What to expect from a Burlesque Class

How did I and 10 of my closest friends (that’s us pictured) land up in a Burlesque class?

Well……it all began last summer.

That’s when DAUGHTER breezed into town for a friend’s Bachelorette. One of the activities the 20 something’s undertook to prepare bride-to-be for upcoming nuptials was a burlesque dancing class. DAUGHTER had us in stitches the next day as she gamely tried to recreate choreography from class. Laughing so hard I’m crying I (clearly) remember saying, “I want to do this!!” DAUGHTER responds with, “Do you think your friends would be interested?” Me, mopping up tears, “Aaaahhhhhh….hhhhmmmm…not sure.”

End of discussion.

Or so I thought.

Apparently, for the last year, DAUGHTER had been percolating and storing ideas to celebrate my 60^th birthday.

Bingo.

Burlesque dancing was a contender.

DAUGHTER, on the QT, contacts closest friends and somehow secures buy in to participate in private one hour Burlesque for Beginners. I’m not sure how she did this. I can only imagine that the friends, many of whom have known DAUGHTER for most of her life, gamely said YES because they couldn’t say no to her appeal for support. So, by ‘default’ they were IN and the class was confirmed.  DAUGHTER mandates all commit to vow of secrecy and provides detailed instructions which, on the appointed day, they follow with military precision. Driving one hour to studio; wearing comfortable clothes, packing pretty bra to wear on outside of clothing and a pair of heels.

DAUGHTER delivers me (blindfolded) to the dance studio for the reveal.

Blindfold off…….“Happy Birthday!”
I see friends (OMG!) and off to the right a sign…….. Vancouver Burlesque.

OOOHHHHH Nooooooo!!!

It all comes flooding back.

DAUGHTER smiles and tosses me my bra and heels, “have fun ladies see you in an hour!”

Oh boy.

Enter Lola Frost (our charismatic instructor).

Lola ‘herds’ us into studio.

Door closes as does as escape route.

An hour of professional instruction into the cheeky seduction of Burlesque is about to begin.

10 takeaways from Burlesque class

1. Lola Frost is amazing. We wonder what her real name is. We decide we need new names for today. We try combining name of first pet and name of first street lived on. Works for some (like me) ‘Muffin Imperial’ but not so well for others ‘Brandy 78thAvenue’.
2. Burlesque is the art of seduction. We practice…smile…wink…gasp…(so far so good) we’re reminded it’s all about Play!
3. The ‘shimmy’ is ridiculously difficult. That’s the shaking of upper body independent of lower body. How is this even possible? Advanced shimmying is what makes those tassels spin! This is hard to imagine. Adapt…..add wink where shimmy should be.
4. Strutting (seductive walk with shoulders back, chest up and butt out) is balancing act in itself atop heels. Flats might be better for beginners. Suggest this to Lola.
5. Women can always be counted on to give it their all! We are committed to excellence and intently study Lola’s moves and do very best to replicate. This is impossible.
6. When you want to be in position of power lock eyes and hold. For seduction add smile…gasp….wink….reel in sloooooowly. Doable.
7. Lola introduces Art of Removal. Once we receive clarification on what ‘removal’ pertains to (we’re removing gloves) many of us hit our stride. This is a piece of cake compared to strut and shimmy. Hidden talents emerge.
8. The hour flies by, as we depart the studio we pass the weekly Saturday class filing in, the most mature student (late 60’s) in the group smiles and says, “this does amazing things for your sex lives ladies.” This is not lost on us.
9. I am blessed to have such amazing friends who are willing to say YES and fearlessly venture into the unknown.
10. I often describe life with DAUGHTER as The Biggest Adventure of my Life. She has taken me to places I would never have been if it weren’t for her. She, by nature of who she is, has always challenged me to be all I can be. She is a gift.