Special classes added to the October schedule! Available on Oct. 24 and 31, Intro to Tap Dance (tap shoes not required to attend…wear any type of shoes that you have and feel comfortable in dancing in!), Intro to Burlesque Body Sculpt ™, and learn a complete burlesque-cabaret style dance number in two classes to the new BBS workshop “Don’t Tell Mama!” 

NEW OCTOBER SCHEDULE

October 24/31

5:30 pm Intro to Tap (45 minutes)

6:15 pm Intro to Burlesque Body Sculpt ™ (30 minutes)

7:00 – 8:30 pm “Don’t Tell Mama” workshop Part I & II

NOVEMBER SCHEDULE 

NOVEMBER 7, 14, 21, 28

5:30 pm Intro to Tap (45 min)

6:15 pm “Don’t Tell Mama” Performance Prep class (45 min)

7:15 pm “Naughty and Nice Vixen” Workshop (60 min)

8:15 pm “Naughty and Nice Vixen” Performance Prep class (30 min)

RATES

PRE-REGISTRATION RATE IS FOR PAYMENT RECEIVED BY 6PM ON FRIDAY, OCT 21^st

Six-week inclusive price for all workshops

PRE-REGISTRATION $115.00 + tax (OR two installments of $57.50 + tax:  Oct 21/Nov 14)

Regular Registration $135.00 + tax (OR two installments of $67.50 + tax:  Oct 21/Nov 14)

Don’t Tell Mama Workshop only (not performing) (Oct. 24 & 31)

PRE-REGISTRATION $35

Regular Registration $50

Don’t Tell Mama Workshop & Performance Prep

PRE-REGISTRATION $65

Regular Registration $80

Naughty and Nice Workshop only (not performing)

PRE-REGISRATION $50

Regular Registration $65

Naughty and Nice Workshop & Performance Prep

PRE-REGISTRATION $75

Regular Registration $90

Intro to Tap/Intro to Burlesque Classes (included in all inclusive fee)

$10.00 drop-in for one; $15 for both in one night

Verandah Club members check with Cara for rates.

To register or questions, please call Cara Young at 214-761-7895; cara.young@hilton.com. Dallas BBS classes are at the Verandah Club (2201 N. Stemmons Freeway, 75207).

Want to see this Velvet Kitten student become a Velvet Kitten dancer?  Get your tickets here. The Burlesque Nutcracker, directed by Charles Ballinger, opens November 26 and runs thru December 26.  These shows sell out fast, so get your tickets in advance.

Fun Trivia!  The Burlesque Nutcracker (from MBS Production’s The Beulaville Baptist Book Club Presents:  A Bur-less-Q-Nutcracker) is based on the VK’s original Vaudevillian-Burlesque Nutcracker and stars it’s own Velvet Kitten cast.  This year the Burlesque Nutcracker will perform it’s 100^th show!   In fact, this Nutcracker performs more shows than any other version in DFW, and you will never look at the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy the same way again!

MBS Artistic Director Mark-Brian Sonna and VK Artistic Director Jana Edele are the choreographers behind the Burlesque Nutcracker and their work has been described as “ingenious, inspired and amusing. By turns graceful and bawdy, with just the right balance of edification and dance-hall shimmy.” 

For more information, visit: burlesque nutcracker dot com.

When:  Saturday, October 23

Time:  2:00 – 4:00 PM (call backs at 4:30pm as needed)

Where:  Stone Cottage Theatre (15650 Addison Road, Addison TX 75001)

Dancers need to come ready to move and be warmed up.  A Burlesque routine will be taught as well as a jazz combination.  Of the 5 dancers needed we are looking for at least one dancer with strong enough skills to do 6 fouetté turns. 

This show will be run from November 26 through December 26 at the Stone Cottage Theatre in Addison.  Rehearsals begin November 1. “The Beulaville Baptist Book Club Presents:  A Bur-less-Q Nutcracker!” is written by Mark-Brian Sonna, and will be directed by Charles Ballinger.  Choreography is by Mark-Brian Sonna, and Jana Edele (Velvet Kittens artistic director/choreographer).

DANCER Roles available ONLY to women and they can be of any race.

Jana – 20’s to 30’s she heads the “Velvet Kittens” and is the only truly “normal” person in the cast.

Jill – 20’s to 30’s.  She’s as dumb as Dickey.  Not the brightest crayon in the chandelier.

Jenny – 20’s to early 30’s.  A spirited and cute dancer.  She’s an ex-cheerleader that drops f-bombs left and right.

Jocelyn – 20’s to early 30’s a va-va-voom dancer with a BIG attitude.

Jessica – 20’s to early 30’s a very morally upstanding and good “Christian girl” that shockingly sluts it out once the music starts.

Please call 214-477-4942 for additional information.  For show synopsis and information about actor call, please visit here.

Hi there! I had the pleasure of seeing the Velvet Kittens perform at Rembrandt’s last year. You guys are amazing! I would love to start taking burlesque classes, and I’m just trying to find out the schedule. I used to perform with a modern dance company in Houston, and I’ve had ballet and jazz training as well. But that was several years and quite a few pounds ago, so I am a little nervous about getting back on the dance floor. Any suggestions for classes? Thanks! (LDG)

Answer:

I currently have three different options for you to choose from!

Option One:  Two-hour one-day workshop on Monday, Oct. 18^th (6:30-8:30pm). We begin with stretching and toning, then will focus on learning a fun intermediate level dance. 

Option Two:  Naughty and Nice Burlesque Body Sculpt workshop (6:30-7:30pm).  Beginning Oct. 25^th we begin our 4-class session workshop. Each class begins with stretching and toning, and then throughout 4 class sessions I teach one dance number.  Following the conclusion of Naughty and Nice we move into a Performance Preparation Workshop, in which get the dance ready for a performance.  The performance is optional for each student, and by taking the workshop you are not obligated to perform. 

Option Three: Burlesque Basics, Monday nights, 8:30-9:15pm.  Burlesque Basics is an introductory class.  We begin with stretching, and then go into across the floors, then a short dance combination.  Each class is structured around the individuals in the class.

As a dancer, I complete understand your nervousness about getting back into classes and dancing.  I think you’ll find these classes are structured as any dance class, and the familiarity will be comforting.  I also move at a slow and steady pace so that the material will not be overwhelming to learn. With your background, I think the two-hour workshop or Naughty and Nice would be a good fit.  Burlesque Basics is more of a beginner class, and most students have little to no dance background.  The workshops tend to have a variety of non-dancers and dancers.  Pricing for classes listed below.

Oct. 18 two-hour workshop:  $35 (if registered by Oct 15); $45 day of.

Naughty and Nice Workshop:  $45 (if registered by Oct 20); $60 day of.

Burlesque Basics:  $20 per class

All classes are held at the Verandah Club (2201 Stemmons Freeway, Dallas TX)

They will be holding auditions in select cities nation wide.  At each location one performer will be selected and their routine uploaded to the Burlesque Dance Contest website for final voting.  The national winner will be selected by users votes, and receive $5,000.

The contest is open to amateur dancers, ages 13 – 30.  Selected music for the audition is provided and can be downloaded from the website.

The Burlesque Dance Contest will be in Dallas on October 24, 2010, beginning at 2:00 pm at Studio 22: A Ballroom & Social Dance Club (14902 Preston Road, Suite 400, Dallas, 75254, contact 214.520.5646).

For official rules and more information, visit Burlesque Dance Contest.  For more information about the movie visit Burlesque.

For the month of September, we are offering the following:  “Spellbound” Burlesque Workshop, Burlesque Basics (weekly drop-in class), and “Insatiable” Burlesque Performance Prep Workshop.  We have also added a Saturday class!  Below are the descriptions and additional information on each September workshop and class offered by the Velvet Kittens of Le Cabaret Burlesque.  All classes are held at the Verandah Club (2201 Stemmons Freeway, Dallas TX).  To reserve your place in class, please contact Cara Young at the Verandah Club (Cara.Young@hilton.com).

The “Spellbound”

Burlesque Workshop

Work your magic and spellbound your audience with this Velvet Kitten exclusively choreographed dance number!  Each class begins with our originally designed Burlesque Body Sculpt foundation, sculpting your body to a dancer’s physique using traditional dancer exercises, then moves into this month’s themed burlesque style dance number.  The “Spellbound” Burlesque Dance is taught in four one-hour class sessions.  We also provide choreography notes for at home preparation.  Students from our “Spellbound” Burlesque Workshop will receive an invitation to enroll in a Performance Preparation Workshop, and offered an opportunity to perform in a student showcase in October.  Early registration rate:  $45 (must register by September 7^th).  Regular Registration: $60.00. (There is an additional charge to participate in Performance Prep Workshop).

We are offering two different sessions for the “Spellbound” Burlesque Workshop.  Students can sign up for a weeknight or weekend workshop session!

“Spellbound” Burlesque Workshop I – Mondays, 6:30 – 7:30 pm (Sept. 13, 20, 27, & Oct. 4)

“Spellbound” Burlesque Workshop II – Saturdays, 12:00 – 1:00 pm (Sept. 18, 25, 2,  & Oct. 9)

**All workshops must attain a certain number of pre-registered students prior to the beginning of the session, or session may be cancelled.

Burlesque Basics -

September Schedule

 Burlesque Basics is an introductory burlesque dance class that focuses on the basic foundation of the burlesque style of movement.  This drop-in class is perfect for students curious about burlesque, and desiring to try-out a class before registering for one of our workshops. 

This is also a great class for students who want to learn the burlesque style of dance outside of a workshop, students looking for a beginning dance foundation, and anyone who just wants to indulge in a fun burlesque dance class.

Mondays, 8:30 – 9:15 (Available September 13, 17, and 27)

Drop-in class: $20.00 per class.

“Insatiable”

Performance Prep Workshop –

 September Schedule

The “Insatiable” Performance Preparation Workshop takes the student to the next level.  The Performance Workshop focuses on the previously learned choreographed number taking the student into a “rehearsal” period, and continues instruction on technique, posture, execution, and memory – and prepares the performer to take the stage.  There is also a performance opportunity for the students at the end of this workshop.  It is not mandatory to perform, only an offered opportunity.

Students are required to learn the choreography prior to the performance workshops by attending the workshop or scheduling private lessons prior to Performance Prep Workshop.

“Insatiable” Performance Prep Workshop Schedule-

Monday, Sept 13 – 7:30 –8:30 pm

Thursday, Sept 16 – 7:45 – 8:45 pm

Saturday, Sept 18 – 1:00 – 2:00 pm

Rates:  All three classes $35.00; two classes $25.00; Pay per class $15 each.

**It is recommended students participate in as many rehearsal classes as possible, but also understand the difficulty of time commitments and are offering this session three options to accommodate. 

Workshops coming up in October/Nov/Dec: 

-         Special two-hour workshop!  Reserve the date:  Monday, October 18^th (6:30 – 8:30 pm) we will offer a one-time only workshop teaching an original Velvet Kittens’ dance number from the VK repertoire! (Choreography by the Velvet Kittens’ artistic director Jana Edele)

Next Featured Workshop with performance opportunity:  “Naughty and Nice” (4 class series)

Special Two-Hour Workshop! Reserve the date:  December 13 (6:30 – 8:30 PM).  One day only holiday themed workshop.  Details to come!

Upcoming September Performance:  The Velvet Kittens will be performing on Saturday, September18th at 2826 Arnetic (2826 Elm St, Dallas TX 75226, www.club2826.com).  This evening will also feature a Student Showcase, followed by live music by local Dallas band Inner Frequency.  11:30 PM.

Upcoming October Performance:  The Velvet Kittens will be taking the stage at Spookfest, presented by House of Funk Theatre Company, at the Carrollton Plaza Arts Center (1115 Fourth Avenue, Carrollton TX 75006, www.plazaartscenter.com).  Our burlesque students will also be performing at this event, on Sunday October 17^th, 2:00 PM.  For more information about Spookfest, visit www.houseoffunktheatrecompany.com (tickets on sale in Oct.).

We’re making a few changes to our schedule.  Here’s what we have coming up:

-By request…we are adding a Saturday class!!

-We are moving our Burlesque Basics class time on Monday nights.  This in an introductory class offered at the drop in rate of $20 per class.

-Our featured workshop for September/October is the “Spellbound” Burlesque Workshop! This is a 4-class series, one hour a week for four weeks. We will offer the early registration rate of $45/and then regular rate of $60. First session begins Sept. 13.  We will offer a Performance Prep Workshop upon completion of the “Spellbound” session.  “Spellbound” Student Showcase performance date: Sunday, October 17^th.

- We are offering the Performance Prep Workshop for the “Insatiable” students.  It is required to have attended the “Insatiable” workshop to attend Performance Prep.  If you wish to schedule private lessons to learn the choreography to attend this workshop, please contact me. The “Insatiable” dance was featured on Good Morning Texas.  Next student showcase:  Saturday, September 18 (Dallas, TX)

If you would like to get on our email list for complete class schedules and upcoming show information, please contact us. We send out a monthly email of upcoming events, and do not share our email list. 

~All Dallas classes/workshops are held exclusively at the Verandah Club in Dallas, TX (2201 Stemmons Freeway).~