our story
Boombox Burlesque originated from a group chat among NYC Burlesque performers. During a discussion about the current festival landscape and uncelebrated event types, Rain Supreme proposed a compelling idea: "There should be a Hip Hop burlesque festival." Recognizing its immense potential, Stella Nova, Miss AuroraBoobRealis, and ILOV GRATE teamed up with Rain to create a festival that merges the energy, attitude, and cultural significance of Hip Hop with the artistry and allure of burlesque. Utilizing their unique skills as producers and performers, "the crew" formed a collective dedicated to challenging stereotypes, celebrating Black culture, and showcasing the beauty and artistry of both Hip Hop and burlesque. At the 2024 Silver Tusk Awards, Boombox Burlesque won the Visionary Award for Breaking Ground in the Industry.
On a Mission
The mission of Boombox is to celebrate the legacy of Hip Hop and its roots in New York City through the art of burlesque, highlighting the beauty of both art forms. The festival aims to educate and entertain audiences while uplifting the New York City Black and LatinX community that has been instrumental in the evolution of the Hip Hop genre since its inception. Boombox Burlesque is a platform for diverse and talented performance artists to showcase their skills and connect more deeply with the native Hip Hop community in NYC, creating a dynamic and inclusive event that inspires creativity, encourages personal expression, and fosters a love for all things Hip Hop in the city that started it all.
Awards & Media
2023 – White Elephant Burlesque Podcast
2024 – Silver Tusk Awards winner: Visionary Award for Breaking Ground in the Industry
2024 – Assorted Chocolates Podcast
The Boombox Crew
ILOV GRATE
The Queen of Lap Dance
ILOV GRATE is a New York City-based producer, performer, and movement facilitator with over a decade of experience in theatrical and nightlife production. As a co-founding producer of the Boombox Burlesque Festival, she applies her background in building sustainable, artist-led platforms to the festival’s infrastructure.
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Her production experience is expansive, spanning the U.S. and England, where she has stage-managed diverse theater and dance productions. This technical foundation informs her approach to every project, prioritizing artist-centered planning and logistical precision for local takeovers, one-night-only events, and large-scale festival environments.
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As a creator, ILOV has written, produced, and performed several solo shows, including the autobiographical production Celebrated Sinner. She also facilitates the Lap Dance Lab workshop series, which features her signature step-by-step methodology, Giving Good Chair. Whether producing as a soloist or collaborating within a team, ILOV is dedicated to process-oriented production and the continued evolution of the performance arts.
Miss AuroraBoobRealis
Elemental, Sensual, Power
Miss AuroraBoobRealis lights up the night stage with her unique mixture of raw and earthy, wild and fearless burlesque! She is an interdisciplinary performing artist creating in the intersections of burlesque, dance, theater and poetry. Central to her existence is the fact that Aurora cannot and will not separate herself from her art, race, or political beliefs.
She is the co-founder of brASS: Brown RadicalAss Burlesque, and back in 2007, Brown Girls Burlesque.
Aurora has graced burlesque stages across the country from NYC to Seattle, Portland, Austin, Boston, Minneapolis, Philly, D.C. and more! She is a multiple Silver Tusk award winner, Executive Director of BurlyCon, the 2024 Sassy Lassy Award winner at the Burlesque Hall of Fame, mom to a brilliant kid, and an aspiring Beatboxer.
Artistically, politically and culturally coming of age in the Golden Era (88-95); Hip Hop techniques and aesthetics are one of Aurora’s influences on her creative process and movement style. She samples and mixes herself. Aurora is honored and super hyped to bring her skills and passion to the Boombox Burlesque producing collective.
Rain Supreme
The Chocolate Deluxe Queen from Queens
Rain Supreme is a Queens born burlesque bombshell! She’s a 2x Silver Tusk Award winner, and the 2021 Blerdlesque Festival Slinky Saturday winner. Rain is a core cast member of Hairology - A Burlesque and Drag Introspective on Black Hair and Cultural Appropriation. She's also 1/3 of the award winning Assorted Chocolates Podcast which airs on the 19th of every month.
Rain made her international debut in December 2023 at the “Baby Grand Burlesque Festival” in Cape Town, South Africa and made history as one the 3 first ever Black performers to participate in the festival.
Known as "The Chocolate Deluxe Queen From Queens," (Shout out to The Wu-Tang Clan) Rain is a Hip Hop lover to her core! Rain is a co-founder/co-producer of Boombox Burlesque, and is very proud to be producing this festival in her hometown of NYC!
Stella Nova
The Celestial Explosion of Burlesque
The Celestial Explosion of Burlesque, Stella Nova is NYC’s resident Hip Hop burlesque artist and the producer of The Nova Experiment, an NYC show collective that explores diversity and expression within nightlife and co-founder of Boombox Burlesque: A Hip Hop Burlesque Festival.
She has performed in shows and festivals across the country including the Mi Gente Burlesque and the Booklover's Burlesque Festivals, voted Favorite Producer at the 2023 Silver Tusk Awards and Boombox won the 2024 Silver Tusk Visionary Award for Breaking Ground in the Industry. Hailing straight from the Boogie Down Bronx, she’s got Latin heat mixed with her Afro soul and she’s always ready to bring her (s)ass to the stage.
