronto; Austin, TX; Washington, DC, and more; she appeared on Britain's Got Talent in 2020.

Dawn is also a musician who's performed in 10 states, released 2 albums, and sung the national anthem for the Chicago Bulls; her music is a blend of folk/pop with influences from jazz and traditional Chinese music. She was named runner up for "Best Singer-Songwriter" and "Best International/World Music Act" by the Chicago Reader.

Joona Bae, Social Media Manager

Get ready for the gochujang of burlesque! Born in South Korea and raised in Chicago, Joona Bae is an international performance artist who adds a much-needed spoonful of gochujang to the burlesque world. Since their spicy debut in 2023, Joona has performed in over a dozen different burlesque festivals, including Ohio, Panama, and Vancouver International Burlesque Festivals. Recently, Joona won the "Coolest New Kid" Award at Silver Tusk Burlesque Awards '25.

Joona also co-produces Diverse Desires, a cabaret show that highlights BIPOC cultural representation in nightlife.

Honey Bee Rose, Volunteer Coordinator

Known as the Glittering Goddess with the Heart of Gold, Honey Bee Rose is an electric, fun loving international burlesque headliner, producer, and emcee based in Chicago.

Performing professionally for a decade with the former name Ms. B LaRose, this fiery Filipina-Latina encapsulates the love of modern striptease storytelling. With a raw, sultry, mischievous side smile, unapologetic prowess, and dynamic musicality, Honey Bee Rose is one of the industry leaders most hypnotizing burlesque artists to watch, captivating audiences worldwide.

Nature’s Golden Nectar with sweetness in every drop, they are the first recipient of the Gaggy’s Nightlife Award for Best Burlesque Entertainer of the Year and the world’s 2024 reigning Mx. Exotic World, Queen of Burlesque!

Producers Emeritus

Bazuka Joe

Bazuka Joe is an international burlesque and cabaret performer with over 20 years experience touring professionally. He also produces shows for the Burlesque Hall of Fame, Newport Theater, Links Hall, and is the director of Newport Theater Camp.

Originally trained as a jazz and contemporary dancer, he also is skilled in vault staff and puppeteering. Major highlights in his career include performing with Sublime Boudoir, Alan Cumming, and Liza Minelli.

Crocodile Lightning

Crocodile Lightning has twirled her signature ribbons and performed across the USA and in New Zealand, Australia, Switzerland, Sweden, Germany, and Canada.

Crocodile Lightning was crowned the 2019 Queen Ambassador of the Noire Pageant. She was the headliner at the 7th Fierce! Queer Performing Arts Festival in Columbus, OH in May, 2019 and the featured performer and the winner of the Biggest Tease award at the 7th Oklahoma City Burlesque Festival in June, 2019. She was also the 2019 1st runner up of the Grand Master Funk at the What The Funk All PoC Burlesque Festival.