Madame Onça O’Leary
ABSfest is a Future of Tradition production. FoT has been a force in shaping and sustaining the arts in Western North Carolina since 1999. Founded as a Center for Folk-arts, FoT for many years housed traditional and evolving visual, movement and music artists under one roof. Many long-standing groups had roots there, particularly in the fire and circus arts, bellydance, African, and Latin dance communities.
In 2006, FoT shifted primary focus to event production. Founded and produced by Madame Onça, the most comprehensive programs have been the seven year festival, Triboriginal: Tribal Dance, Music and Culture Camp, and ABSfest, the Americana Burlesque & Sideshow Festival, with new projects such as the all-new Virginia Burlesque & Sideshow Festival, now in the works.