Classes
Each season we offer a mix of classes ranging from performance progressives to dance & burlesque skill-building classes, to workout and dance conditioning classes. Join us for varied training that will bring some sparkle to your life!
Check out our Policies & Procedures here.
Scholarships: Sponsored BIPOC spots are available. Email us to claim a spot.
Accessibility: The VBC is located on the second floor of a building with no elevator access, accessible via a wide set of stairs.
Payment Plans: Payment plans are available. Please email us with any questions.
Classes
Each season we offer a mix of classes ranging from performance progressives to dance & burlesque skill-building classes, to workout and dance conditioning classes. Join us for varied training that will bring some sparkle to your life!
In the event of another COVID-19 shutdown, classes will continue via Zoom.
All in-studio classes require mandatory mask-wearing to keep our students and teachers safe.
Scholarships: Sponsored BIPOC spots are available. Email us to claim a spot.
Accessibility: The VBC is located on the second floor of a building with no elevator access, accessible via a wide set of stairs.
Payment Plans: Payment plans are available. Please email us with any questions.
Current Offerings
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Burlesque: An Introduction
$95.00 Instructor: Ariel Helvetica
Dates: Wednesdays, October 2 + 9
Time: 6pm – 8pm
Join Ariel Helvetica for a fun 2-week course of shimmy, shaking good times! Dip your toes into the sparkling world of Burlesque and the Art of the Tease. This 2-day condensed course will introduce you to our sparkling sassy art form – starting with Burlesque’s history, classic movement and styling, and moving through striptease peels & reveals. You will focus on poise & posture, walking in heels, and some fun bump’n’grind movement, and will then layer our striptease skills on to this foundation. You will also learn a fun choreography along the way to help put your newfound tricks together.
Everyone welcome – whether you’re brand new to burlesque or you’re a burlesque student who wants to learn more – there will be something for each showpony living inside you!
Class cost includes a pair of evening gloves for you to keep. -
Burlesque: A Debut
$270.00Fall 2024 Registration opens Saturday, July 27 @ 10am.
Instructor: Ariel Helvetica
Dates: Wednesdays, Oct 16 – Nov 27
Time: 8pm – 9:30pmPre-requisite: Burlesque An Introduction
Have you finished our Burlesque Introduction course and unsure where to go next? This is the class for you!
In this 8 week course, Ariel Helvetica will prepare you for your first burlesque group performance. We will build upon our current foundations including history and movement to take your tease factor to the next level. Learn how to work in a group setting to create a cohesive classic burlesque routine.This class will lead up to a group performance at a VBC Student Showcase, Saturday, December 7 the Rio Theatre – we will be working together to create a full routine, complete with costume and striptease.
**Cost includes notions for your costumes. You will also receive professional stage photos and video from the showcase.
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Burlesque: Ingenue
$270.00Fall 2024 Registration opens Saturday, July 27 @ 10am.
Instructor: Cherry OnTop
Dates: Sundays, Sept 22 – Nov 24 (no class Oct 6 and Nov 3)
Time: 3pm – 4:30pmPre-requisites: Burlesque Intro & Burlesque Debut
This 8 week course focuses on Classic Burlesque Movement with a lick of Neo style and delves deeper into the skills learned in Burlesque: An Introduction and Burlesque: Debut.
Continue to build on your foundation of Poise & Posture, walking in heels and more traditional burlesque style. Learn how to showcase your personality while building your burlesque movement library.
This class will lead up to a group performance at a VBC Student Showcase on Saturdays, December 7 at The Rio Theatre – we will be working together to create a full routine, complete with costume and striptease.*Costumes will be needed for the show – we will do our best to make it affordable and accessible for everyone. Be prepared to do some crafting and to hunt and gather for affordable pieces at 2nd hand stores or lingerie stores.
**Cost includes notions for your costumes. You will also receive professional stage photos and video from the showcase. -
Burlesque: Starlets
$270.00Fall 2024 Registration opens Saturday, July 27 @ 10am.
Instructor: Gigi Lavande
Dates: Tuesdays, Oct 8 – Nov 26
Time: 6pm – 7:30pmPre-requisites: Burlesque Intro, Debut, Ingenue + 2 other performance classes at the VBC
Join Gigi Lavande for 8 weeks of exploring the art of neo burlesque, where sultry striptease meets the creative use of classic burlesque props and polished stage presence steals the spotlight. Gigi encourages an autonomous approach to learning as a group that prioritizes accountability and goal setting, so that you can feel confident in your role in the rehearsal process as a professional performer within your community. You’ll be challenged at a dynamic pace as we refine striptease techniques and workshop how to captivate the audience with irresistible allure. Gigi’s choreography blends high-energy moves with theatrical flair and will leave room for you to explore your personal style and artistry on your own neo-burlesque journey, ensuring you’ll all shine with mesmerizing prowess under the stage lights!
Knee pads and non marking stiletto heels are recommended for class. You’ll be performing at our VBC Student Showcase on Saturday, December 7 at the Rio Theatre.
**Costumes will be needed for the show and we will do our best to make it affordable and accessible for everyone. Be advised that included in your course costs is a fee to cover some costume materials. For this course, Gigi will provide a selection of prop ideas to choose from, but sourcing the prop will be the responsibility of the performer – though resources may be provided by the instructor and/or the VBC**
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Burlesque: Divas
$210.00Instructor: Cherry OnTop
Dates: Sundays, September 15 – October 27
Time: 5:30pm – 7pm
Class size: 9This Advanced class requires an application. Registration is now open for Diva students that received their acceptance email.
Cherry OnTop’s most Advanced class yet is a sizzling and challenging good time! This class is for advanced students who have been performing in groups or as soloists and are looking for a group setting that pushes them with choreography, character and stage presence.
This is a performance progressive that leads up to a performance on November 2 (venue and show TBA).At this level you will be expected to:
•Pick up choreography quickly
•Be comfortable dancing in heels
•Be committed to being in class every week
•Have minimum 2 years as a burlesque performer in either a group setting or as a soloist (class performances count)What we are looking for:
•You don’t have to be a professional dancer, we are looking for people that are proficient with picking up choreo but more importantly have great stage presence and sizzle.
•We will also be looking for diversity and picking a group that we think would dance and work well together.Please email us at [email protected] if you have any questions!
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Lyrical Tease
$240.00FALL 2024 REGISTRATION OPENS SATURDAY, JULY 26 @ 10AM
Instructor: Androsia Wilde
Dates: Saturdays, Oct 5 – Nov 30 (no class Oct 19)
Time: 3:30pm – 5pmThis 8 week performance progressive with Androsia Wilde explores how the art of striptease can be used to speak to the spectrum of human emotion through dance. Combining elements of contemporary movement with an emphasis on musicality, deliberate yet restrained movement, and the power of a well-honed slow burn, students are invited to tap into their bodies, slow things down, and really sink into the idea of daring to be both emotionally vulnerable and captivating all at once. Be prepared: this class will make you *feel things*.
You will be performing on our VBC Student Showcase on Saturday, December 7 at the Rio Theatre. You will also receive professional stage photos and video from the Showcase.
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Unapologetically Sexy “Fatlesque”
$270.00Fall 2024 Registration opens Saturday, July 27 @ 10am.
Instructor: Arabella Boop
Dates: Wednesdays, Oct 16 – Dec 4
Time: 6pm – 7:30pmPre-requisite: None
Burlesque from a fat burlesque performer for fat Burlesque performers.
Arabella Boop is an award winning fat burlesque performer who is passionate about seeing more fat bodies on stage.
For this brand new VBC offering you will go on a journey of self expression and connection, bringing to the stage an unapologetically sensual performance.
Class will be geared towards all levels and abilities.This class is for all fat, curvy, thick, plump, full figured, non “straight sized” bodies, all gender expressions, and abilities.
Class will lead up to a group performance at a VBC Student Showcase, Saturday, December 7 at the Rio Theatre – we will be working together to create a full routine, complete with costume and striptease.
**Cost includes notions for your costumes. You will also receive professional stage photos and video from the showcase.
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Open Level Cabaret Chair Dance
$240.00Fall 2024 Registration opens Saturday, July 27 @ 10am.
Instructor: Chelsea Hart
Dates: Thursdays, Sept 26th – Nov 21 (no class on Oct 31)
Time: 6pm – 7:30pmIn this eight-week progressive we will live out our Cabaret fantasies, dive into some dance fundamentals, learn a sizzling and somewhat cheeky piece of choreography with our beloved dance partner: the chair. The chair is one of our favourite props and lends itself to posing, exciting dance sequences and an ab workout like you wouldn’t believe!
Chelsea is out Cabaret honey and will have you snapping your fingers and tipping your hat like the best of them. Come as you are and get ready to give it that old razzle dazzle.This class will lead up to a group performance at a VBC Student Showcase on Saturday, December 7 at The Rio Theatre. You will also be supplied with professional stage photos and video of your act.
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Intermediate Cabaret Chair Dance
$240.00Fall 2024 Registration opens Saturday, July 27 @ 10am.
Instructor: Chelsea Hart
Dates: Thursdays, Sept 26th – Nov 21 (no class on Oct 31)
Time: 7:45pm – 9:15pmPre-requisites: At least 2 sessions of Open Level Cabaret Chair with Chelsea. Email if you have questions: [email protected]
In this class we will dive into more challenging and complex chair trickery. There will be an emphasis on character work, story telling and full body conditioning. Building strength and core connection is integral to chair dance exploration. Get ready to deepen your connection to our favorite dance partner/prop!
This class will lead up to a group performance at a VBC Student Showcase on Saturday, December 7 at The Rio Theatre. You will also be supplied with professional stage photos and video of your act.