(This story is sponsored by Vancouver International Burlesque Festival.)

The glamour! The sparkle! The spectacle! It can only mean one thing: Vancouver International Burlesque Festival (VIBF) is back in town. Returning to the city from April 3 to 6, this year’s festival promises to delight audiences with dazzling dancers, bawdy drag performers, and satirical stripteases.

Now in its 14^th year, VIBF was founded with the aim of showcasing the art of burlesque and celebrating sexuality and diversity. The now-world-class festival features a four-day schedule jam-packed with unforgettable experiences—and this year is no exception.

“We want to celebrate all forms of sexuality on our stage this year and present performers who reflect the people living in this dynamic city,” says VIBF president Sparkle Plenty. “Representation is important, and seeing someone like you on-stage creates a sense of belonging, proving that sexiness transcends size, age, race, and more. Every body is a burlesque body!”

At Tit Talks: Teach. Inspire. Transcend, taking place at the Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art on Thursday (April 4), audiences can enjoy an intimate evening of TED-style talks presented by esteemed performers, academics, and producers.

But a festival highlight is always the showcase evenings, which feature many of the world's most renowned burlesque performers—from Golden Age legends to the best of Vancouver's own “glitterati”.

At The Showpony Soiree  on Friday (April 5) and The Glamorama Gala on Saturday (April 6), attendees are encouraged to come dressed up in their best “eleganza”. Audiences will enjoy fierce performances by dynamic striptease artists from all over North America, including headliners INGA and Lou Lou la Duchesse de Rière, as well as burlesque legend, Pillow.

Enjoy an evening of performance finery, and celebrate the dynamic spectrum of sexuality and gender expression through comedy, drag, and sensual striptease.

VIBF takes place April 3 to 6. To learn more about the shows and featured performers, visit the website or follow VIBF on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Individual tickets and weekend passes are on sale now and can be purchased at vibf.ca/tickets. Enter below to win two tickets to The Showpony Soiree (valued at $70) taking place on Friday (April 5).