Fifteen years is a reason to celebrate. In Mexican culture the quinceañera marks a girl’s transition to womanhood. The traditional 15th wedding anniversary gift is crystal and the flower is a rose, symbolizing transparency and passion respectively. Fifteen years is also Sin Sisters’ latest anniversary–-making them the longest-running burlesque and drag troupe in Santa Cruz (coincidentally, Crystal Rose is a great stage name).
To celebrate, the Sin Sisters are having a blowout anniversary show at the Kuumbwa on Saturday, April 11th.
“It’s not about one person, it’s about the community,” says founder and performer Cyanide Cyn. “The community is what’s kept us going because people show up for us.”
It’s a community that regularly attends every month at the Kuumbwa and has since the Sisters’ first days at the Catalyst.
“We couldn’t ask for a better 250 people to hang out with,” declares emcee and performer, Madame Luke.
For those of us seasoned enough to remember, the very first Sin Sisters show was actually a benefit for our local roller derby team, the Santa Cruz Derby Girls. It was in the 1000-person capacity main room at The Catalyst and was packed with people ready to support the team and see some action on stage.
It continued in the Catalyst Atrium every month for six years with seven to eight performers and even bands in the early days. In 2017 the Sisters found a more intimate home in their current location at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center.
Unlike other venues with burlesque shows, it’s a place where performers can relax and be themselves while still living up to their stage characters.
“I think what sets us apart is when you’re in the Green Room, we have the best time,” explains performer Sylvia Wrath. She’s been with the Sin Sisters for three years and has a number of fan favorite acts, like her stage stretching 13-foot bat wings and Toy Story’s Sheriff Woody.
“We’re usually back there laughing, taking pictures, helping each other in and out of costumes,” she continues. “It’s just the best vibe. I look forward to the show because it’s like hanging out with your friends.”
Their dedication to the craft is another reason that makes the Sisters shimmy out from the rest.
There’s so much more to burlesque and drag than people realize. Sure, performers have to find the perfect music to accompany their act and then endlessly practice their routine.However, they make their costumes and outfits by hand, painstakingly sewing stitches, gluing sequins and building whatever accoutrements needed (like 13-foot bat wings).
“I have been working on a new costume for the 15th anniversary show for over a month,” Cyn admits. “And I am nowhere near done after working on it practically every day.”
Yes, it takes a community to smoothly execute the show and every single performer and crew member—like Tommy Powell-Demeuth who has worked sound for the show since day one—deserves to be recognized for their hard work. Yet, one person’s been the thread running throughout the seam of time. The glue on the pasty holds them all together. Although she doesn’t like the attention, credit must be given to Cyn because without her, there would be no show.
She works tirelessly at every event, making sure it goes well, from hand-picking performers, creating fliers, and helping performers with outfits and numbers. She even makes sure they’re paid (and well) before they even hit the stage for the night.
“She’s the most amazing mentor to people and brings out the best in them,” Luke says. “She’s an active advocate for people in the community, and I don’t know where she finds the energy.”
And for 15 years, Cyn has made sure it’s a show where everyone feels welcomed and can be their true selves.
At every Sin Sisters event, consent is taught for the safety of the performers and the comfort of the audience. Performers will often go into the crowd during a set, but if an audience member doesn’t want to be touched, they can put up a hand to wave the artist to the next person.
“I pick performers who are exceptional on stage and off stage,” Cyn says. “We don’t label ourselves as a queer show because we’re a safe space for everyone. However, all of our performers are queer. It’s important to have a space where queer performers are applauded and revered in a society that is pushing us out.”
Sin Sisters 15th Anniversary Show. Saturday, April 11th. 8:30pm. Kuumbwa Jazz Center, 320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $33.85–$44.52
