Level Up with
Classes & Panels
part of the first-ever Nerdlesque Festival!
The Nerdlesque Festival is thrilled to be teaming with Jo Weldon, author of the only Burlesque Handbook and headmistress of the New York School of Burlesque to offer you special classes with festival headliners, performers, and more!
Stripping the Superhero with Dangrrr Doll
Movement & Musicality with Bazuka Joe
Performance Theory with Nasty Canasta
This Class Goes to 11! with Iva Handfull
Brand Yourself with Stella Chuu
Producing Panel • Peer Reviews • Teacher Bios
All classes at:
440 Lafayette St., NYC
Directions
Studio 4E
See class descriptions below for details.
Please note class times and room assignments are subject to change. Please bookmark this page for the most up-to-date information.
Friday, April 4
Elements of Burlesque with Ray Gunn
$30
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"The Elements" is a 90-minute class taught by Ray Gunn of the Stage Door Johnnies. It covers the basic components of constructing and focusing a burlesque act for the established performer. "The Elements" delves into the four essentials of any act - concept, costume, music, and movement. Ray will guide participants through the creation of an act - identifying and discussing the four elements as well as providing practical exercises geared to refine, polish, and give attention to details. Within the 90-minute period participants will create, perform and critique short one minute acts applying the techniques taught in class. The class is geared towards performers already in the field.
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Stripping the Superhero with Dangrrr Doll
$20
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Do you ever wish that you could take that video game act on the road, but worry that your audience won't "get it"? Have you ever spent hundreds of dollars on a costume you know only three other nerds in your city will appreciate? Dangrrr Doll is here to teach you how to widen your audience for nerdlesque, pop culture, and character based acts. Get in deep with your theme and discover how it can appeal to everyone, even if they've never heard of that obscure anime you're referencing!
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Saturday, April 5
Movement & Musicality with Bazuka Joe
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Movement and Musicality is a 90 minute dance-based, hands-on movement class that focuses on music theory as a driver to create sophisticated, thoughtful choreography. One part lecture, three parts movement, the class delves into stage crafting, the use of direction to impact mood and intention, playing with the audience's focus, and manipulating rhythms and accents. Movement and Musicality is designed for all levels of performance from the novice to the career performer. Students need a notepad, pen, and comfortable clothes to move in.
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Performance Theory with Nasty Canasta
$30
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No matter how effortless a performance appears to an enthralled audience, the burlesque artist knows that acts don't simply happen: every aspect of the number is carefully crafted, from perfectly-placed glitter to a well-oiled zipper to expertly-timed bumps and grinds. The skillful stripteaser works for months building and rehearsing before an act hits the stage.
Before you go blind rhinestoning the inside of every pocket, though, it's important to ask what each individual element adds to your performance as a whole. On the burlesque stage it's not enough to simply "take it off"; by examining the specific artistic choices that go into the creation of a number, you can create a truly unique and knockout burlesque performance.
In this class we will:
• discuss how to make deliberate decisions about when and how to use the burlesque basics already in your arsenal (glove peels, tassel twirls, and other elements of the tease) to tell the specific 'story' of each act.
• explore the ways in which the theatrical elements of character, performance arc, stagecraft and comedy can enrich every act, from classic striptease to the most neo-burlesque.
• learn to look beyond the obvious choices in costuming, music and props to confound expectations, surprise and dazzle an audience.
This is a lecture- and discussion-based class open to students of all genders and performance styles.
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This Class Goes to 11! with Iva Handfull
$30
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Do you dream of tearing up the stage like a rock star? Want to make every performance into a spectacle that could sell out an arena? Add rock and roll to your bump and grind with Her Royal Fierceness herself Iva Handfull. Known for her energetic choreography and bold stage presence, Iva Handfull will teach you to unlock the secrets of your inner fierceness by translating rock and roll performance techniques for the burlesque stage. Dress for movement and get ready to rock!
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Brand Yourself with Stella Chuu
$20
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Can't break 500 likes on your facebook fan page? Never fear, superhero social media star Stella Chuu will teach you how to tame the wild beast of the internet in this 60 minute class. Learn how to create a brand for yourself, gain visibility, and maintain a following! With her 6-digit fan following on facebook, instagram, twitter and more, Stella is an expert on going viral and turning your internet presence into profit!
Registration details coming soon!
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Nerdlesque Producing Panel
$5
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Are you thinking of running your own nerdlesque show, looking to expand your shows or just want to learn more about what is behind the nerdy producers' curtain? Join Anja Keister (D20 Burlesque, OMGWTFBURLYQ, Uncle Monty's MollyHouse), Jo Jo Stilletto (Jo Jo Stiletto productions), Sevvy Skellington and Betty Quirk (PeepshowTO) and Nelson Lugo (Epic Win Burlesque), as they discuss what it takes to produce successful Nerdy Burlesque shows and the trials and tribulations that come along for the ride. This panel will have a Q&A section, so come with your inquiries and questions! Moderated by Sailor St. Claire.
Registration details coming soon!
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Peer Reviews
Open to Burlesque Community only
Registration Details coming soon!
Please join us on Saturday, April 5 for an eye opening peer review, featuring a panel of the Nerdlesque Fest Headliners Ray Gunn, Bazuka Joe, Iva Handfull, Nasty Canasta, plus neo-burlesque legend Darlinda Just Darlinda!
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About Your Teachers
Ray Gunn is one-third of the award-winning Stage Door Johnnies and the reigning 2013 King of Burlesque. He's been headlining and touring internationally in the burlesque arena for five years and dancing professionally for 15 years thoughout Chicago and other major cities in the United States. In addition to dancing professionally himself, Ray has 8 years of experience as an artistic director and choreographer for professional dance companies. In 2006 was awarded "Choreographer of the year" by the Black Theatre Alliance.
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Bazuka Joe is one-third of the award-winning Stage Door Johnnies from Chicago. He tours and headlines internationally and has over 12 years experience choreographing and performing professionally in the theater, dance, and now burlesque arena. For all the nerds out there, Bazuka has headlined at Gen-Con, All Con, and C2E2 amongst others. He's the Godzilla of burlesque and he's here to stomp all over your Tokyo!
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Internationally-renowned artstar (and reigning Cheese Queen of Coney Island) Nasty Canasta is frequently hailed as a genius of the neo-burlesque scene. A "burlesque queen" (The NY Times), 2nd Runner Up at the 2010 Miss Exotic World Pageant, and "Brooklyn's greatest burlesque star" (The Brooklyn Paper), Nasty is host and producer of Naked Girls Reading NYC and was an original co-creator of Pinchbottom Burlesque. A full-time burlesque performer, producer and costumer since 2004, Nasty draws on her years of experience in the theatre to create acts and shows that combine tease and titillation, humor, spectacle and theatricality. She is a regular performer with Wasabassco Burlesque, and teaches private and group burlesque classes. In addition to her burlesque performances, she spent the summer of 2010 as a snake charmer and contortionist with the world-famous Coney Island Circus Sideshow in Brooklyn, NY. Nasty is best known for her 'burlesques on burlesque:' subtle and surprising twists on classic striptease such as her car-alarm fan dance, her "Unknown Stripper" act, and her award-winning ecdysiastical tribute to Dorian Gray, "The Portrait." Equally at home with classic tease and contemporary pop culture, her numbers range from the sublime to the silly, and have been a favorite with audiences around the world.
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A modern heathen in the Burlesque world, both a fashion Icon and rock & roll burlesque star, Mz. Handfull is a fierce, alternative Neo-Burlesquer known for her inventive, epic, and oftentimes impersonating performances.
Crowned the 2013 Kansas City Burlesque Festival Queen, she has had the pleasure of performing across the United States, including The Burlesque Hall of Fame in Las Vegas, Tease-O-Rama in San Francisco, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Minneapolis, New Orleans, New York, and St Louis.
She's also co-owner of Haute Under the Collar, creating custom rhinestone neckties, so you too can be well hung!
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Take two parts geek and one part sexual icon and you get Stella Chuu. She is taking the nerd world by storm one piece of clothing at a time. Stella is a cosplayer and burlesque performer from NYC. Mixing pop culture and striptease together, she creates unique performances that are sure to make your jaw drop. Dubbed the Anime Princess of Burlesque, Stella has toured all across the United States and even spent the night at George RR Martin's house. Stella is also coproducer of RAWR! Burlesque and the Nerdlesque Festival.
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A multi-award winning performance artist, Dangrrr Doll is known for her stunning costumes and unique interpretation of burlesque. Hailed as "high concept" and "defiantly weird" by Burlesque Beat, Dangrrr brings classic beauty combined with pop culture savvy and a dose of heavy metal to the stage. This NYC-based bombshell is the co-producer of RAWR! Burlesque and the Nerdlesque Festival, has toured across the United States and can frequently be seen at New York's famous burlesque venue, The Slipper Room.
Known as the Twisted Beauty, Dangrrr Doll holds the titles for the 2013 Boston Burlesque Expo "Most Humorous Act", the 2013 Oklahoma City Burlesque Festival "Best Costume", the 2013 Carolina Burlesque Fest "Most Original Act", and the 2012 NYBF Golden Pastie Award for "Cutest Geek in Burlesque". She has been featured on Collegehumor.com, Time Out NY, and Burlesque Beat.
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Preregistration is required for all NYSB classes. By paying to register you agree to comply with our payment, refund, and class transfer policies. By registering you affirm that you understand that you should consult a doctor before beginning any movement or exercise program, and that you will not hold the teachers, institution, or venue responsible for any injuries that may result.Questions? Email schoolofburlesqueatgmaildotcom.
The calendar below is constantly being updated.
