Today we’d like to introduce you to Valencia Nix.
Hi Valencia, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve been performing since I was little! I grew up in Tomball, TX – dancing on school teams, singing in choirs, and acting in plays/musicals. I later earned a BFA in Musical Theatre (Dance Concentration) from Sam Houston State University and moved within Houston City Limits after graduation. Unfortunately, I was incredibly burnt out at the end of my degree from course overloading and working three jobs. So I got very little auditioning done within the theatre scene before I took a break to focus on myself. During this break, I started attending the Broads Way at Michaels’ Outpost and the various Moonlight Dolls burlesque shows at Prohibition Supper Club. It was during this time that my love for drag and burlesque was solidified!
I did a few small theatre projects here and there, but nothing really seemed to stick. Except for Strange Bird Immersive – where I found my love for immersive theatre productions. Then came 2020 and ALL shows stopped for a bit due to lockdowns. Until – some drag and burlesque shows started up live streamed performances on Twitch, Instagram Live, etc. Once it was a bit safer to attend shows in person, my quarantine bubble started producing burlesque shows and needed a “stage kitten” (a burlesque stage hand). I started my burlesque journey there and haven’t looked back!
6 years later, I’m still performing regularly with Strange Bird Immersive. I’m still performing at the Broads Way a few times a year as a guest singer. And my burlesque journey has led to performing across states, working along side national and internationally acclaimed burlesque legends, and finally dipping my toe into the producing/hosting side of things! I recently brought my first variety burlesque show, Distilled Desires, to local distillery Drop of the Creator Spirits Co. We had an incredible show and an incredible audience turnout – I absolutely loved it! Honestly, I couldn’t have asked for a better artistic journey thus far!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road has definitely had some potholes along the way. I didn’t have the most stable environment growing up, so I have always been a performer with a corporate day-job. That choice has certainly meant saying no to artistic opportunities because they conflicted with my work hours. Sometimes, I’m not able to pour my focus into a project as much as I would like to. Or, I simply finish working on a show or a project at 2am and have to clock in at 8am the next day. On the flip side, keeping a day job means I’m able to provide insurance for my partner and I and take time off to rest when my health declines. It allows me the privilege to weather the ebb and flow of plentiful gig seasons vs drier ones when audiences may not be spending on entertainment as much. Most importantly, it allows me the discretion to say yes and no to what I truly want to work on artistically without the fear of it hurting my bills the next month. There are pros and cons for sure.
EDIT: Funny enough, I recently was laid off from my day job. 2 days notice after 4 years of service was certainly a shock, but the severance pay helps! For once, my focus is able to fully be on my art and my rest. If performance has taught me anything, it is how to stay resilient and adapt!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a Houston based producer and performer who loves creating experiences that help audiences escape reality for a little while. My background is in musical theatre, but over the years I’ve found a home in immersive theatre, cabaret, and burlesque. I’m probably best known for wearing a lot of hats—whether that’s performing onstage, coordinating backstage, producing shows, or helping bring a creative vision to life.
What I’m most proud of is building a career that feels authentically mine. My path has been winding but is has led me to incredible opportunities, amazing collaborators, and a creative community I truly love. Producing and hosting my first variety burlesque show, Distilled Desires, was a huge milestone and reminded me how much I enjoy creating opportunities not just for myself, but for other artists as well.
I think what sets me apart is that I bring both creativity and organization to everything I do. I’m just as comfortable managing logistics and solving problems behind the scenes as I am stepping into the spotlight. That combination has helped me thrive in a lot of different spaces!
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I have lived within the greater Houston area for most of my life. But the breadth of diversity I experience on a daily basis doesn’t really hit me until I leave Houston. The food! The people! The culture! You sometimes have to dig a bit to find your community here. But once you do, it is incredible. That being said, the infrastructure could use some work for sure! I wish we had a more robust transit system across ALL neighborhoods to help foster that connectivity and community.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thevalencianix/
Image Credits
Addams Photography, Haley E. R. Cooper, Showgirl Studios, Showgirl Studios, Lexie Jackson, Lens of Leia
