In this two part episode we dive into something a little more sexy! Tory and I were very fortunate to have a little bit of knowledge when it came to Burlesque in Vancouver. In fact, it came up during a discussion about fitness in the city. Tory had just started with Tantra fitness in some pole dancing classes , while I talked about joining a GoGo class with Burlesquer Portia Favro. After sharing our positive experiences about our classes, we each realized that there was definitely more we wanted to explore within these realms of Burlesque (a blanket term we will use for femme empowerment fitness). Truth is there are many kinds of empowerment fitnesses in the city, and if you're not from Vancouver, more cities are beginning to offer these incredible classes! Now what these classes offer are different dependent on the class itself, you could be taking pole, a heels class, cabaret, burlesque, gogo, etc. All are different and all offer the same feelings of body positivity. From personal experience, before I started my first Burlesque class in 2018 I did not like my body. I constantly felt the need to dismiss complements others gave me, on top of that I was struggling with many changes in my life. I was in need of community. The Vancouver Burlesque Company provided me with that and more, not only did I feel accepted, I immediately was cheered and encouraged by other women. All beautiful shapes and sizes, varying rages of backgrounds in dance, flexibility (which I still don't have) and so much more. If you are looking for ways to get started in this badass, enriching source of self-love and community, here are the places to start! Each offer options of drop in classes! *NS=non stripping *P=pasties Vancouver Burlesque Co: Intro to Burlesque, Includes a group choreo, costume making and performance with photographer *P Screaming Chickens Becoming Burlesque: Group choreo, solo, costume provided, portraits, lessons, photographer *P Luminesque Heels Class: Includes a group choreo, costume making and performance with photographer *NS Army of Sass: Includes group choreo, costume making, and performance with photographer. *NS Our beloved guest Portia Favro also offers classes! Which are made to be accessible not just financially but also in a pandemic- They are now offered virtually! So tune in, support these femmes and get out there and stay sexy! Guests featured on EpisodePortia Favro is a classically-trained dancer, turned pin-up who has plunged into Vancouver’s rich burlesque scene. Portia is a noted Producer with credits such as La Maison Lust with Cherry OnTop, Go-Go Bungalow and The Ladybirds. She has also performed at Berlin Burlesque Week, Cresent City Burlesque Weekend (New Orleans) and the Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary International Burlesque Festivals. Portia is also a powerhouse dance and burlesque instructor, regularly teaching heels, sensuality and retro go-go technique in both Vancouver and beyond. Links Mentioned from Episode
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AuthorAllison Shields is a Creative Writing student at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. She is a co-host of the ILYD podcast and runs the blog for the podcast. |