Burlesque Taster

Burlesque Taster

21 July, 2008
by: Nahga

Well, as far as dance lessons go, this is the most radical I've tried out. When I checked the website beforehand, it had mentioned comfy clothes a.k.a a pair of heels and long coat. Was that all?

Initially I worry about cramming the full monty into an hour and a half but in the end I'm pleasantly surprised. The whole experience is designed to build confidence with your movements and body, as Nikki the instructor says "not about ripping your clothes off". This is a very tasteful burlesque style, about peeling off layer by layer in an act of sensual seduction. Since this was just the taster, we only get as far as the coat; nipple tassels feature around lesson four.

Burlesque is based mainly on sensual satire and exaggerating body gestures. Are you a seductress slowly teasing the audience by removing a glove and throwing it in their direction, or a 'cheesecake girl' (the stereotypical cute girl jumping out of a cake) hopping around, giving a quick flash and running off?

After a warm up, we evolve into a few different characters we could assume, a gradual change from a disinterested vixen stomping around to a full out show girl. As the whole point is to emphasise your body, posture is integral to how you pull off the whole ensemble. So after the first awkward minutes of feeling like an idiot prancing around like a wannabe model, we get into character and it all ties together.

The best section has to be the 'you are your items' take on the accessories. Ok, I can tell what you're thinking and there's no whips involved – instead gloves and feather boas. Using the accessories to show love and hate, hide and seek, it’s like acting out a story – am I hot in my coat, yes I'm going to undo a button, no wait I've changed my mind, I'm going to flick up the collar... coordinating the movements with the music.

I feel refreshed after the session. However, I fear the ladies wearing the stiletto heels are exhausted. Leaving the studio with a deeper insight to the burlesque notion, my shoulders are back and my head high.

Anyone with any slight curiosity or alternatively, anyone suffering body insecurities should give this a try. At £115 for a 6 week course, with average class sizes of ten, and held in an intimate studio venue decked out with Victorian sofas, fireplaces and in built poles, this place emits an authentic vibe.

For more information on Burlesque shows and events visit Ministry of Burlesque.

Nahga