Apprentease Applications

The Apprentease – Burlesque Excellence Awards!

Please see competition dates on the Tickets/Dates page.

Applications for Victoria are now open. Entries close 17th October 2026.

Application Criteria

  • The Apprentease is open to solo performers over the age of 18 years old, and they must live or have their primary occupation in the state they’re applying for.
  • Performers must perform one Burlesque act. The act must include the art of tease.
  • Competition is open to all genders and backgrounds.
  • Open to solo performers who are not yet working professionally (being booked regularly in paid burlesque show spots) in the Burlesque industry.
  • Performers will be judged on Characterisation, Engagement, Visual Presentation, Art of Tease and Movement & Musicality.

Competition Rules

  • Hand held props only, strictly no major props
  • 1 cabaret style chair available, no tables to be used due to storage unavailability.
  • No more than 1 backup dancer/ person prop
  • Act must be under 5 minutes and all music edited into one track.
  • No acts which depict cultural appropriation.
  • Venue licensing adhered to, ie: pasties worn and modesty coverage.
  • No use of real glass due to stage safety.
  • No animals
  • No mess – this includes the use of glitter, confetti, mylar, streamers and liquids⁣⁣⁠
  • Sideshow acts, acts depicting harm to self or others – including weapons such as guns or knives – and acts with elements that may cause harm to others (lasers, whips, fire etc) are not permitted. If you are unsure of any element in your act, please contact your state producer to clarify.

Judging Criteria

(10 points each section, 50 points total)

  • Characterisation
  • Engagement
  • Visual Presentation
  • Art of Tease
  • Music & Musicality

Statement of Appropriate Behaviour

The Apprentease is committed to providing a platform to build a positive and supportive environment for the Australian burlesque community. We aim to support a thriving and diverse space, where performers from any background are welcome.
The Apprentease encourages and celebrates diversity

Bullying

Bullying of any kind is not tolerated within The Apprentease contest, including both physical and online spaces.

Cultural Appropriation

No acts that depict cultural appropriation will be accepted into The Apprentease contest.

Want to know more? Get culturally educated here.

  • You must be currently living or working in the State you are applying for. Please see the tickets page for your State/Region competition date.
  • 60 words or under. This will be used if you are chosen as a contestant in the competition in your announcement on social media.
  • Max. file size: 5 MB.
    Upload a photo you would like to have used to promote you on social media if you are accepted to compete. One professionally shot profile photo of yourself should be uploaded here. Please label the photo file as 'Your stage name, photographers name', ie: 'Bobbie Apples, photo by David Woolley'. Photos should be over 500KB, a minimum of 200 dpi in resolution, but under 5MB, and in a jpg, jpeg or png format. You must permission by the photographer to use this photo. Having troubles uploading your photo? Email it to theapprentease@gmail.com with your stage name after you've filled in your application form.
  • Please give us a link to an example of your Burlesque work. Only one video link is required. This DOES NOT have to be footage of the act you will be performing at the competition, but an act you consider to be some of your best work.
  • Please write a detailed description of the act you would like to perform at 'The Apprentease'. If you have a video link of the act, include this as well, but this is not essential if still in development. If you are selected as a competitor, your act must be the same as what is written in this form. Any changes, MUST be approved by the state producer/s.
  • Max. file size: 5 MB.
    Please pay a $10 application fee into PayPal account " https://www.paypal.me/theapprentease " if applicable and attach PayPal receipt here. This fee is non-refundable. Max. file size 5MB. In a commitment to making our space more welcoming and inclusive for our community, if you identify as BIPOC or Disabled, you are not required to pay the application fee.
  • Please check one of the boxes above.

  • ACT DETAILS

  • Upload your track in a MP3 format only and please title your track accordingly: 'Your Stage Name - Apprentease State/Region name 2022' ie: 'Bobbie Apples - Apprentease WA 2022' Please email us at theapprentease@gmail.com if you have any trouble uploading your track.
    Max. file size: 512 MB.
  • Please write the exact name of the track title once correctly labeled to the requirements and the exact length of track, ie: Bobbie Apples - Apprentease WA 2022 (4:45)
  • Please list the names of all tracks used in your act track. This is to see if there are any double ups with other contestants.
  • Please tell us when your music should start (when you are off stage or in position on stage). If you have a starting position, tell us what that will be. Any lighting cues or particular colours for your act? You are permitted a maximum of 4 lighting cues. Do you want a black out or exit the stage with the lights up? Please note, follow spot not available.
  • Just the predominant colours, this will help with lighting choices.
  • Please note that only hand held props are allowed, you will have access to one available chair.
  • ie: Fast moving or flashing lights, loud noises, smoke machine, act content warnings, balloons, etc..