Book both of Bella’s Masterclasses, and save $$!
Join our fabulous Bella de Jac for an afternoon of sex positive goodness!
Please keep in mind: This workshop will be taking place at 308 St Georges Road, Thornbury.
🌟 Lapdance 102 (Open Level) 🌟
⏰ 2:30pm - 4pm
Following on from our Lapdance 101 workshop at Summer School we're bringing you Lapdance 102!
Last time we covered the basics and this time we'll be taking it one step further! Connect with your body and love yourself sick in this lush, slow, sensual dance workshop. We continue our learning with techniques for creating a safe and sensual space, whether just for you, for an audience of one, or to take onto the stage. Explore perspective, creating a safe and exciting experience, focussing on intimate connection and awareness with yourself, expressing genuine sensuality, and welcoming the viewer's gaze.
What to bring:
F*ck rug, fake fur, or even a yoga matt and a blanket! You'll want something to roll around on & bring something you can take off. Anything from a t-shirt, dressing gown, or a dress that slips off easily.
Heels or bare feet both welcome.
Feel free to wear something that makes you feel gorgeous!
🌟Politics of Sexual Performance (Open Level) 🌟
⏰ 4:15pm - 6pm
The Burlesque Performers toolkit is so much bigger than E6000 glue, pastie tape and fishnets!
In this introduction to the politics of sexual performance and Burlesque, we'll be adding to the social political toolkit every Burlesque performer should have. Whether you're new to the magical world of Burlesque, or you've been treading the boards for a while, it's essential to have an understanding of the context of the Burlesque revival within the timeline of sexual performance. This workshop will be introducing you to the language and information to build a foundational understanding of the sexual politics of Burlesque, stigma, lateral whorephobia and how to liberate yourself from your inner morality cop along the way! Learn how to be a great community member AND learn some great subjects to bring up at the next big family barbeque!
Content & Accessibility Notes
Touch/Interactivity: As step above a completely introductory workshop, there may be light inter-participant or "teacher to participant" demonstration of perspective and eyeline in this class as is comfortable for participants. Physical touch will be avoided as much as possible.
Physical accessibility: We will be spending a lot of time on the floor & on a chair. There will be some getting up and down but how this happens can be modified to suit participants needs to some extent. It will include stretching, bending, kneeling, and straddling movements around a chair or on the floor.
Discussion topics: There will be conversations about bodies - yours and others, gender, sex/sexuality, consent & boundaries. The approach to these conversations from the instructor is non-judgmental and necessary for the content of the class to demonstrate how to safely navigate both physical and emotional interactions with a participant in a lapdance. Bella makes every attempt to guide attendees to participate with the same respect and non-judgement but cannot make guarantees about the content of conversation or statements from or between participants.
Please note these are live in-person Workshops located in our Thornbury Studio. Class numbers will be capped.
About Your Instructor
Glamour queen, party girl and powerhouse of the Australian Burlesque Industry Bella de Jac brings a formidable weight of experience to the stage.
With a ridiculous number of titles, awards, and headlining tours under her belt, she maintains a careful balance of utter debauchery with serious hard work.
Bella is Miss Burlesque Australia 2015, and a strong advocate for body-positive, sex- positive, feminist performance art. She has sung, danced and acted her way across Australian and international stages from Melbourne to New York, London and beyond.
Taking out both #31 and #50 in the 2016 & 2017 21st Century Burlesque Top 50, headliner of countless tours, co-director of BEAST and Bitch Stole My Act, and winner of a slew of awards including the most recent, The Australian Burlesque Lifetime Achievement Award, Bella has been a key figure within the Australian Burlesque Industry for over a decade.
Described as both an exquisite creature and a powerful and captivating performer, Bella's penchant for pushing acceptable social boundaries is cleverly disguised by the grace and glamour of her shows.