Maker ★ Artist ★ Author
Lauren Onça O’Leary, professionally known as Madame Onça, is a career entertainer, producer, artist, author and lecturer based out of Richmond, Virginia. Her work regularly takes her across the United States as well as to the UK and Europe. She has been working full time in the arts for over twenty years, with accomplishments spanning many fields.
A published artist and author, she created the World Spirit Tarot, described upon publication as an instant classic. The accompanying book was a collaboration with writer Jessica Szucka Godino. Onça has written extensively for Middle Eastern dance publications such as Zaghareet! Magazine. She has done many book covers for publishing house Llewellyn Worldwide. In 2023 she made the Yuletide Monsters Oracle Deck continues to create new works exploring folklore, myth, spirit and whimsy.
★ Check out some of the events Onça has produced ★
Asheville Burlesque & Sideshow Festival
Currently running for 15 years. Asheville, NC.
Virginia Burlesque & Sideshow Festival.
Ran for four years. Richmond, VA and Staunton, VA
TribOriginal: Tribal Dance, Music, & Culture Camp
Ran for seven years. Black Mountain, NC and Charlottesville, VA.
Virginia Theatrical Bellydance Festival
Ran for five years. Richmond, VA.
Bandit Queens Bellydance Brunch monthly showcase
Ran for five years. Richmond, VA.
Richmond Juggling Festival
Ran for three years. Richmond, VA
★ Explore the world with Onça ★
In 2021, Onça began collaborating with RenAdventures Tour Company. She provides logistics and on-the-ground support as well as entertainment for both the Cultural group tours to Europe and the Destination D&D gaming tours to the United Kingdom and to New Orleans.
★ A few more things she’s great at ★
Madame Onça dazzles with compelling songs, soulful dance, witty stage banter and engaging pedagogy.
MC
Onça is a renowned show host/MC/FemCee, hosting cabaret, variety, and cirque shows.
Singer
A torch singer with epic chops, Madame Onça smolders, whether singing a capella or with her band Those Weird Neighbors. An album is in the works at last.
Stilts
Costumed characters on stilts! Mushrooms, Baba Yaga, holiday Elves, and more!
Instructor
Articulate, informed and folksy, she has taught stagecraft, dance, MC Skills and tarot at festivals, studios, and other venues across the US, UK and EU.
Dancer
Madame Onça is a professional Fusion bellydancer, producing instructional DVDs and teaching and performing extensively in the US at dance festivals, studios and cultural events. She has taught at TribalCon, TribalFest, Tribal Revolution, Third Coast Tribal Festival, Elevation, Rakkasah Fest and many more events, as well as in Germany, Czech, Scotland and on a Caribbean Cruise Ship.
She was also the first person in the world to receive a General Skills Certification from dance pioneer Carolena Nericcio, FCBD (™).
Producer
Onça is an accomplished event producer, having produced dozens of workshops, concerts and weekend-long festivals in North Carolina and Virginia. She also provides production support on adventure tours to Europe, the UK, and in the US.
★ Director ★
In 1999, she co-founded the Future of Tradition Center for Folkloric Arts in Asheville, NC, acting as the studio’s Director of Programming for seven years. Onça brought in movement instructors and Masters in many traditions including West African Dance, Flamenco, fire and flow artists, Capoeira, Middle Eastern Dance, and Hula.
Onça was Founder and Director of the Baraka Mundi Live Music & Dance Ensemble and Bandit Queens Bellydance, both based in Asheville, NC, performing fusion bellydance and live music at Renaissance Festivals, private events and community gatherings for many years in the 2000s.