#beginner burlesque

I got a balconette bra after years of wanting one and I love it 🕯️ ♥️🥂🥀🍸

Small burlesque/drag journey updates!

Ive got two cosplay looks and one original look in the works right now!! Bedazzling is now a lifestyle for me ✨

I’ve been working on routines along with exercises and i haven’t felt this good about or connected to my body … ever ? Mostly leaning into Pilates and Yoga to help get some flexibility back and build some lean muscle

Im on a list for an open stage and it’s genuinely not because I’m ‘ready’ but because i think if i dont jump in I’ll lose my stamina for it - delusion and gay audacity has to help carry me a lot here because if I wait I’m afraid my brain will destroy this for me 💃🏻 you can’t catch me self doubt im moving too fast

Chronic pain flare ups have been a significant issue but im working through it and expect a lot of it will improve as i get a little stronger and more flexible again!!

Being around other queer dancers has been incredibly healing for me and the amount of them who had very similar bullying experiences to mine feels so validating. The amount of people who told me they quit dance at the first real opportunity because they had been ostracized for being gay or being weird really hit close to home. Being okay with being an open lesbian surrounded by women/ feminine aligned people in dance gear is finally starting to not make me feel like some sort of predatory beast. The idea feminine people would ever be okay being around me in casual undress was genuinely very alien to me for a long time.

Our instructor is so nice, she’s super cool and she does like comedy burlesque mostly and while that’s not exactly what I think I’ll end up doing I’m really enjoying it and I’m happy to have more than one perspective teaching me on it ! Five more weeks with her!!

Everyone is so cool and at different dance levels so there’s a lot of peer support happening which I loved

A lot of people I’ve taken classes with did it just for themselves , to boost confidence, have fun, or spice stuff up at home! Stage Performance isn’t for everyone and that’s totally okay! This can totally just be an avenue for you to have fun and express yourself!

My journey started by finding my local burlesque scene. I’ve always loved drag and here in Cleveland these communities are tightly interwoven, so I’ve been very lucky to see burlesque and draglesque a lot! local performers helped me find where to start when I realized I didn’t just want to be a fan, I wanted to hold some! 🦚 👯‍♀️

Look for shows and classes in your area! Every cities scene is different. I’m very lucky that my city has multiple dance studios that offer burlesque classes for beginners and is home to some pretty big names in the scene who have been unbelievably welcoming and supportive of me.

Being 19 may be complicated if you want to see performances, as many venues that show burlesque are 21+, but that may not be true in your city as some places have 18+ shows

If you want to learn more on your own at home, YouTube has troves of beginner introduction videos for free !! I suggest miss lady lace, Vera Valentina, Maison burlesque, and ginger valentine on YouTube

and this is some home town pride at play, but please look into Bella Sin to learn about burlesque history - they offer online classes for burlesque education, and they have special focus on education about the many diverse groups who pioneered this art form who so often remain unseen and underrepresented on big stages, like women of color and the LGBT community. Their instagram is bellasincle and they are an amazing nonbinary Latina burlesque performer and educator who has personally been a huge influence on me.

My classes start soon and we got to see my teacher perform in a show at a local venue , and it was amazing! She’s so talented and I’m so , so excited to learn from her

Me and Teddy are going to see another open stage together tonight at the same place we saw the last one which was so cool!

I’m on small rest because I lowkey dislocated my shoulder again (oops) but my classes don’t start for a few weeks so I’m not too worried about it !