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When people I meet find out that I'm a burlesque performer, pole dancer and life model I often receive a response of "ooh I would love to try that!", followed by questions of where, when, etc. So I'd like to offer a few words on where my learning curve has taken me.

The truth is, to get the best out of any skill you want to learn, you should approach it from an all round perspective. Learning from just one person or just one style will leave you a very one dimentional performer.

Do your research and take everything with a grain of salt. You will hear everyone's opinions (including mine!) on what they think is the best way to perform a certain step or which era of burlesque was the most important. The final decision is yours and you should form your own opinion by learning the background and discovering your own style.

Each performance school or academy has a point of difference. Some may focus more on technique than stage presence and character or vice versa. The important thing to remember is that is is all ok! Use teachers and instructors to your advantage and take a little piece of their guidance and incorporate it into your style.

Attending classes not only expands your performance knowledge and technique, they are also a great support base and networking tool for when you are ready to launch your stage persona or talk about ideas or problems in a piece.

Much love,

Virtue van Tassel
xxx

Here are some performance schools in melbourne which I have attended:

Bottoms Up Burlesque
Burlesque & Pole School
www.buburlesque.com.au

A very close knit school in Brunswick East which offers a wide range of classes including;
♥ Burlesque (beginners to advanced and solo performers)
♥ Pole (male and female, beginners to advanced)
♥ Fan dance
♥ Burlesque Chair
♥ Ballet
♥ Booty
♥ Stretch classes
♥ Private lessons
♥ Pin-Up workshops
♥ Free practice times for current students
♥ Hens & Parties
♥ Workshops

Classes are taught by actual performers and can offer young starlets an opportunity to take their first steps into their performance careers.

Pole Princess
Pole & exotic dance classes for fitness
www.poleprincess.com.au

Studios are located in St Kilda, Kew, Ringwood and coming soon to Reservoir. Friendly staff work with you to achieve the best you can be.
Classes include:
♥ Pole dancing (with spinning pole if desired)
♥ Teen Pole
♥ Intro to spin
♥ Intro to pole
♥ Male casual Pole
♥ MILF pole class for mums
♥ Stretch classes
♥ Strip tease
♥ Casual pole (beginners or intermediate/advanced)
♥ Princess Workout
♥ Booty funk
♥ Burlesque
♥ Workshops
♥ Hens & Parties

House of Burlesque
Burlesque school & entertainment agency
www.houseofburlesque.com

Located on Brunswick street, Fitzroy, this school offers a more 1920s vaudevillian style of burlesque.
Classes include:
♥ Art of Tease
♥ Showgirl fan dance
♥ Hula Hooping
♥ Charleston
♥ Photoshoot & Makeover
♥ Hens & Parties

Life Models Society
Not a school, but they do workshops every quarter.
www.lifemodelsociety.org.au

In a workshop you learn the types of poses which are appropriate to different timeframes. If invited to become a member of the society, you are included on their list of models for hire which is sent to their subscribers. I.e Schools, artist groups etc.
Membership attracts a low annual fee. No commission is taken on model earnings.

As part of the Australian Burlesque Festival held in Melbourne from 3rd to 6th of June 2010, I happily undertook a workshop taught by the festival's headlining siren, Miss Mia Vixen.

Mia Vixen comes to us from San Diego, California and is an internationally renowned burlesque starlet. With curves to kill, her provocative yet playful stage presence leaves you breathless and begging for more. Titillating the audience with the art of her classic strip tease, this Hollywood glamour girl makes you feel just the way she likes her martinis...shaken, stirred and dirty!

Mia spilled all the trade secrets on the art of spinning tassels on your ta-ta's which I intend on whispering into your ear. Unfortunatey reading this post doesn't compare to actually participating in a workshop so I do recommend going along to a workshop if there is ever one in your area.

The workshop attendees included local burlesque babes The Strawberry Siren, Honey B. Goode (winner of the festival's Baby Bombshells competition), La Gazelle and of course yours truly, Virtue van Tassel. Adorning tit bits of various designs, it was time to start twirling!

Now here are the juicy tips on twirling! You can purchase your own tasseled tit bits in our online store for practice at home.

Before you begin remember:

♥  Shoulders back! Always have good posture when twirling. This provides an open chest area to give your tassels the ultimate twirling capacity.

♥  Allow about 15 bounces to get your ta-ta's twirling. If you are still having trouble, don't hesitate to give them a big juicy bounce to get them going!

The Bombshell Bounce
Switch on the stereo and begin with your hands beside you. Gently bounce up and down rhythmically to the beat. The first few bounces will get things in motion and you'll be swinging those ornaments! Try bouncing from the knees or the feet and see what is more comfortable for you. You can also try different arm positions and motions. This method is great for beginners.

The Tassel Twitch
This is a single tassel twirl only method. Start with your right arm down beside your body and shoulders back. Lift your right shoulder up and down in a popping motion keeping your arm straight. Try the other side and go with whichever side is easiest for you.

The Shimmy & Shake
The classic style of swinging ‘em till you can't swing no more! Simply shimmy your shoulders back and forth vigorously until your tassels start twirling. Remember to keep the movement in your shoulders only, or else you might resemble a bowl of jelly. You can experiment walking or arching your back to give this a different look. Less endowed ladies may also find this style easier than the Bombshell Bounce.

Want more tassel twirling tips? Contact us.

The workshop finished with all four attendees in hysterics and admiration for the art of twirling before we left shimmying and shaking all the way home!

Much Love,

Virtue van Tassel
xxx

Put your best foot forward!

Drama Queen Emporium is now stocking a delicious selection of footwear from Pleaser USA including their Bordello range.

Pleaser shoes are used by many dancers in the entertainment industry and are regarded as the leading brand of footwear for burlesque, cabaret, pole dance and fettish enthusiasts.

These shoes are so hot, you can even wear them out on the town.

If you find that we do not stock the style you are looking for, please contact us and we will endevour to add your style to our collection.

Yes it's true! Sally Rand inspired ostrich feather burlesque fans are available at Drama Queen Emporium.

And here is the best bit- you can purchase or hire sets of fans for performances, parties or to try before you buy!

Made famous by Sally Rand in the 1930s, these gorgeous fans made from luxurious ostrich feathers are synonymous with burlesque dancing. Ms Rand first wowed audiences at the Paramount Club, Chicago and later raised eyebrows by dancing 'nude' in the World's Fair in 1933.

Fan dancing is still one of the most tantalizing and sensual varieties of burlesque performance.

For information on our Sally Rand burlesque fans, expressions of interest and bookings contact us.