PLEASER is a dance short film about an exotic dancer who struggles with their femininity and masculinity as they discover they are non-binary.

Our film has been chosen as one of the top 20 films to premiere at Innovate Dance Film Showcase in September 2026.

Since I was a kid, I struggled with femininity and masculinity. My mother had to be both the mom and dad of the house, that duality of feminine and masculine soon became a constant in my life. Growing up with three brothers, I was surrounded by “boy stuff” and was constantly called a “tomboy” by my peers. I got to high school and tried to dress more “girly” to not be considered “one of the boys” anymore.

As I grew up, I became much more confident in my fluidity of gender. Not catering to the male gaze or what woman are “supposed” to look like. When I rediscovered dance in my late twenties, I found a community in an adults only studio in Vancouver, BC called Passion and Performance. They prioritize creating a safe space for all levels, bodies and abilities. While I don’t identify as non-binary, I’ve met many wonderful humans who do and have gone through hell and back to get to a place where they’re comfortable in their own skin.

Through this community, I’ve seen these people discover and celebrate their individuality. Breaking down their binary bindings through dance and art. The stories that we tell through dance aren’t told by our genders, it’s told through our movement and performance.

I feel this story should be told because this style of dance is inherently feminine, but it doesn’t have to be. I want the audience to recognize the athleticism and skill that sex workers put into their jobs. I want people to watch this film and be inspired to try pleaser heels dance, regardless of what their bodies look like or how they identify. Let’s remove all of the stigma, ego and clothes. Let’s drown out the self-doubt and shame with the clacking of eight inch pleaser heels. Let’s celebrate sensuality and appreciate art in all its forms by all its performers.

I am funding this project solely by myself, but this film will be made whether or not we hit our goal.

The funding will be used for many things like renting equipment, buying insurance and sourcing costumes and set decorations, but the main cost is paying our artists. Everyone is volunteering their time and creativity because they believe in the project and trust me. Each and everyone of the amazing people involved on this team deserves to be paid for their work. All of our cast and crew have multiple jobs and gigs on the go to make ends meet. They grind to give themselves the freedom to pursue their art and in hopes of being paid for it.

I will personally pay everyone if I have to because I believe in them and our film. It might take me a few years to do it, but I will because they deserve it and no artist should work for free.

This film recognizes and supports sex work as real work. It stands with Vancouver's LGBTQIA+ communities and it will collaborate and feature Canadian artists.

If anything I’ve said has resonated with you and you’re passionate about telling stories and creating art or you just want to help artists get paid for their hard work then please donate if you can. I understand times are hard for everyone, so if you can’t donate then please share our project with your friends and family.

We acknowledge that this project will be filmed on the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.

We cannot wait to share our project with you!