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Nerdvana: A Guide to the Experience

We are about two or less days away from Nerdvana, let’s take a look into what Nerdvana is and how you can right before May 3rd!

What is Nerdvana?

Taken from the lovely people of Nerdlesque Festival and Flying V, “The Nerdvana Experience is nerdy nightlife re-imagined; combining classic events like live drawing, trivia, burlesque, TED talks with dynamic, sexy, nerdy performance art. It is a celebration of radical nerdiness, sexual expression and freedom to show up as you are. Curated by award winning cosplayer and performance artist Maki Roll; each experience is designed to leave you reeling with a new appreciation for pop culture, live art, and alternative night life. Grab a ticket to an event that tickles your fancy or grab a festival pass for the whole week!”

Picture of the Nerdvana flyer. It says "The Nerdvana Experience" with a dark skinned "alien" with huge dark fuchsia afro puffs, wearing a yellow bikini and thigh high purple boots.

Where is Nerdvana?

Glad you asked! Nerdvana will be held at the Black Box Theater in Silver Spring, MD!

Venue Location information:

Black Box Theater (Map)

8641 Colesville Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20910

COVID Policies for Silver Spring Black Box Theater are HERE

Public transit:

Silver Spring Metro Station (Red line)

Parking:

  • Street parking, if available
  • Free parking at garage (Town Square Garage #61) Entry on Ellsworth Drive
Picture of the Silver Spring Black Box Theater (Outside). The sign is black and white, against blue brick.

What can I expect to see?

Nerdvana is going to be from May 3rd – 8th and the events are coming in FAST!

Image and hyperlink to the event Hitchhiker's Guide to Nerdlesque with Maki (she/her) and Martika (she/her). It says "Resting at the intersection of swarovski capes, sparkly spandex and erotic fanfiction, Nerdlesque is an artform unlike any other. This course is two parts. In the first, award-winning cosplayer, burlesque performer, and sexy nerd Maki Roll will teach you how to elevate your pop culture performance art, and undress your favorite nerdy characters (and concepts). In the second part of the course, One-Woman Stunt Show Martika Daniels will walk you through Silk Fans 101, a hands on course leading participants through the stunning art of silk fan performance."
Image and hyperlink to the event Nerd Safe For Work, hosted by Rae Pendergrass (they/them). It says "May the 4th be with you! Talk Nerdy to me, baby! Grab a drink and join Rae Pendergrass of Nerd Nite DC on a journey way way way down the rabbit hole as they host a TED Talk-style event that explores the topics we never covered in Junior High health class. This show will feature presentations on 3 different "where sexuality meets popular culture" topics woven together by a visual performance at the end, by third presenter Martika, that ties it all together."
Image and hyperlink to the event Sip N' Strip/Tassels N' Trvia. It says "Picture it (literally)! 7pm's Sip & Strip - an opportunity to bring your pencils and paper, grab a drink and sketch two performance artists ripped straight from the comic pages. No art skills necessary, we don't judge. (Includes one drink ticket for registrants 21+) At 8:30pm the space will flip and 6 teams of 4 will compete in a sexy, nerd trivia night: Tassels & Trivia. While we've only got space for 6 teams to compete for prizes, your general admission ticket allows you to watch, laugh, play along on the big screen and go "oh gosh I knew that!"
Image and hyperlink to The Main Event: Nerdvana! It says "YOU SHALL NOT PASS up this opportunity! Are you ready to sit in the space where nerd culture and burlesque meet? We can't wait to meet you there. Hosted by Nerdlesque Festival boss-lady and cosplay powerhouse, Maki Roll, this is going to be an unforgettable evening of sexy, nerdy burlesque performance where you can let your freak flag, and your geek flag, both proudly fly. Nerdvana is the heart of the Nerdvana Experience, and we're pulling out ALL the stops. The best part? This isn't even our FINAL form!"
Image and hyperlink to the Nerdvana Experience Swap and Shop! It says "Hello, traveler, need something for your quest? Something a little nerdy, a little sexy, a little cool? Join the Nerdlesque/Flying V family on Sunday morning to sample our wares and trade some of your own! The marketplace will be open from noon til 5pm, and filled with more than 20 vendors/artists with magical merchandise available - unique nerdy brands/businesses, fun, sex positive shops, and the highly curated closets of some primo performers presenting sexy cosplays, well preserved burlesque costumes, and even a few props. All this to some laid back tunes with available brunch snacks. Come hang out with us as the Nerdvana Experience week winds down. We'd love to see you."

Who all gonna be there?

See, I knew I liked you!

The AMAZING Performers

Picture of the performer Blu (they/them) wearing a blue bikini and white platform heels, hanging upside down on a pole. Image is clickable and lead a promotional instagram video of them. Blu is a cultural worker, freelance artist, and art educator based in the DMV area. They also offer limited classes in flexibility and spinning shapes. Through their performance and movement, Blu explores what it means to move freely, cultivate connections with others, and find moments of embodied liberation. Blu is often features at The Haux Hive, a sex positive community centering the safety and free expression of Black queen womxn, sex workers, and QTPOC. They also appear in shows and teach classes virtually and in-person across the country.
They/Them
Picture of performer Crimson Kitty (they/them) wearing a blue wig and a shiny off the shoulder blue dress with bell sleeves. Image is clickable and lead a promotional instagram video of them. Mx. Crimson Kitty is a nerdy performer with over 16 years of performance experience that celebrates the absurd, amplifies the surreal, and proudly serves obscure references that probably only 1 person in the audience knows! They have been featured in Pop Sugar, Oxygen, and more. They are known for their performances and hosting skills, nationally and internationally. Crimson Kitty is the cat’s meow in the NYC burlesque and drag realms and now across the country! Some of their recent appearances include: special guest judge for the Boston Drag Gauntlet, performer at Oasis Cabaret and Nightclub in San Francisco, CA, and performer and panelist at the Austin International Drag Festival in Texas. In February, Crimson Kitty celebrated their Sweet 16 as a performer by showcasing over 25 of their acts on Twitch and debuted new ones.
They/They
Picture of performer Dorian Bae (he/him) shirtless with silvery grey hair. Image is clickable and lead a promotional instagram video of them. Dorian Bae is “The Picture of Class with a Really Great Ass,” based within the DC/VA area. An exciting blend of Edwardian occult sensibility ad deeply nerdy references, Dorian has been entertaining for almost 10 years! Raised by feral fundamentalists in the Deep South, Dorian fled North to live a life of cheerful debauchery where he delights in the unsettlingly erotic and enjoys blurring the line between genders and genres. Dorian Bae has been bringing his upbeat, nerdy-based acts to burlesque shows and conventions both virtually and across the DMV. Most recently at GalaxyCon Richmond, Otakon, and the RVA Burlesque Festival Fundraiser! Dorian can often be found as part of charity shows for good causes.
He/Him
Picture of performer Happy BunBun (she/her) wearing an mesh white bra and panty set with matching thigh high stocking, white ankle boot with matching white hair and bunny ears. Image is clickable and lead a promotional instagram video of them. Happy BunBun is known as the fastest ass of Lucky 13 Saloon in Brooklyn, NY! Happy has been a go-go dancer and stage performer for over 10 years and likes to throw a little cosplay into the mix. Outside of the go-go scene, Happy is pursuing a degree in Social Work. You’ll usually find Happy BunBun in the middle of some metal at the Lucky 13 Saloon, but she also performed as a go-go dancer and stage kitten for local burlesque wrestling, and nerdy events like Brooklyn Comic Com! You’ll probably be seeing a lot more of Bun on the scene very soon!
She.Her
Picture of performer Jacqueline Boxx (she/her) wearing a studded black bra and a silver brown. Image is clickable and lead a promotional instagram video of them. Jacqueline Boxx’s mobility aids are as enticing as her activism and she packs an aesthetic and emotional punch, whether she brings classic tease, nerdlesque, or neo-burlesque to the stage. Her background includes aerial arts, clowning, hooping, cabaret, theater, belly dancing, swing dance, ballet, and numerous other kinds of performance art. Jacqueline Boxx’s acts are all related in some way to her experience with chronic pain and limited mobility, and she strives to bring attention through glamour and spectacle to disability. She has headlined and been featured in burlesque festivals across the globe while teaching workshops about mindful movement and burlesque essentials. In 2017, she became the first performer to ever compete in a wheelchair for a title at the Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekender. This year in 2022, she will be competing for the Miss Exotic World, “Queen of Burlesque,” at the same competition!
She/Her
Picture of performer Kimono Jones (she/her) wearing a off the shoulder pale yellow dress with ombre purple hair. Image is clickable and lead a promotional instagram video of them. Kimono Jones is a hyperfemme horror enthusiast and performer who discovered nerdlesque by accident and hasn’t been the same since. Hailing from Baltimore City, Kimono has been performing for over 6 years, appearing in exclusively geek-themed shows across the DMV and RVA. Kimono’s energetic and amusing acts are her ultimate form of adult self-expression: celebrating duality of playfulness and sensuality in nerddom. Throughout her nerdlesque career, Kimono’s exclusive performances have graced notable and historic venues like Black Cat DC and The Howard Theater!
She/Her
Picture of performer London St. Juniper (she/her) wearing a Princess Peach lingerie. Image is clickable and lead a promotional instagram video of them. London St. Juniper is a burlesque and sideshow performer local to Baltimore, Md, and DC. London’s background is in performativity rather than performance; as a scholar, London researches the construction and performance of identity through fashion in Victorian novel and contemporary comics. Named “Most Wicked” in Salem at the 2021 Great Burlesque Expo and Miss DC PinUp 2017, London is a painted lady from the pages of Penny Dreadful. Believing the only sin is packing light, London has stalked stages and pages across the US, collecting quips and tag lines as she goes. With a PhD in bad influences, London is coming to serve you creepy cheesecake straight from Stepford Suburbia.
She/Her
Picture of performer Maki Roll (she/her) with a bright green afro and mesh light green lingerie. Image is clickable and lead a promotional instagram video of them. Maki Roll, is an award winning performance artist, event coordinator, and pop culture entrepreneur. The Washington DC native started her creative journey in 2010 as a cosplayer and nerdlesque performer, soon branching out to guesting, hosting, and curating programming for conventions and nerdy events. Maki combines her geekiness, sexual expression, and self-taught artistic skills to build innovative performance and visual art experienced across mediums. She has been features by NPR, MTV, ESPN’S The Undefeated, and The Mary Sue. She is the current Executive Producer and Owner of the historic International Nerdlesque Festival, a space dedicated to the exploration and celebration of pop culture, sex positive entertainment and burlesque.
She/Her
Picture of performer Martika (she/her) with long white and colorful box braids. Image is clickable and lead a promotional instagram video of them. With over a decade of sideshow entertainment industry experience, Martika is Kansas City’s ONLY woman sword swallower and the only one-woman stunt show of her kind in the Midwest! From designing her own stunts to teaching classes and workshops, Martika east sleeps and breathes sideshow entertainment. Martika has since been featured on numerous local news outlets such as Fox 4 News KC and Lawrence Business Magazine. She travels solo around the world performing one-woman shows and teaches a variety of workshops, including at the top international yoga festivals. Martika graces the audience with her playful charm. Don’t let this fool…from hula hooping with bared wire to eating fire, her spectacular show will make the audience laugh and leave the masking… “HOW DID SHE DO THAT? I want to see more!”
She/Her
Picture of performer Minxy (she/her) wearing colorful African style rope jewelry and a tall golden collar necklace. Image is clickable and lead a promotional instagram video of them. Minxy is a content creator, event organizer, Black culture devotee, and founder of Sunny Dee productions. She is a pansexual relationship anarchist who specializes in discussing kink culture, intersectionality, and representation, ethical non-monogamy, and Star Trek. The mission of Minxy’s production company Sunny Dee is to facilitate connecting Black people with their heritage, to create safe spaces for Black folk to explore themselves and their interests, and to cultivate community – all things Minxy feels are necessary in order to process collective hurt, help each other heal, and move towards full liberation. Minxy’s content mixes non-monogamy, intimacy, intersectionality, battling internalized stigma, African traditional Religions, and tea sprinkled with many nerdy references.
She/Her
Picture is of performer Muva Magick (they/she) completely naked with the exception of blue, yellow, other multi-colored flowers over their body. Image is clickable and leads to their instagram.
They/She
Picture of performer Rae Pendergrass (they them), with a teal tank top with black bra straps exposed. Image is clickable and leads to their instagram.
They/Them
Picture of performer Ricky Rose (they/he) wearing a blue leather bra top, silver hair and round glasses. Image is clickable and leads to their instagram.
They/He
Picture is of performer Stormborn Unlimited (she/her) wearing an aqua green shirt with white leaves and brown ear bear-like ears. She is cosplaying Tom Nook from Animal Crossing. Image is clickable and leads to their instagram.
She/Her

And the FABULOUS Vendors!

Image of Bella's Tchotchkis display. It says "bella's Tchotchkis kitchy speciality shoppe for 3D Printed, Laser Cut, Jewelry and accessories" Image is clickable and leads to their instagram.
Bella’s Tchotchkis
Image is logo for Central Gaming Corps. Image is of various sizes and shades of green dots that form the Knight chess piece against various sized and shades of red and orange dots. Similar to a color blind test image. Image is clickable and leads to their instagram.
Central Gaming Corps
Image is logo for Chameleo Creations, which is white letting against a black backfground with a white and black chameleon whose tail makes the 'E' in Chameleo. Image is clickable and leads to their instagram.
Chameleo Creations
Image is the temporary logo for King Crow's Production, which is a picture of a black and white cat laying on a bed. Image is clickable and leads to their instagram.
King Crow’s Production
Image is the logo of KNC and CJC design, which is 3 purple marquise shaped dots that form a sideways "T" against a black background. Image is clickable and leads to KNC's instagram, where you can find CJC's profile in the bio.
KNC & CJC Design
Image is the logo for Kurenai Kiba. Image is clickable and leads to their instagram.
Kurenai Kiba
Image is a picture of Maki Roll with a bright green afro and mesh light green lingerie. Image is clickable and leads to their instagram.
Maki Roll
Image is logo for Middnite Designs which is a full moon and a purple starry sky with a magenta magical girl staff over it. Image is clickable and leads to their instagram.
Middnite Designs
Image is logo for MK, a Greeting Card Company, which is MK in black letting against a white background with a red heart next to the "K." Image is clickable and leads to their instagram.
MK, A Greeting Card Company 
Image is logo for NellieBean's Creations, which is a small silver haired girl with a white dress with purple trim, standing on a gold and brown sign that says "NellieBean's." Image is clickable and leads to their instagram.
Nelliebean’s Creations
Image is the logo for Tha Original Gata which is "Tha Original" in blue lettering and "Gata" in pink lettering with a semi naked black woman with pink and purple hair on the "T." Image is clickable and leads to their instagram.
Tha Original Gata
Image is logo for The Amazing Martika, which is a picture of a black woman with long black braids and multiple arms holding fans, fire torches, a sword, and a hammer. Image is clickable and leads to their instagram.
The Amazing Martika 
Image is logo for The Lich Omoi, which is a golden yellow circle with 2 layers of black circles inside. The first layer says "The Lich Omoi" and the second has a unique emerald like shape. Image is clickable and leads to their instagram.

How do I help spread the word?

Make sure to follow The Nerdvana Experience through Nerdlesque:

(click the images for links!)

Image is the Nerdlesque Festival logo. It Says "The 6th International" in light pink lettering over "Nerdlesque Festival" with pink, magenta, and purple marbling with "Presented By Maki Roll" in pink lettering underneath, against a dark purple background. Image is clickable and leads to a multi-link page.

Also keep up with Flying V:

Image is logo for Flying V which is a hot pink background with "Flying" in black lettering with a stylized "V" with wings under it. Image is clickable and leads to a multi-link page.

If you go to Nerdvana, use the following hashtags to keep up with the adventures:

#TheNerdvanaExperience

#Nerdvana2022

#NerdlesqueFestival

This entry was posted in:Bebop Talks

Published by Ashley Mika (She/Her)

Founder and Editor-in-Chief for NerdyBebop. Ashley is a writer and creator of everything anything nerdy. Huge fan of anime, so if you ever need a recommendation she's your girl! As the founder of NerdyBebop, she strives to make NB an inclusive and diverse hub of all thinks geeky and how we can make nerd space better.

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