Juju’s Burlesque Show is coming to Oakland

by JR Valrey, The People’s Minister of Information

The glamor of the 1920s and 1930s is being brought back for a night with Juju’s Burlesque Show, which is happening on Wednesday, June 10th, at 7:30 p.m. at Yoshi’s in Oakland’s Jack London Square. The night will be filled with traditional jazz, beautiful women dancing in a musical – mystique, seduction, beauty and sensuality. Burlesque shows have a long history in the United States, so i wanted Juju aka Jujuana Williams, to teach our readers about a forgotten part of Black history in the United States. 

JR Valrey: What is a burlesque show? And what is its history? 

Jujuana Williams: “Burlesque, at its core, is the art of seduction, storytelling, confidence and performance. A lot of people reduce it to just taking clothes off, but true burlesque is much deeper than that. It’s theater. It’s dance. It’s glamour. It’s comedy, sensuality, character work, music, fashion, and personal expression all living in the same space.

Historically, burlesque has roots that go back to the 1800s, where it began as theatrical satire and entertainment. Over time, especially in the early 20th century, it evolved into the glamorous cabaret and striptease culture many people recognize today. Legendary Black performers also helped shape burlesque history, even though they were often overlooked in mainstream narratives. 

What I love about modern burlesque is that it allows women to reclaim sensuality and performance on their own terms. In Juju’s Burlesque, we blend classic burlesque inspiration with live performance, soul, theater, dance, fashion and storytelling. It’s sexy and seductive, yes, but it’s also empowering, artistic, intentional and deeply human.

My goal is to create a world where people feel transported – where confidence, vulnerability, beauty and expression can all exist together.”

JR Valrey: When and how did you become interested in burlesque shows? 

Jujuana Williams: Before I even knew what burlesque was, I was already drawn to it. I loved artists like Madonna, Vanity 6, Tina Turner and Diana Ross — women who embodied glamour, sparkle, confidence and a kind of bold femininity that felt like the opposite of how I was raised, where things were more strict and about being covered and appropriate. I would imitate them whenever I could. 

I’ve always been drawn to the art of seduction meeting sophistication in dance. Burlesque and tease performance felt like a natural fit for me because it’s mysterious, expressive and entertaining all at once. What really pulled me in is that it allows women to fully express themselves and their bodies in a way that feels intentional and empowering. I also love that burlesque doesn’t have to rely on full reveal. I actually think there’s something even more powerful and sexy about keeping the audience guessing. For me, it’s about creating a space where women feel safe, confident and free in their expression while still keeping the artistry and imagination alive.

JR Valrey: When did you decide that you were going to start organizing your own burlesque shows? 

Jujuana Williams: Three years ago, I decided it was time to stop sitting on my skills as an artistic director and playwright. I wrote this show, pitched it to the legendary Yoshi’s, and one sold-out show later, here we are. 

JR Valrey: How do you pick the women who are in your shows? What kind of criteria do you have for them? 

Jujuana Williams: Honestly, in many ways, they picked me. I’m a Pisces woman in every sense – very intuitive, very empathic – so energy matters a lot to me. I did hold auditions, and of course, skill is important. Talent absolutely matters. But the women who ultimately made the cut had more than technical ability; they had presence, openness and the right spirit. 

In my world of theater and performance, synergy is everything. I want to genuinely enjoy working with the people around me. I’m not willing to compromise the energy of the room just because someone is highly skilled but brings a negative disposition. So the criteria really come down to this: be yourself, work hard to become your best, and lean into the family we’re creating through this show. Iron sharpens iron, and the rest falls into place.

JR Valrey: What do you want the crowd to get out of your shows? 

Jujuana Williams: First, Juju’s Burlesque is my rendition of a burlesque show. It’s intentionally an all-Black cast because representation matters to me, and I wanted to create a space where Black performers could be centered in glamour, sensuality, artistry and storytelling. What I want the audience to walk away with is both entertainment and experience. I want them to feel transported. I want them to laugh, feel sexy, feel inspired, and also leave having witnessed the depth of talent that exists in our community. 

A big part of this show is also my contribution to revitalizing Oakland’s arts and culture scene. Oakland is full of incredible creatives, but I wanted to help create more spaces where live performance feels elevated, immersive and memorable. I created the kind of show I personally wanted to see — something with glitz, glamour, talent, spectacle and an actual storyline woven throughout the experience. To me, the show is more than entertainment. It’s community, representation, theater, music, dance, beauty and Black artistry all sharing the same stage.

JR Valrey: What kind of music is played at burlesque shows? How would you describe the ambiance and soundscape of the shows? 

Jujuana Williams: Modern burlesque allows for almost any type of music really. Traditionally, people think of jazz, blues and big band sounds, but today it can be very open creatively. For Juju’s Burlesque, you’ll hear everything from jazz and blues to big band tunes. My show is structured like a musical, so the music and artists are intentionally chosen based on the storyline and emotional moments throughout the show.

JR Valrey: How can people buy tickets? 

Jujuana Williams: Tickets are on sale at yoshis.com.
SF Bay View Editor-in-Chief JR Valrey is a veteran journalist who can be heard weekly on Wednesdays on 89.5FM KPOO or KPOO.com from noon to 3 p.m. His work can also be heard on www.blockreportradioworld.com.

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