An Award-Winning Immersive Cabaret Returns to Toronto’s Iconic Lula Lounge
After a series of sold-out shows and enthusiastic applause across Canada, The Dancing Djinn Cabaret makes its way back to Toronto for a special performance at the iconic Lula Lounge.
The Dancing Djinn Cabaret is an engaging theatrical and musical experience that mixes live singing, original songs, bellydance, drag, shadowplay, and cabaret storytelling. This show is crafted and performed by Nikotine, the host and Arabesque vocalist, along with Samara, a renowned bellydancer-both Lebanese immigrants deeply involved in drag, theatre, and performance art.
Nikotine has been wandering through the desert for so long that she has lost track of her origins or her destination. All she possesses is a magical lamp that whispers to her at night. It’s said that a powerful djinn resides inside: the spirit of Samara, the ancient Queen of Queerabia. Drawing inspiration from ancient Andalusian queer Arabic poetry and Sufi mysticism, this show weaves together storytelling, humor, and shadowplay.
Bilingual rock in English and Arabic, piano ballads, and jazz cabaret are performed live with no lip-syncing in a lush Arabesque visual setting. Hand-beaded costumes enhance the timeless beauty of Arabian bellydance along with its rich storyline and history. The performance is humorous, vibrant, thrilling and truly moving.
Presented in an intimate cabaret style, the show takes place close to the audience. Performers weave between stage and crowd while following a narrative thread that transforms the evening into a communal experience. Audiences often describe the show as joyful, emotional, and surprisingly transformative.
Here’s what some audience members have said:
“The best show I’ve ever seen at the Lula Lounge.” – Alex S.
“I didn’t know what to expect but I was really blown away. I left transformed; it felt like a ritual.” – Najma W.
Merging cabaret with musical theatre and performance art, The Dancing Djinn Cabaret provides an extraordinary live experience celebrating storytelling, cultural exchange , and dazzling performances.
