There are some pretty fabulous classes being taught by some of the visiting performers from Kaleidoscope 2009 (see
) this weekend starting on Friday. You'll be able to learn some things that you normally wouldn't at other festivals and conventions! And the list of instructors. Ooh la la! Miss Vagina Jenkins of Atlanta, Sahara Dunes of Portland, Ginger Snapz and The Shanghai Pearl of Seattle, our own Kellita, Thisway/Thatway and SF Boylesque! And more!
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25TH
Workshops held in “La Salita” at The Mission Cultural Center
http://www.missionculturalcenter.org/
2868 Mission St., San Francisco, CA
“BURLESQUE ON A BUDGET” 10:00 - 11:00am
INSTRUCTOR: VAGINA JENKINS (ATLANTA)
COST: $15-10 sliding Donation
Vagina Jenkins, Queen of Queer Burlesque and self identified "cheap chick" will help you learn thrifty ways to make your sexy costumes look like a million bucks! Bring something you want to embellish if you like (a bra, a pair of boyshorts, and vest from the thriftstore) and Vag has the rest! There will be lots of fabric remnants, sequins, glitter, trimmings, appliques and FUN to go around!
“THE BIG ART OF STRIPTEASE” 11:00 - 12:00pm
INSTRUCTOR: SAHARA DUNES (PORTLAND)
COST: $15-10 sliding scale
Ever wonder what happen to the curvy, sensual feel of striptease? Where are all the sexy vixens with a little meat on their bones? In this workshop, we'll briefly discuss burlesque and striptease and how size can and does play into it. We will also get up and move around and shake what our mamas gave us! This workshop is
fun, educational, sassy, and uplifting.
“EXOTIFICATION AND RACE REPRESENTATION” 12:00 - 1:00pm
INSTRUCTOR: THISWAY/THATWAY (OAKLAND)
COST: FREE
Neo-burlesque is often discussed as a medium with great potential for feminine gender transgression. Less attention, however, has been paid to the ways that race and ethnicity are performed through neo-burlesque. This presentation examines dominant cultural histories of burlesque to better understand their relationship to
contemporary burlesque performance. Additionally, this presentation highlights the ways contemporary burlesque artists of color draw from legacies of resistance and create new possibilities through performance.
“STAGE MANAGEMENT a la S/M” 1:00 - 2:00pm
INSTRUCTOR: SHEU SHEU LE HAURE (MISSOULA)
COST: $10 sliding scale
Learn how to be a good burlesque and cabaret stage hand through “bottoming” for your stage manager or producer. This workshop will utilize S/M politics and boundary setting to help with your understanding of successful stage management. Like S/M players you will be trained in the art of communication and negotiation
while also learning about how to successfully manage the stage, work with performers, technical and venue staff.
“PERFORMING MASCULINITY IN THE BURLESQUE WORLD” 2:00 - 3:00pm
INSTRUCTOR: SF BOYLESQUE (SAN FRANCISCO)
COST: TBD
Description to be determined. Please check back soon!
“COLORING BURLESQUE HISTORY” 3:00 - 4:00pm
INSTRUCTOR: GINGER SNAPZ (SEATTLE)
COST: FREE
The dominant narrative of burlesque history in the US usually begins when the British blondes hit us shores. This dominant narrative includes legends such as Lili St. Cyr, Sally Rand, Dixie Evans, Gypsy Roselee, and occasionally Josephine Baker. Come fill in the gaps in OUR burlesque history, learning about lesser known
but no less legendary artists such as Belle Davis, Ida Forsyne, the original Little Egypt, Ethel Waters, Amalia Aguilar, Noel Toy, Lottie the Body Graves, Toni Elling and more! This workshop is both an exciting "history lesson" and conversation, so come ready to chat.
“ISOLATIONS, RHYTHYMS AND EXTENSIONS 10:00 - 11:00am
INSTRUCTOR: KELLITA OF HOT PINK FEATHERS (SAN FRANCISCO)
COST: $20-10 sliding scale
Practice signature vocabulary from award-winning Hot Pink Feathers dance troupe style, including Showgirl Samba and a host of Latin Bump n' Grind moves. Express yourself with specificity and nuance, with a variety of chest, hip & shoulder articulations, gorgeous extended limbs all to delicious rhythms. BE the music!
“FUN WITH FEATHERS AND FANS” 11:00 - 12:00pm
INSTRUCTOR: SHANGHAI PEARL (SEATTLE)
COST: $15-10 sliding scale
Learn fabulous boa and fan tricks for the boudoir and beyond! Instructor will provide boas, you bring any type of hand held fan.
”MAKING PASTIES, TWIRLING, SPINNING, OH MY!” 12:00 - 2:00pm
INSTRUCTOR: DESIRE D’AMOUR (TUCSON)
COST: $10 pasty making ($5 pasty starter kits)
$10 twirling lesson OR both for $15
Learn to create your own custom pasties and then spin them like a pro!
In this two part offering you will learn to create your own custom pasties and then how to spin them flawlessly. First you will learn to create amazing pasties that fit your body and costume perfectly! Desiré d’Amour will show you how to form the base, cover it, add a tassel or other hanging object, and shape your pasties. And, for the first time she will show how to make her sought after 3D pasties. After learning how to craft your new tassels you will learn how to move them every which way!
Starter kits will include the base material, tassel attachments, tassel s and the following cover materials: fabric, faux rhinestones, sequins, and other items for 3D affects.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26TH
Workshops held in “Studio E” at the Mission Cultural Center (see Friday for address)
“BURLESQUE YOU” 2:00pm-3:00pm
INSTRUCTOR: VAGINA JENKINS (ATLANTA)
COST: $15-10
Atlanta's "Best Burlesque Dancer" Vagina Jenkins, teaches a class on how to find the YOU in burlesque. This is a movement class combined with stage presence foundations suitable for any/every level of dancer. Vag will teach basic moves (the shimmy, the strut, bumps, grinds, flares and reveals) with an emphasis on how to tailor each move to YOU and YOUR movement style.
“HOW DO I LOOK” 3:00 - 4:00pm
INSTRUCTOR: ALEKSA MANILA (SEATTLE)
COST: FREE OR BY DONATION
Whether it's Maybelline or M.A.C., Seattle drag artist - ALEKSA MANILA, will highlight the basics and magic of make-up for stage (& street): how to get it on and how to get it off! Cosmetic virgin or professional performer - the workshop will utilize an interactive mechanism between teachers and students. Questions will
be entertained and opinions valued! Aleksa will share make-up techniques and tips learned from drag queens to professional make-up artists.
If you're just curious, it's ok - we all start somewhere. Boy or girl, black or white, brown or mocha, short or tall - we're all DIVAS! But do bring your own make-up, tools, mirror, towel, make-up remover and your FABULOUS
faces! Chaperones & assistants NOT provided.
Walk-ins welcome but registration encouraged. Please call 915-252-9252 or email La Chica Boom at
. Scholarships available.
And don't forget the big show at 8pm at The Brava Theater where you'll see the performers mentioned above and more performing! Tickets are $20, $21.49 w/fees, and are available online at
. For more information, please visit
