What to Expect at Your First Burlesque Class
Thinking about trying burlesque for the first time? Feeling a little nervous? You're not alone! Almost everyone who walks through our doors for their first class has butterflies in their stomach. The good news is that your first burlesque class is far less scary than you might imagine – and a whole lot more fun!
Everyone Starts Somewhere
One of the biggest worries people have is that they'll be the only beginner. Trust us, you won't be. Our classes welcome people of all ages, shapes, sizes, backgrounds, and experience levels. You don't need to know how to dance, own a feather boa, or have any previous performance experience. All you need is a willingness to have fun and try something new.
Meet Your Teacher – MiMi
From the moment you arrive, you'll be greeted by our friendly and encouraging teacher, MiMi. She understands exactly how it feels to walk into your first class and will help you feel comfortable, relaxed, and welcome. There is absolutely no pressure to be perfect – the focus is on enjoying yourself and building confidence at your own pace.
Expect Laughter, Confidence and Fun
Burlesque is about so much more than dance moves. It's about self-expression, confidence, creativity, and celebrating yourself. During class you'll learn simple movements, poses, and routines in a supportive environment where everyone cheers each other on.
Don't be surprised if you find yourself laughing, smiling, and forgetting all about those nerves within the first few minutes!
What Should I Wear?
Wear whatever makes you feel comfortable. Leggings, joggers, shorts, t-shirts, vest tops – it's entirely up to you. Many people start in regular fitness clothing and gradually add a little glamour as they become more confident.
Parking Information
We have a small car park available at the venue. If the car park is full, don't worry – there is plenty of street parking nearby, making it easy to get to class.
You Might Surprise Yourself
Many people come to their first class feeling nervous and unsure. By the end of the session they're already asking when the next class is! Burlesque has a wonderful way of helping people discover confidence they didn't know they had while making new friends and having an amazing time.
So if you've been thinking about giving burlesque a try, why not take the plunge? Come along, meet MiMi, have a laugh, learn something new, and discover why so many people fall in love with burlesque.
Your first class could be the start of something fabulous!
"If you’re unsure whether this is for you because you doubt yourself and how you look, you worry about being judged by others or you feel you’re too old, too fat, too unfit, or too *anything unkind* about yourself then read on.
I’ve spent the last 20 or so years cultivating a dislike of my body. Too large, too soft, too droopy, too horrible. This way of thinking limited so much of what I have wanted to do. A while ago, I made the conscious choice to start learning to love my body again and trying some of the things I had put off doing for fear of how other people might judge me for my body shape and size.
This week, part of that amazing journey back to loving myself, involved joining a group of remarkable women in dressing gowns, in a softly lit hall with the curtains closed. All facilitated by the ever smiling and welcoming MiMi. I looked around and guessed I probably hadn’t been the only one furiously googling “nipple tassels on saggy boobs” the night before, or trying on every pair of knickers that *might* just hide their belly more.
But the giggled conversations we shared getting ready were not about how we looked, they were about how to put on the nipple tassels, how this was something we hadn’t done before, but had always wanted to do and how nervous we were. There were women in makeup and women without. There were tall women, short women, slim women, fat women, women of all shapes and sizes. There were women in their full suspender and garters and women in their bra and kickers. There were stretch marks, flat stomachs, cellulite and toned muscles. Some wore their heels, others their trainers and the rest with their bare feet. Some women stood confidently and proud, others more shy and timid.
As the music started and we warmed up, the dressing gowns started coming off. My focus was on getting my feet to go in the right place and remember what I was doing. I was admiring the beautiful, strong bodies of the other women around me and the novelty of dancing in my underwear with a bunch of strangers. I became less and less focused on how I might look and more and more focused on the fun I was having. I had already decided that I wasn’t planning on whipping my bra off at any point, but by the end of the night, it was flying through the air with everyone else’s. As I stood there proudly in my tassels with my feather boa around my neck, I felt happy and just a tiny bit more in love with my body and the incredible things it can do.
And when I got home, nipple tassels still in place, I stood in front of the mirror and got them to twirl and I smiled for once at my reflection. So if you are still having doubts or unsure, I would so very much like to reassure you that it is okay, you won’t be alone and like me, you might just learn to love yourself that little bit more and oh, how wonderful that will be!!"
-Kitty Von Smitten
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