If I was going to summarize, I'd say VaVaVoom is a warm and welcoming environment for anyone, of any background, of any skill level. If that's all you need to hear, there you go. But, there's a lot more to it than that, so I'll share a bit about my experience, and you can decide if the studio is right for you.
I'm 35. I have never danced. I'm out of shape. I'm not social. I don't go out. I never got into "girly" things. However, I have always admired dancers for their physique and poise, and I wanted to try to work fitness into my life in a way that didn't suck. So, I started looking on Yelp for studios of any kind that offered beginning dance lessons. VaVaVoom had the highest ratings of any studio. I just about died. I'm not that kind of person. Just the thought of burlesque made me uncomfortable. That's when I realized I had to do it- not because I wanted to be some kind of sexy showgirl, but because burlesque represented everything I am not... or so I thought. I wanted to grow.
I signed up for the Level 1 Moves class, and I'm not gonna lie. It kicked my butt. My body doesn't know how to coordinate the moves yet. The class is very fast-paced and you learn several moves in each one, then before you know it, you're combining them and trying not to trip over your own two feet. I was not alone in this. Why? Because half the ladies in my class had no dance experience, and we literally came from every walk of life, were all different ages, were all different shapes. But, here's the thing... I was lucky enough to get Delphine as my primary instructor, and she was hilarious. She found ways to make us laugh when we were frustrated. She encouraged us and kept us moving. She reminded us repeatedly that it takes time for our bodies to get used to the movements.
Part of me wants to say that if I had any other instructor, my experience wouldn't have been the same, but I've also had the pleasure of meeting Lucy and Wynter as well, and the vibe carries over. A big part of that is because Lucy (the studio owner) totally sets the tone. She has a no BS attitude and focuses on positivity. The expectation in the studio is that we lift each other up and appreciate the good in ourselves. Not once have I ever seen any kind of catty behavior or nastiness from anyone. The more advanced students and teachers bring you under their wing, and you automatically become part of the tribe. All the students are wonderful as well.
As far as my personal development goes, one round of Level 1 Moves was not enough. I don't have the moves down enough yet that I feel comfortable moving onto the next class. I talked to Lucy and Del about it, both were great and encouraging. The end result is that I'm presently taking Level 1 Moves as a "reviewer" at roughly half the cost that I paid for my first session. And, the super cool thing is that if I feel the need to take it a third time, it's only $25. Who does that?!? Nobody that I know of offers a discount for retaking a class. I think it's a huge testament to Lucy that she does that- it shows she believes in what they're teaching and she believes in the students. I am incredibly excited to be taking the class again, and look forward to taking several more advanced sessions after.
Here's the other thing about VaVaVoom... it's not just burlesque. Lucy's got a whole lot of other stuff happening at the studio. There's a "Beauty Parlor" session, where you learn how to do Pinup/ stage makeup and can get professional photos taken. She does "FEMMEpowerment" sessions with hiking, positive juju, and other stuff mixed in. And, they sometimes host other types of dance classes and workshops. I'm focused only on burlesque until I get that down, but I'm pretty sure I've seen musings of belly dancing, salsa, hip-hop, and go-go dancing so far. In other words, linking up with the studio doesn't just give you the opportunity to learn burlesque- it's a place where you can learn all kinds of things, be part of something, and feel good about yourself.
You don't need to be a dancer, have a perfect body, or even be wholeheartedly set on burlesque to enjoy your time at VaVaVoom. I'm so glad I found it, and I want to extend my sincerest gratitude to Lucy, Del, Wynter, June, and all the ladies there. Thank you for creating this! read more