Burlesque 101: The Essential Burlesque Dance Series
with Headmistress Jo Weldon and Superstar Guest Instructors!
Questions not answered here?
Email schoolofburlesque@gmail.com.
ESSENTIAL BURLESQUE
In-Person in NYC
Location: Playwrights Studios (must buzz in)
440 Lafayette St NYC 10003, Fourth Floor
Price: $155.00
Prepayment required.
Register using the paypal "add to cart" buttons below
This is it!
In this month-long series you'll discover all the distinctive elements of burlesque! Learn how to do an unforgettable striptease, a seductive chair dance, a fabulous fan dance, and a titillating tassel-twirl.
You'll do a full routine the very first day, using your own clothing! Later, you'll use our boas, gloves, pasties, and fans.
Registration package includes all four classes. Detailed class descriptions are lower on this page.
Let us know if you have issues with Paypal.
REGISTER FOR NOVEMBER 2024 $155 for series, $45 a la carte
Sundays November 3, 10, 17, 24 1-2.50 PM
440 Lafayette St, NYC, 10003, Fourth Floor
Full Series
A La Carte
Essential Burlesque will not take place in December 2024.
REGISTER FOR JANUARY 2025
Sundays January 5, 12, 19, 26 1-2.50 PM
440 Lafayette St, NYC, 10003, Fourth Floor
Instructor: Jo Weldon.
Strictly limited space, prepayment required.
Location: 440 Lafayette St in Manhattan by Astor Place, Fourth Floor, Studio 4c
This series features four workshops, each focusing on a different mode of burlesque solo movement with props. Props include your own clothes, plus our chairs, feather fans, boas, gloves, and even tasseled pasties!
This class will sell out, so register as soon as you're sure you're interested.
To register, pay in advance using the paypal button.
Paypal will send you a receipt, which is all you'll need to know you're registered! You won't recieve any other acknowledgement of registration before the class other than your Paypal receipt.
Individual class details available further down on this page to help you prepare for each class -- be sure to read all after you register.
All ages, body sizes, and races encouraged and welcome.
Series is based on a femme style of movement and presentation, but registration is not restricted to any gender identities.
72 hours cancellation before first class in the series required for refund.
Individual Class Descriptions and What to Bring to Class
LIVE IN NYC
Classes are not available individually.
After every in-person class you'll receive an email with additional inspiration and tips and a link to watch a video version of the same lessons and choreography, if you'd llike to practice at home. These videos will also be sent to you so you won't miss out if you miss a class, since we don't have makeup classes (although we do have class on how to do your makeup).
Striptease Expertise
A lecture on the theatrics and psychology of striptease, followed by exercises to get you into a seductive groove.
Jo Weldon will go over her 15-point toolbox for making your striptease seductive as it can be! If you've never done a striptease before, this will put you at ease. If you're an experienced performer, it will refresh and renew you!
What to wear or bring: a hoodie that zips and opens all the way down the front, or a button down shirt (two demos will be offered so you'll know how to use both).
Chair Dance And Stocking Peel
You'll learn a simple but sexy chair dance, using a basic folding chair. You'll learn a full routine, plus stocking peel tips!
What to wear and bring:
A leotard or top and shorts so you have bare legs
A pair of stretch stockings. See these details on stockings
Fan Dance
We will teach you all about burlesque fan dancing, then demonstrate a series of signature moves with large ostrich fans. You'll even get to hold and learn a move with the instructor's stage-worthy fans!
If you have any kind of fans, bring 'em!
Look at The Burlesque Handbook to see Jo Weldon's signature fan dance moves!
Classic Moves
Jo Weldon teaches the routine that launched a thousand burlesque careers! As seen in The Burlesque Handbook. Learn a full burlesque routine with a boa tease, glove peels, bumps n grinds, and tassel twirls in every direction!
What to wear or bring:
A standard back-hooking bra in addition to whatever you're wearing.
Otherwise, you don't need to bring anything but a desire to do a full routine that includes tassel-twirling! This is the only class where we will get topless, and that is in order to put the pasties on. The instructor will supply the following for you to borrow for the duration of the class, or you can bring your own:
Six- foot feather or tulle boa or scarf, gloves (Jo will be using stretch-satin opera gloves and will provide extras to borrow), tasseled pasties.
Props for the class
If you have signed up for the series and you have to miss a class, a previously recorded version of a live zoom class will be provided for you. We do not currently have the opportunity for you to make up the in-person class.
I added a FREE (really!) five-minute (really!) pastie-making tutorial on my burlesque blog!
Check it out!
You may want to have reading materials! You'll find the routines from Fan Dance and Classic Moves in the The Burlesque Handbook, as well as pastie-making instructions.
Preregistration is required for all NYSB classes. By paying to register you agree to comply with our payment, refund, and class transfer policies.
No refunds with less than 48 hours notice.
