Summer Weekend Retreat
August 21-24, 2008
Lopez Island, WA


image (c)Sommar Kramer
The third event! Three nights and three days in a beautiful rural setting in Washington State! This three-day workshop incorporates basic and intermediate Burlesque skills in a unique, intimate, and fun environment. A saucy and playful exploration of humor, dress-up, movement, and erotic energy for women of all backgrounds, ages, abilities, and shapes, taught by attentive and patient expert instructors, Professor Jo Boobs and Miss Indigo Blue.


image (c)Sommar Kramer
Interactive: lots of time for q & a and individual attention.
Informative: sessions on Burlesque History and performance skills.
Empowering: develop a strong sense of femininity and its relationship to the Art of Burlesque.


image (c)Sommar Kramer

Ample opportunity for social and private time! On-site nature walks, and beaches a short drive away. Delicous meals prepared by our own private chef. Sleep in covered dorm setting with your classmates, on private land in the gorgeous San Juan Islands, north of Seattle.

ABOUT JO BOOBS

NYC-based Professor Jo "Boobs" Weldon was voted "Best Bump & Grinder" and "Best Burlesque Teacher & Mentor" at the New York Burlesque Festival. She is a prolific writer, performer, and photographer. Her sass, wit, experience, and open generosity with her skills makes her one of the most desireable teachers working today. For more information about her New York School of Burlesque, her extensive Website with incredible articles and resources, and her photography, please follow the links above.

ABOUT INDIGO BLUE

Seattle-based Miss Indigo Blue is the Headmistress and Founder of The Academy of Burlesque, the first school dedicated to the Burlesque Arts in the United States. Miss Indigo specializes in Tassel Twirling, Character and Act development, and a firm foundation in performance skills. She brings a strong emphasis on stage presence and humor to her classes. Many of her students and mentees have gone on to form successful characters, and actively perform in the local and national Burlesque circuit. For specific information about Indigo, please see her website.

 



Curriculum and Schedule
The curriculum has been developed collaboratively by Jo Boobs and Indigo Blue and includes their favorite elements of their class offerings. Opportunities will exist for students to learn topics specific to their interests.

History:
Learning about legendary ladies: exploring the biographies of vintage burlesque performers. How to watch, evaluate, understand, and consider the varying ranges of burlesque performance past and present. Tracking the development and geneaology of the neo-Burlesque movement on two coasts.

Movement & Dance Skills:
Daily stretching & balancing. Posture for the stage, The Burlesque Walk, and posing for stage and photo. Classic movements of the bump & grind, shimmy & shake. Glove and stocking work. Chair and floor dancing. Tassel Twirling.

Performing Femininity:
Developing and growing a character. Defining and refining an act for the stage. Exploring notions of femininty and how they apply to stage personae.

Sample Schedule

  • 8:30 Stretching
  • 9:00 Continental breakfast of eggs, fruit, cereal, toast, juice, coffee, tea.
  • 10:00 Posture and walking for the stage, posing for stage and photos.
  • 12:00 Delicious lunch with salad, entree, vegetarian options.
  • 1:30 Free time (walking, writing, reading, swimming, videos)
  • 3:00 Glove & stocking skillsclass
  • 4:15 High tea wearing hats & gloves with tea cakes or sandwiches
  • 5:00 Review and discussion of-neo burlesque routines.
  • 6:30 Creating a character for the stage.
  • 7:30 Gourmet dinner with vegetarian options, dessert.
  • 9:00 Dress-up for pin-up photo shoots, practice posing
  • 11:00 Videos

Accommodations
The retreat will be held at a private 7 acre residence on Lopez Island, WA, about 3 hours north of Seattle in the gorgeous San Juan Islands. Meals taken outside in the orchard or on the deck, and evening videos under the stars, projected on the barn! Main house used primarily for cooking, has one bathroom with shower.

Most classes and activities will be conducted in the barn or outdoors in the groves. The lawn is mostly rugged with grassy spots. Stilettos and bare feet are welcome on all areas of the property! Clothing is optional, glitter is required.

Participant lodging is in the lower and upper barn dorm spaces. Air-matresses, linens, and pillows provided - bring your own towels! There is also plenty of space if participants would like to bring camping gear and set up tents. The barn has its own bathroom & shower, and additional outhouses are available! This year there's even a kiddy pool in the orchard!

Transportation
Directions to the venue will be sent in registration packets for those participants with cars. Car-pooling will be organized for those who do not have cars. The Academy can provide rides to and from Sea-Tac airport for out-of-town participants. Participants are responsible for their own ferry tickets.

What to Bring
A complete list of what to bring will be provided with registration packets. Students should plan to bring a swimsuit and sandals for hot weather, their own towel, dress-up clothes and one partial or completed "costume", a wig, some high heels, a journal, and sunscreen. Linens, practice fans, gloves & boas & pasties are available. Students may bring their own items to sell, and money to buy things at the Sunday marketplace/swap.

Registration
Registration includes accommodations, food, instruction and transportation (for out of town participants only) to the site. A $125 deposit is required to hold your place, payable via the Brown Paper Tickets link above. Total registration fee is $595 if paid before July 10, $645 if paid after.

Payment plans are available!! Unfortunately, due to the expenses associated with producing this retreat, scholarships are not available.