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.
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: Saturdays, April 8, 15, 22 Cost: $95 (in-studio with a new set of gloves for you to keep) CLASS ONE: 2:30pm – 4pm *SOLD OUT* CLASS TWO: 1pm – 2:30pm *SOLD OUT* Join Ariel Helvetica for a fun 3-week course of shimmy, shaking good times! Dip your toes into the sparkling world of Burlesque and the Art of the Tease. This 3-day course will introduce you to our 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 choreo 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! -
Burlesque: A Debut
$260.00SOLD OUT. Please email vancouverburesqueco@gmail.com to be added to the waitlist.
Instructor: Ariel Helvetica
Dates: Sundays, April 30 – June 25 (the weekend of May 13 class will be on Saturday, same time)
Time: 3pm – 4:30pm
Cost: $270
Pre-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, Thursday, June 29, 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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Burlesque: Ingenue
$285.00SOLD OUT. Email vancouverburlesqueco@gmail.com to be added to the waitlist.
Instructor: Cherry OnTop
Dates: Wednesdays, April 19 – June 21 (no class May 10)
Time: 6pm – 7:30pm
Cost: $285Pre-requisites: Burlesque Intro & Debut
This 9 week course focuses on Classic Burlesque Movement 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, Thursday, June 29 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 plus a crafting class. You will also receive professional stage photos and video from the showcase. -
Burlesque: Starlets
$285.00SOLD OUT. Email vancouverburlesqueco@gmail.com to be added to the waitlist.
Instructor: Cherry OnTop
Dates: Wednesdays, April 19 – June 21 (no class May 10)
Time: 7:45pm – 9:15pm
Cost: $285Pre-requisites: Burlesque Intro, Debut & Ingenue + one other VBC group performance class (or the equivalent through another school)
Join Cherry OnTop for 9 weeks of digging deeper into burlesque movement, while incorporating more sensual striptease and stage presence elements. Cherry usually goes Neo Burlesque with this class but this Spring we are bringing it into something much more classic, showy and challenging. Think Marilyn Monroe stars in the Moulin Rouge.
Cherry’s Starlet Level is geared to an advanced dance level and will be pushed at a harder pace. Together we will practice and refine our striptease, practice giving “face” plus work on the elements that drag the audience into the seduction of burlesque. Learn more about drawing people in and projecting your energy out.
The main goal of this progressive is to work together on a group performance where we can showcase our new skills in an exciting, interesting and undeniably sensual way!
You’ll be. performing you act on Thursday, June 29 at the Rio Theatre.*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. -
Island Gyal Flow
$240.00REGISTRATION OPENS FRIDAY, MARCH 10 AT 6PM
Instructor: Androsia Wilde
Dates: Sundays, April 23 – June 25th (no class June 4th)
Time: 1pm – 2:30pm
Cost: $240Pre-requisites: none
You know how to move, but do you know how *you* move?
ISLAND GYAL FLOW is a unique, open-level 8 week progressive where Androsia Wilde leads you through a more experimental, decolonial and deeply personal approach to movement: born from the philosophies of her own ancestry and dance practice where Movement is meant to be authentic, unshackled, and inspire rapture from those lucky enough to witness it. Develop the courage to freestyle to rhythms on the fly, seamlessly course-correct if you ever forget your choreo, and decode your body’s unique movement choices through experimentation and trust. Perfect for dancers at any stage of their movement journey, this course encourages you to just…flow.This class works up to a performance at our June 29 Showcase at The Rio Theatre. You will also be supplied with professional photos and video from the show.
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Cabaret Chair Dance
$240.00SOLD OUT. Email vancouverburlesqueco@gmail.com to be added to the waitlist.
Instructor: Chelsea Hart
Dates: Thursday, April 27th to June 15th
Time: 6pm – 7:30pm
Cost: $240Pre-requisite: Intro to Burlesque Workshop *(unless you have taken Chair Cabaret before)
In 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. Think classic, smoky, dimly lit, speakeasy vibes. This is an open level class – past dance experience is not required. Come as you are and let’s get steamy!
This class will lead up to a group performance at a VBC Student Showcase, June 29 at The Rio Theatre. You will also be supplied with professional stage photos and video of your act.
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Advanced Cabaret Chair Dance
$240.00SOLD OUT. Please email vancouverburlesqueco@gmail.com to be added to the waitlist.
Instructor: Chelsea Hart
Dates: Thursday, April 27th to June 15th
Time: 7:45pm – 9:15pm
Cost: $240Pre-requisites: 2 sessions of Cabaret Chair or equivalent
This eight week progressive is for those who have past dance/chair-dance experience who want to lean into the sultry, character driven world of Cabaret. Classical jazz lines combined with chair tricks and theatrics – this progressive will be an extra saucy experience.
Your class will lead to a group performance on June 29 at the Rio Theatre. You will also be supplied with professional stage photos and video of the show.
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Act Development with Cherry OnTop & Ariel Helvetica
Instructors: Cherry OnTop & Ariel Helvetica
Dates: Sundays, April 30, May 7 & 28, June 4 & 11, Sept 10, 17 & 20 *Showcase on Sept 23*
Time: 5pm – 6:30pm
Cost: $575 for course or $800 for course + Gloss Boudoir photoshootDue to class size and pre-requisites for this course we are taking applications for registration. It’s a short and sweet application form that you can find here:
Pre-requisites: Burlesque: An Introduction and at least one performance progressive class through the VBC, or the equivalent elsewhere.
Let us prep you for your spotlight! This intensive course will teach you how to build you own solo act, with skills supplied to you from some of Vancouver’s top performers. From choosing music, theme and vibe, to how to build choreography and plan your costume, this course will help you gain the confidence you need to launch yourself into the sparkly land of solo performance. You will get 4 individual coaching sessions as part of this course, which allows our Instructors to work one-on-one with students and help you achieve your goals.
At the end of this course you will be debuting your act on September 23 at The Rio Theatre. You will be supplied with a professional video and photos of your act.*We have joined forces with Gloss Boudoir and will be offering a photoshoot add-on to this course. The package comes with a 30 minute photoshoot, 2 outfits and 3 professional promo shots.