WHAT IS BURLESQUE?

Burlesque first showed its bottom with the “tease” in an ancient Greek play by Aristophanes called Lysistrata – a comedy where the women characters in the play used their sexuality and sensual wiles to convince their husbands to stop the war through sexual blackmail and tease. Burlesque was then seen performed by many Vaudevillians & confronting performers in the 1840s as a political satire and commentary of the social classes.

A typical Burlesque night included 3 or 4 acts of comedy, dance, mime, singing & striptease, with a grand finale. Burlesque then made its way to the shores of the US in early 1900s where the tease (and titties) had major influence. Over the next four decades many burlesque venues were opened up where great performers such as Gypsy Lee Rose & Zorita took to the stage.

Nowadays Burlesque can be clearly defined in two categories – the European political satire, involving taboo topics and risqué performances, and the other being the American pin-up girl style of the saucy tease. At Bottoms Up! we combine both genres.

Burlesque has since evolved dramatically and new burlesque, or neo-burlesque, tends to try to shock the audience and takes on many forms. It includes acts based on the earlier conventions of strip tease, cabaret, comedy and elaborate costumes but brings the original foundations of political satire to the relevant issues of day.

BURLESQUE BEGINNERS

For the absolute burlesque virgin! Bump and grind, peel and pose your way through this 8-week course. Learn the history and the foundations of Burlesque through playful poses, shimmies and shakes, hip and chest isolations, undulations, glove peeling and Burlesque struts. While learning technique and moves you will be guided through a choreographed group routine giving you the tools needed to develop body awareness and confidence, along with a cheeky and seductive burlesque attitude!

This course is for those with little or no previous experience in dance and burlesque.
All levels of fitness welcome.

BURLESQUE INTERMEDIATE LEVELS

For the girl who has kissed before! Be introduced to ‘the art of tease’ through sassy stocking peels, basic character development, and more complex moves. Drawing inspiration from the 1920’s Cabaret era, this dynamic class incorporates the use of chairs, and has been created to include cheeky pin-up poses familiar to the style of burlesque. A great way to improve core-strength, flexibly, and flirtation! Completion of Beginners Burlesque or previous experience in burlesque and dance is required. Basic level of fitness required.

INTERMEDIATE 2

For the girl who longs for more! Take the tease to another level – in more ways than one. Learn floor work, formations and caricature faces, through a more complex and playful routine. Through the use of boas and combining burlesque moves with basic tango and jazz, this course will teach you how to work solidly as an ensemble member and will improve your spatial awareness.  With a little bit more to peel and reveal, all students will have the opportunity to use pasties for the first time (please note: this component of the course is absolutely optional!).
Must have completed Burlesque Intermediate 1 or Fan Dance

INTERMEDIATE 3

Add pizzazz to your burlesque vocabulary! This course introduces you to different styles of dance that compliments any burlesque routine. Combining the burlesque art of tease with Tango and Charleston styles. You will learn how to incorporate chairs and umbrellas into your routine. During this course you will be introduced to a fast paced, comical component of burlesque.  Develop strong character faces through the use of mask techniques.
Must have completed Burlesque Intermediate 2 or have a sound knowledge of dance and burlesque. Medium level of fitness is required.

BURLESQUE ADVANCED

Get it off!  Advanced levels continue with intricate choreography while revising use of all props including fans, umbrellas, chairs and hats. Advanced levels assume a good understanding of burlesque, and here you will be introduced to Laban technique to help with clarity and precision in your dance.  You will be indulged with special guest teachers Vika Paprika, who will take the tease to another level, and Sarah D who will get your booty shaking! Now that you have reached this level you will be expected to develop a short improvised routine to demonstrate to the class in the final lesson.

Must have completed Burlesque Intermediate 3 or have a sound knowledge and experience of dance and burlesque.

Medium level of fitness is required.

ADVANCED CHAIR

This dynamic course will expand your chair dance skills to more complex and impressive moves!  Combining cabaret, burlesque and the Art of Tease with tricky manoeuvres this course will improve your cardio fitness, flexibility, core strength and stamina whilst developing a cheeky and playful character.

Must have completed Burlesque Intermediate Levels or above, and have a good level of fitness.

CLASSIC BURLESQUE TEASE

Inspired by the 1930s – 1950s feminine, glamourous Burlesque beauties of this time, Classic Tease will teach you all the tricks of tantalising & teasing your audience with a load of flirtatious fun. Starting gently with walks & poses, you’ll be guided through the techniques of glove peeling, stocking peeling, bra peeling and tassel twirling – the art that Burlesque is renown for. Featuring slow, sensual tease to fast paced high energy shimmy shaking – this course will give you the tools you need for your classic tease!

Open to all levels Beginners to Advanced.

Fantastic for beginners, and brilliant for those wishing to refine their seductive tease.

IMPROVISATION & MOVEMENT

Back from an intense month of training in Paris with the master in clowning Philippe Gaulier, 
Willow J will introduce you to the joy of improvisation, movement and characterisation. 
Working with props and costumes in improvisational scenes with other students, this fun 
and energetic theatre course is aimed to get you thinking and moving quickly on your feet.

Open to all guys and gals of any level and age.  Beginners Welcome.

BURLESQUE SOLO DEVELOPMENT*

Discover and uncover the solo character that lies within.  Explore the comical and travesty elements of burlesque, along with the sensual and seductive Art of Tease. Through acting techniques students will be trained in how to build a character and develop a story that is true to their style and taste.  Students will become skilled in techniques of how to keep ‘story’ alive and how to captivate an audience.  

Students are expected to create mini routines with classmates in duos or small groups, along with improvisations. All participants are required to perform demonstrations of solo works to the class on a regular basis, as their work progresses. It is expected that students will spend time outside of class researching and developing their work.  On completion of this course students will have developed a solo act, and have the necessary stagecraft skills required to take to the stage!

*This course requires two terms (16 consecutive weeks) of commitment. Willow, Jacquie and Claire will teach this extensive course so as to provide you with a range of techniques. Completion of Advanced 1 or extensive previous experience in theatre, dance or burlesque is required.  If you have not completed Advanced Burlesque or above at Bottoms Up! you will need to discuss possible enrollment with Jacquie or Willow, and/or may be required to partake in an interview/audition process. This course is intended for people seeking professional work in the Burlesque industry.

Course Cost: $500/460 if paid in full prior to course commencement 
- to be paid in two installments ($250/230 at the beginning of each 8-week term) 

Class time: 1hr and 15 mins.

Classes are strictly limited to 8 students.