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A Weekend With...
The Atlanta School of Burlesque is proud to present, "A Weekend With . . . " — a 2-day burlesque weekender in Atlanta, featuring international and award-winning burlesque performers and teachers. A Weekend With... is held at Metropolitan Studios in Atlanta, GA (3) times per year and features different individual performers, groups, or organizations that are well known throughout our industry as innovators, leaders, and our next generation of living legends.
As an institution dedicated to burlesque education since 2013, we are committed to providing access to the best instructors and performers in our industry. That commitment builds on our history by inspiring us to help develop burlesque artists that find value in continuously honing their craft and valuing others. It is about sharing and experiencing teaching styles to make burlesque accessible to an expansive student base. It is also an opportunity for our instructors, graduates, and seasoned performers to continue their arts education.
A Weekend With... features an intimate recorded interview with our artists, classes, shows and artistic feedback for performers across the southeast via a peer review.
Upcoming Weekenders
Lou Lou la Duchesse de riÉre | March 23rd - 24th, 2024
Lou Lou la Duchesse de Rière, known as the stripping sensation from the Mohawk nation, is an internationally multi-award-winning performer who has shimmied her way across the stages of New Orleans, Las Vegas, New York, Texas, Detroit, and Chicago. She is currently ranked by 21st Century Burlesque as the 2nd most influential Burlesque figure in the world. She holds the title of Miss Exotic World 2022, Queen of Burlesque from the 2018 New Orleans Burlesque Festival, as well as 2nd Runner Up and Most Innovative at the 2019 Burlesque Hall of Fame.
Her advocacy has been the subject of several documentaries such as Mohawk Girls and Club Native,
Related Press:
What's The Tease - July 24th, 2020: with Lou Lou la Duchesse de Rière
2023 Weekenders
Po'Chop | April 21st - 23rd, 2023
Chicago-based burlesque artist Jenn Freeman also known as Po’Chop who uses elements of dance, storytelling, and striptease to create performances and inspire students and collaborators across the country.
Po’Chop is the creator and author of the blogzine, The Brown Pages and has performed at the Brooklyn Museum in Brown Girls Burlesque’s Bodyspeak, at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance for TedxChicago 2022 and headlined shows in New Orleans, Minneapolis, Denver, St. Louis and New York.
Po’Chop is a board member & cast member for Jeezy’s Juke Joint, an all Black burlesque revue. Po’Chop performs on Netflix’s Easy (Season 2), appears in music videos for songs by Jamila Woods and Mykele Deville, and creates and performs in experimental dance films such as LITANY.
Jenn Freeman was recognized as a 2022 United States Artist Fellow; a 2022 Dance/USA Fellow; a 2021 Foundation of Contemporary Art Grant for Artist recipient, selected as a 2019-2020 Urban Bush Women Choreographic Fellow and as a 2018 Chicago Dancemakers Lab Artist.
Po’Chop has been voted among the top 50 Most Influential Burlesque Artist by 21st Century Magazine in 2022, 2021 & 2020 and was dancer in residence at Rebuild Foundation in 2020.
Weekend Classes
Get Down with Po'Chop
Get Down with Po’Chop, the BAMF of burlesque is a movement based class intended to explore Po’s signature style that merges musicality, athleticism, sexual prowess, storytelling and beyond. Participants can expect to learn explosive choreography that pulls from a wide variety of disciplines such as modern dance, burlesque movement, hip hop, lyrical dance and beyond. Class begins with a warm up that leads into a choreographed phrase.
All levels are welcome. Folks should wear comfortable close to move in and come prepared to groove and sweat it out.
Drag King 101
Drag King 101 is a workshop that is focused on providing tools to tap into your inner Drag King. Po'Chop will explore the components that make up a noteworthy Drag King performance from character development, movement and physicality to costuming and beyond. Participants should wear comfortable clothes to move in. Folks of all identities and skill levels are welcome.
Grant Writing for the Cabaret Performer
As a recipient of over 100k in grant funds to support their burlesque and drag practice, Po'Chop shares a wealth of knowledge in this workshop. From how to write a compelling project narrative to selecting and framing work samples Po'Chop's harnesses their experience as both a grant recipient reviewer. Gain insightful approaches to finding, applying and winning local and federal funding. Let’s get this schmoney!
Kitten n' Lou | January 13th - 15th, 2023
Voted the #1 Burlesque Duo in the World in 2015, crowned “Best Duo” at Burlesque Hall of Fame in 2019, and in the Top 10 “Most Influential Performers of the Decade” (21st Century Burlesque), this “camp, show-stopping couple” (The UK Daily Mail) uses burlesque, drag, dance, and theater to make performance that has been described as “the wacky love child of vaudeville and club drag” (Australian Stage 2016), “polished, clever, and glamorous” (Dita Von Teese), and “GENIUS” (The Huffington Post).
Since joining forces as “The World’s Show-Busiest Couple” both on and offstage, Kitten N’ Lou have garnered awards and accolades around the globe, including Lou’s crowning as 2017’s Mr. Exotic World, King of Boylesque, Most Comedic duo at the 2014 Burlesque Hall of Fame, honored as 2014 Artists of the Year by City Arts Magazine, and funded with grants from such entities as 4Culture. Known for their signature brand of highly choreographed comedic camp extravaganzas, this brash and dazzling duo has seduced audiences across the globe, headlining festivals such as the Helsinki Burlesque Festival and Viva Las Vegas.
Their two-person shows OVEREXPOSED and Holier Than Thou have delighted international audiences from Joe's Pub in NYC to the Fringe World Festival in Perth. Kitten N’ Lou made their television debut with Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett on the PBS Great Performances special Cheek to Cheek in 2014, and Peacock’s Queer As Folk in 2022.
Weekend Classes
Burlesque Performers are Superheros! Character Development with Lou Henry Hoover
Find out why burlesque performers are superheroes and the answers to other questions about “persona based performance.” How do we develop onstage characters that are both specific and have range? In this workshop we will dig into that wealth of material - FEELINGS! - as the root of our performing personalities.
Kitten N’ Lou’s CAMP Camp
Embrace your inner camp queen or king as Kitten & Lou guide you through various tricks and tools to infuse your burlesque with a shot of humor! Beginning with a dance based warm up for your body and brain, we will integrate Kitten N’ Lou’s signature choreographic stylings with structured theatrical exercises to develop skills that command an audience’s attention and take them on a ride. Play with ideas of slapstick, facial exaggeration, and comedic timing, as you learn to toe the line of sex and comedy and tell a story with your act. Funny is sexy!
“Beyond Pretty”: Drag Makeup for Burlesque Performers by Kitten LaRue
You’ve been practicing your faces in the mirror, and they look great – now how to make sure that every wink, smile, snarl, and pout can be seen by your audience? Makeup! Kitten LaRue digs deep into her bag of drag tricks to share the basics of creating drama with contour, highlight, eyebrow sculpting, and beating that face for the gods! Learn techniques to heighten and exaggerate both the feminine and the expressive qualities of your face to magnify every bat of an eyelash to the back of the house. All gender presentations welcome!
2022 Weekenders
What The Funk?! An All bipoc burlesque fest |
December 1st - 4th, 2022
A celebration of funk & the art of the tease!
Co-producers of What the Funk?! Fest, Mx. Pucks A'Plenty and Rebecca Mm Davis, and "A Weekend With" creator, and producer Roula Roulette are bringing What the Funk?! Fest from Seattle to Atlanta for weekend of classes, shows, and burlesque education that will blow your minds!
What The Funk's mission is to pay tribute to the Black American music genre of funk while showcasing and honoring the artistry of Black, indigenous and performers of color through the often-overlooked performance art medium of burlesque. We celebrate performers locally, nationally, and internationally through our three-day festival. We hope to inspire, offer representation, and shine a spotlight on the creativity and talent found in the BIPOC burlesque community.
Conceived as a tribute to Funk music as a show idea in early 2018 by founder and co-producer, Mx. Pucks A’Plenty, WTF is bringing Atlanta a three-night celebration of funk, the whole funk, and nothing, but the funk.
Can ya dig it?! The story of bringing the 2019 festival to life is on film! Directed by Adriana Guiman, WHAT THE FUNK?! is the story of the first inaugural What the Funk?! BIPOC Burlesque Festival, held in Seattle Washington over a three-day period in August 2019. Featuring producer and founder Kia Puckett, aka Mx. Pucks A’Plenty, known as “The Femme Daddy That Your Mother Didn’t Know to Warn You About”, and voted #17 on 21st Century Burlesque Magazine TOP 50 Most influential burlesque industry figures of 2021, in this labor of love. They explore what it means to rewrite the rules of burlesque to build a supportive community of performers for personal and professional development. See excerpts of live festival performances and intimate behind the scenes footage. Hear performers speak about the inspiration that drives their performances and lingering challenges to inclusivity and accessibility. Explore what it means to question cultural norms, utilize the body as an artistic medium, and live life on one’s own terms.
Weekend Classes
Performer Branding 101: The Basics with Shimmy LaRoux
Whether you are a headliner or have never stepped on stage, you need to have a brand as a performer. Your brand helps to define you, tell audiences/producers what you are about, and help you better tell YOUR story. Creating a brand doesn’t have to be difficult, but it can be involved.
Join Shimmy LaRoux as we get into the basics of performer branding. Shimmy has spent over a decade working with companies to help them amplify their brand and most recently followed her own advice in building The Professional Adult. In this 90-minute workshop we will learn: what exactly IS a brand, how brands are developed, using your brand as a calling card, online marketing (not JUST social media), offline marketing, and where you can automate the process so you can spend more time performing.
Making An Impact: Entrances, Exits, & Everything In Between with Mx. Pucks A'Plenty
The secret to great stage presence starts with your entrance and ends on the exit. Mx. Pucks walks your through how to make maximum impact through your entrance, exit and of course how to hold space with moments of stillness, mindfulness and good ol' fashion eye contact.
Stripper Savings Plan with GiGi Holliday
Take those show tips and trick them into working for you. You should always prepare yourself for the next step, but sometimes we forget about ourselves financially. Join GiGi Holliday and learn how to create a savings plan that works for you and prepares you for the future. Discover what is needed to set up an IRA plan, get out of debt and have a better relationship with your money. Make it Rain on yourself!
Intro to Acro with P. NoNoire
The class focuses on body awareness drills and lead up skills to assist in executing proper technique in acro, teaches basic/intermediate acro skills and floor work for performance, and even has a little theory/dos and don'ts.
Take It On The Road: Traveling As A Performer with Shimmy LaRoux
For many performers, the next step in their evolution is to start taking their acts on the road. While traveling is an exhilarating experience and a way to see acts/styles you don’t see at home, it is not without its challenges and frustrations. Join Shimmy LaRoux as we talk about how you get on the road and what you need to know. In this 60-minute workshop and discussion, we’ll discuss if going on the road is right for you, how to target out-of-town gigs, how to be a gracious guest, how to make money, and what you need to know while on the road. We’ll also touch a bit on how to upgrade your travel and make it as luxurious as possible.
Dom/Domme The Stage with D'Monica Leone
Dom/Domme the Stage is a ritual-based confidence building workshop that acknowledges internalized fear and induces confidence through sensual movement & self-affirmation. All bodies are welcome regardless of race, gender & size.
Fat Burlesque History with Mx. Pucks A'Plenty
Let's talk about Fat Baby! In this class we will review a burlesque history timeline surrounding plus size burlesque performers. We talk about classic burlesque to neo-burlesque, and the impact of Fat performers. We'll dive into the 2017-2018 A Fat Neo Burlesque Movement, examine "Burlesque is for EveryBODY" and of course, fatphobia.
Put Some Funk On It with Samson Night
Level up your choreography by taking commonly used dance moves and “putting YOUR funk” on them to make them your own! You will be taken through a choreographed routine using “basic” dance steps as we explore how to individualize them by infusing your personality into the steps so that you stand out, tell the story and have your audiences are melting at your feet! You have the charisma; you have the act idea - now let’s put YOUR Funk on those moves!
Baby Is It 10's? with Android Allure
Baby is it 10’s? is a workshop that utilizes elements from underground ballroom culture to assist in developing your stage persona and the intention behind every move you make. How does your character move, walk, stand, dance? How do they speak and showcase the gambit of emotion? Are they sexy and sultry, or are they dark and mysterious? What’s their story? How do they evolve? This class is designed exploring these questions. The goal of this workshop is to give you tools and a blueprint to take home in order continue building your persona at your own pace. Come in ready to walk in all your power and make the people feel it, because the last thing you want is a CHOP!
Shapeshift: The Creative Expression of Cosmetics with D'Monica Leone
Shape Shift- The Creative Expression of Cosmetics is a hands- on lecture experience with an emphasis on facial enhancements such as contour, highlight, and eye exaggeration.
Body Love with Goddess Briq House
Body Love with Briq House Part discussion, Part movement, Part sex education, this workshop is designed to help you strengthen your relationship with your Temple (Body) from a Body and Sex Positive lens. Approaching the topics of our varied physical attributes, abilities, genders, and sexualities with love and excitement can positively alter the way we move within ourselves and the world. This positive change can make us better performers, allies, teachers, advocates, partners, and people.
Lilly Rascal | October 21st - 23rd, 2022
This Chicago heart breaker is ready to kick your ass while you can kiss hers! Lilly Rascal brings her energetic rock and roll burlesque to the international stage and to a dance studio near you! With over 20 years of performance experience in modern dance, jazz, and pointe ballet, along with stage acting, film and voice over work, she strives to create distinctive burlesque that is compelling and powerful.
As an educator, Lilly infuses the knowledge gleaned from her body of work into her classes, offered as weekly sessions, traveling workshops, bachelorette parties and private lessons. After cutting her teeth in the musical theater world, Lilly began her burlesque career in 2011, in Minneapolis, Minnesota and now resides in the Windy City, producing Way Out Wednesday when she is not touring and teaching. She is the original rascal without a cause, it's Lilly Rascal!
"She ensnared her audience with her forceful dancing"- Cloud Orchid Magazine.
Weekend Classes
Faces & Fingers: Stage Presence
Like a dazzling costume, your confidence should be something you wear onstage. This confidence building stage presence workshop will guide you through tricks for your body and mind to help you feel stage ready and showcase your talent. Using mirrors, dance, facial expressions and acting exercises, this class will explore new ways to help you learn how to master the skills of owning the stage!
The Art of The Twirl
Learn how to tassel twirl from one of the fastest twirlers in the Midwest! In this class you will start from the beginning, with how to put on your pasties and go through the process of learning how to twirl for every size of chest! Small, big, medium and none-chested humans can all learn how to tassel! You’ll learn dance drills and exercises that you can practice as home to spin those tassels to new heights!
Rascal's Rock & Roll
Do you want to add some rock to your roll and style to your steps? Love the burlesque style but wanna kick it up a notch? Whether you are a trained dancer or have never put on a pair of heels, you are welcome to this class. Learn across the floor movement, burlesque technique, floor work and a shimmy shakin' routine with an edge! Lilly has been teaching this rock and roll burlesque class for over 8 years around the country and wants to share her knowledge so you to can bring something different to the stage that shows you off as the kickass performers you’ve always wanted to be! Bring heels or boots with heels (or flat foot if needed).
To New Heights: How to Walk & Dance in Heels
Finding the heels that you love and finding the heels that you can dance in sometimes don’t see eye to eye. Lilly is here to teach you simple techniques on how to walk, glide, spin and so much more in heels! Using across the floor drills, leg, ankle and heel exercises and small dance steps will take you from a step touch to a step strut! Bring heels like you feel comfortable in and maybe some heels you wanna try out!
gigi holliday | july 15th - 17th, 2022
Our first "Weekend With" featured GiGi Holliday, Washington D.C.’s resurgence of glitz, glamour, and allure. Armed with eyelashes and an arsenal of glitter, she has enticed audiences with her clever blend of sass and wit. Lady GiGi Holliday had her start after studying the art of burlesque in Trixie Little’s Burlesque Bootcamp and graduated in May 2010 with a double major in class and sass and a minor in tit-elation.
When she is not melting her milk chocolate beauty all over the audience, she uses her business attitude along with hard work. She is the Entertainment Director, premier host, and dancer for the La Boum Series, owner of Studio Holliday Burlesque Studio, Owner and Creative Director of Gi² Productions and Co-Founder and Co-Producer of the InDCent Arts Festival (Formerly known as Capital City Burlesque and Vaudeville Festival). GiGi has headlined the New Jersey Burlesque Festival, Jeezy’s Juke Joint, the 2nd Annual Texas Queerlesque Festival and What The Funk: An All BIPOC Festival in 2021.
In September 8, 2016, GiGi spoke for Creative Morning’s D.C. titled “Strip off your clothes and find your weird” which discusses the art of burlesque and the creative process. In 2020, GiGi became a member of The House of Knyle and debuted at number 40 on the Top 50 Burlesque list. In 2022, GiGi jumped 30 spots in 365 days to number 10 on the Top 50 Burlesque list. Winner of Hottest Freshman of 2021 at the NY Burlesque Festival, GiGi Holliday is a D.C. Legend and NY’s Rising star, “D.C. Legitimate Love Child” enjoys the spotlight heating her up and showing you some “Chocolate City Tittie”.
Weekend Classes
Opening Circle
Let's start the day with an open heart and prepare ourselves for a day of movement. We will start with introductions, move to guided mediation with affirmations and end with joy.
Burlesque Barre
Burlesque Barre is a fun and empowering class set to today’s hottest music. Classes begin with a warm-up focusing on postural strength and alignment, followed by a series of upper body exercises. The ballet barre or chair is used to sculpt the lower body, abs, and for flexibility training.
Dance Like A Diva
Pop stars have been strutting their stuff and owning the stage since pyrotechnics were invented. The key ingredient that turns a pop star into a diva is attitude. This class will show you how to command, strut, and own it.
Improv Bump & Grind
Of the many moves associated with classic burlesque, there is the bump & grind: two great foundational moves that any performer can use to build a dynamic and entertaining act. Having classic burlesque moves as part of your movement vocabulary are great tools to have in your performer shimmy belt. In addition to learning classic moves, students will explore ways to implement them for use with live bands and the occasional "oh no" moments on stage. Students should wear comfortable clothes. No prior dance experience is necessary.
Grooving with GiGi
I wanna dance!!!! So let’s grab your dancing shoes (heels or sneakers) and combine dance styles for an amazing routine.
Closing Circle
Let's close the day with connections and a dance in our hearts. We will close with final words, move to guided mediation with affirmations and end with more joy than we began with.
Become A community partner
We love our community partners! Please email Roula Roulette at rentals@metrostudioseav.com if you're interested in becoming a cash or in-kind partner.
All "A Weekend With . . ." partners receive:
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Social media shoutouts leading up to the weekender
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Your logo in the program
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A digital ad that plays during preshow & intermission