Elise Pallagi Biography
Elise Pallagi (She/her) is a spoken word poet, multi-disciplinary performance artist, and Program Coordinator of Tonight it’s Poetry. She has had the privilege of performing with It’s Not a Box Theatre Company, Saskatoon Indigenous Poets Society, SUM Theatre, Rosebud Burlesque Company and is a graduate of One Yellow Rabbit Summer lab.
Elise has represented Saskatoon twice at the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word as a member of the Saskatoon Poetry Slam team in both 2017 and 2018. Her writing and performance work focuses on her personal experiences and struggles as a transgender woman growing up and living in Treaty 6 territory in the Canadian prairies.
Elise is a sought after entertainer who has been a featured artist at many special events, such as The Nutrien Fringe Festival, Prague Quadrennial Festival, Vancouver Poetry Slam, Regina Word Up, Breath in Poetry, Tongues of Fire, Saskatoon Poetic Arts Festival, several Pride Festivals, and as both a performer and stage MC for the Ness Creek Music Festival. Her strong presence at Saskatoon slam competitions, poetry readings, and community building public events has been receiving considerable positive reviews, fueling her fire to continue performing provincially and nationally.
Combining elements of Vaudeville and Burlesque with her love of roller derby, Star Trek, and defending human rights gives Elise’s style of writing and performance a unique resonance on any stage. Elise uses her voice to create space, aiming to empower others with marginalized voices to claim their space by speaking their own truths as well. Elise conveys emotional authenticity and relatability in her work that moves audiences, touches hearts, and changes minds.