Asheville’s ‘Americana Burlesque & Sideshow Festival’ takes place this weekend. Its theme this year is empowerment, as organizers say dancing, juggling, and politics are all connected. Festival rehearsals take place at a micro-farm along New Leicester Highway. Onca O’Leary – a belly dancer who performs as Madame Onca – says burlesque is a whole lot more than just female dancing and striptease. “The word burlesque means ‘satire.’ There’s this notion always in the burlesque and sideshow