Toronto Women's Bookstore

An Introduction to Burlesque Dancing: Exploring Your Inner Showboat
with CoCo La Crème

MONDAY evenings in MARCH and APRIL
March 24, 31 and April 7, 14, 21 and 28, from 6:30pm to 9pm @ TWB
Fee: $69 (No Refunds). Enrollment limited to 15 participants.
Pre-registration and payment required. **Please call to register.
Partially wheelchair accessible. Limited sliding scale spots available

This course is for anyone who's ever wanted to shine under the spotlight or put on a scintillating private show. Burlesque performance is a fantastic way to get in touch with your body, activate your sensual side, explore new performance possibilities and have a whole lot of fun along the way. In this course we will explore the many faces of burlesque; its history as well as its present. Participants will learn techniques for coping with stage fright and body image issues, tried and true burlesque dance basics, and the ins and outs of costume development. Each participant will have the opportunity to develop an original routine and workshop it with the group.
There will also be an optional opportunity to perform publicly at a group show for community and friends.

Some of the things we will focus on include:
- Reviewing the development of burlesque
- Looking at the art form from a feminist, anti-racist perspective
- Locating ourselves within the movement
- Confronting the fears that prevent us from being our best sensual selves
- Utilizing practical techniques to overcome stage fright
- Developing your uniquely individual burlesque persona
- Selecting music that moves you
The Dance and Costume portion of the course will include:
- Learning & expanding on the basics of burlesque dance techniques
- Incorporating striptease and classic peels
- Working with props
- Crafting and creating a routine-appropriate costume
- Workshopping routine ideas & problem solving
Finally we will:
- Perform our routines for the group
- Reflect on our experiences with the course
- Plan a future show?

Part dance class, part discussion group and part craftstravaganza this course offers a little something for everyone. Participants should be ready to work hard, practice at home and spend time sourcing costumes. There will be homework and it will be fun!

About the instructor: CoCo La Crème a.k.a. Lorraine Hewitt has been teaching about burlesque and flirting for the past three years. Her workshops have been featured on CBC television and the W network and she has been interviewed in several local and national papers including The Toronto Star, Metro, Xtra, Fab, Flare magazine and the National Post. She is a well-loved solo performance artist as well as a member of the local troupe Skin Tight Outta Sight. CoCo has had the pleasure of performing at many incredible events in her eight-year career including the New York Burlesque Festival, The Miss Exotic World Showcase, The Power Plant Power Ball, The Design Exchange annual gala, Toronto & Montreal Pride and the Toronto Alternative Art Fair International. CoCo La Crème is a woman of colour and a sex-positive fearless feminist who believes in the transformative power of self-expression and the creative fire of sensual energy.