Lakota Shekhar is an international, award-winning performer who has been captivating audiences since 2012 through a range of artistic disciplines. As the founder of Blackwater Cabaret, Ohio's longest running Afro-Latin owned production, Lakota champions diversity and representation by featuring BIPOC, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ performers in every show.

Beyond the stage, Lakota is a dedicated disability advocate, accessibility educator, and community leader. She is the co-producer and co-owner of both The DisabiliTease Festival and The DisabiliTease Academy—platforms created to ensure that disabled performers are seen, heard, and celebrated for their authentic selves. She serves on the board of both Burlesque Hall of Fame and The International Ohio Burlesque Festival. 

Lakota also works professionally as an Accessibility Liaison and Accessibility Assessor, lending her expertise to organizations, events, and venues striving to meet and exceed ADA standards. Her voice has been featured in accessibility forums across the country, including speaking engagements with the Ohio Democratic Caucus for Disabilities.

Through workshops, courses, and public speaking, Lakota continues to empower producers, performers, and advocates to build a more inclusive creative world—one accessible stage at a time.