Things your burlesque teacher wants you to know…

As I start a new term of classes here in the beautiful nipaluna/Hobart, and manage the first class nerves - I thought I’d share the biggest things I wish every student would know when they wander in the front door or send off that first enquiry about joining a class.

No, you are not too old.

At Miss Kitty’s Meow we’ve seen everyone from 18-80 in the studio. Everyone will have some unique gifts. And challenges. But don’t let your age override the opportunity to do something that brings you joy! 🤩

I’d also put under this category that you are not too big/curvy/thin/etc. It is easy to have pre conceived ideas about what a burlesque performer is and looks like. But I can say that every class I have taught will always have a range of students from all ages, shapes, sizes and genders.

Every teacher has been a student and has been a beginner.

Everyone teaching and performing burlesque has been a student and a beginner before. So we all know that it’s HARD starting anything. We have all been the people that have struggled to keep up. We’ve all felt like we sucked. And we know that it’s hard doing something new. Meeting new people. Learning stuff that is totally uncharted.

But here’s what we also know. Nothing changes by staying the same. So it might be hard being a beginner or being the new student. But you also have so much to GAIN just by showing up.

We don’t care about what a good dancer you are

In any burlesque class we will teach some choreography as a way of helping you as a group learn aspects of burlesque - that might be cornerstone moves, it might be how to striptease something.

But remember this is just a teaching device. To us, learning the steps isn’t that important. Burlesque isn’t a dance competition.

What is more interesting and important? Using the techniques in class to start your curiosity about burlesque history, culture. Forget about the steps and start to delve into finding that inner alter ego.

Talk to us about your dreams!

Everyone who comes to a burlesque class has different aspirations.

We love hearing about your goals and your needs. This could be the student that is on the fast track to performing. Or your goal might be to make friends and break some social anxiety.

These goals (and the millions more that you have ) are all completely valid.

And they also might change! I’ve known so many people to come in extremely shy who have gone on to really blossom as exceptional performers in their own right.

And equally you might have had stage focused dreams, but life threw you the curveballs it does.

Keep the conversation going.

The more we know the better we can support you AND help you find the classes and opportunities to get you towards those goals.