The Richmond Institute of Burlesque

A recent addition to Richmond’s dance community has me (and a bunch of other people) all atwitter.  The Richmond Institute of Burlesque opened its doors and now we all have the opportunity (if not the talent) to dance all sexy with the best of them.

Dolli Holliday

Deepa De Jour

Skye Sinclaire

Richmond Burlesque Goddesses Dolli Holiday, Deepa De Jour, and Skye Sinclaire are the three main instructors, but you can expect other Richmond-based burlesque beauties to make appearances, as well as nationally-known dancers who are traveling through Richmond.

Some of the class offerings and descriptions are as follows:

Burlesque Basics:

All three founding members teach this class, where you’ll learn some basic moves like glove peels, shimmies, and the like, and they’ll give you a crash course in the history of burlesque, how to develop your own burlesque character, and more.  This class is open to women only, since you’ll be trying out your newly-learned moves with boas, gloves, and pasties.  Yeow!

The Art of Chair Dance and Stocking Peels:

Skye Sinclaire takes you through the steps of different chair dances and stocking peels.  Even if you don’t plan on using these techniques in your own public debut, these skills are sure to spice up your life at home.

Songs to Strip By:

Dolli Holiday teaches this wallet-friendly class, where you’ll learn all about picking the perfect song for your burlesque routine.  More than just an overview of good music, she’ll teach you how to use the building blocks of the songs (beats, breaks, etc.) to make your number special.

These classes are just the tip of the iceberg, Folks.  Check out the full course list to find the class for you, and check the calendar for class times and dates.  I was supposed to go to Sunday’s Make-Up and Wig Tricks class.  I’m really bummed I didn’t get to go because Liv actually teaches you (among many other things) how to select, trim, and apply false eyelashes, which is something I have always wanted to know how to do.

The Richmond Institute of Burlesque is located at 6517 Dickens Place.  You don’t have to be a skinny Minnie or a fabulous dancer to take classes there.  Dolli and the girls want you to know that burlesque is designed to make YOU feel good about YOU, and what’s better than that?

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What to Do In Richmond, VA – Halloween Weekend (10/30/09 – 11/1/09

One of the coolest things to happen in Richmond is Gallery 5′s Carnival of 5 Fires.  Few places in our fair city put the time and effort that Gallery 5 does – a pull-out-all-the-stops, spare-no-effort type of event that will bombard you with visual, musical, and performance art and put you into a total sensory overload.  In a good way, of course.

This year, the folks at Gallery 5 are giving Richmond a weekend to remember.  There are events Friday night, Saturday night, and Sunday evening, and each one promises to be the party of the year.  How does that work?  I’m not exactly sure, but I’m planning to check it out.

Friday night October 30 at 7PM kicks off the weekend with the Dark Queen’s Boudoir:  A Burlesque Variety Show.  Tickets are $12 and the show features performances by some of Richmond’s premium burlesque performers.  Here is G5′s description of the event:

“For hundreds of years, The Dark Queen has been collecting her favorite pets – living dolls of mystery and vice.  For one night, you are invited into her den to see her collection of Southern Gothic Oddities.  Be warned… her enchanted creatures are more intoxicating then the opium dens she often frequents.  In honor of All Hallow’s Eve, The Queen has granted permission to the citizens of Richmond to attend her yearly festival of lascivious beauty.  Come sit at her table, feast on her bounty, and fall in love with the dark arts….”

Saturday night is a good and proper (if by proper you mean spooky, exciting and sexy – which of course I do) Halloween party.  Tickets are $10, unless you wear a costume, in which case they’re $8.  And why wouldn’t you wear a costume?  What are you, 80?  My grandma’s 83 and she wears a costume.  Get in the spirit, dang it.  G5 Fire will be out in the street to greet you – and if you’ve never seen that you have GOT to.  People who have an amazing command and control of fire.  You’ll want to learn to twirl and breathe fire.  Don’t try it at home…

Saturday’s (10/31/09 – Halloween, ya’ll) performances include Lonesome Liz’s Mojo Sideshow, HotDamns, and so much more.  You can get your cards read by someone who knows how to read ‘em, and in addition, there is going to be some amazing art on display.  But that’s Gallery 5 all the time.

Sunday, November 1 at 7PM brings you to the end of your Halloween weekend and the Gumbo & Ghosts Dinner Theater and Seance.  Talk to your departed loved ones, plus with the ghosts who are in residence at Gallery 5.  See some great theater art, and listen to some great music while you wind down in the spookiest way possible.

I know I normally give you some options on what to do in Richmond for the weekends, but I honestly can’t find anything near as cool as this that is happening, so this is all you get from me.

Check with me next week to see what’s what in Richmond, VA for the weekend of November 6, 2009.

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