We are in an era where more people are being more conscious about the environment, wellbeing and taking responsibility for their actions, but also about leading a more healthy lifestyle. Dance is a natural and healthy way for people of all ages, to express themselves, emotionally and physically. It is not only fun but is therapeutic. Dance enables you to get in touch with your soul, allowing you to feel joy and is a great way to keep fit.

There are many contemporary dance forms today, which can be traced back to historical, traditional, ceremonial and ethnic dance. Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Ballroom, Salsa, Jive, Go Go, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Bollywood, Disco, African and Flamenco.

Capoeira, is a Brazilian Martial Art, which combines elements of dance and music. Zumba, a latin inspired dance fitness program is now a very well known style.

Burlesque Dance is not as well known as other forms of dance, but is highly transformational form of dance, as it allows sexual energy to ignite and start to flow. Once this energy starts to flow through the body, we become more alive, exude vitality and confidence.

Burlesque formance dance style which was a popular entertainment form in America, at the turn of the 20th century, which has managed to reinvent itself again a whole century later, as a post modern movement by women for women.

Burlesque combines sensual dance moves, reveals, peels with props and costumes, including feathers, satin gloves and feather boa’s.

The roots of Burlesque are sketchy. Back in the early 1800’s, the term Burlesque was used throughout Europe to describe musical works in which comic and serious elements were combined to achieve grotesque effects. In England during the early 1900’s, Classical Burlesque was an entertainment form, where a widely known piece of literature, music or theatre was used and then adapted into a risque style and parodied.

In early 20th century America, a typical Burlesque show combined live music, comedians, variety acts, a chorus line and Burlesque headliners. Gradually, the striptease element of Burlesque was utilised more widely, eventually becoming the main focus of the show. The modern Neo Burlesque revival in the 1990’s, resulted in a new age of women who were ready to assert themselves and to embrace their sexuality and feminine power.

Burlesque differs from Striptease, because it is more about the conceal than the reveal. It contains elements of tease and seduction, bringing mystery, fantasy, allure and glamour back, whereas Striptease concentrates on removing clothes, for a mostly male audience.

The early Burlesque shows were run by men and were patronised mostly by men but the shows you see today are very different. It is a form of entertainment and a medium, that allows women to have complete control of their bodies and their images.

Burlesque shows are mostly run by, and performed by women, therefore they can explore and express their sexual energy in an artistic way and with complete freedom, rather than being stereotyped and exploited as in the past.

Burlesque shows involve a variety of acts which are fairly short, with a simple plot line, involving a tease and sometimes a reveal, There are also touring shows, who explore the darker side, rather than the glamorous image of Burlesque.

Burlesque and other sensual dance forms develop self awareness, spatial intelligence and body intelligence. Right now, on Planet Earth this is a most powerful time, for human’s to unite together as one, rather than being separate. When we live in the head, in the mind it is the mental realm. When we are in the heart chakra, and we allow ourselves to feel our bodies, feel our emotions, we are more self aware. Sending out love, rather than living in fear is the desired state.

Sensual dance practices open up the energy portals, allow Shakti – life force energy to activate. Whether it be structured choreographed dance sessions or more embodied dance where your body leads you, we are training ourselves to go deeper, to listen to our bodies, get in touch with our emotions and move from fear to love.

Feeling connected, and dancing o the beat of the soul, and aligning to the true self brings freedom, relaxation and bliss. You start to feel lighter, unencumbered, happier and more grounded.

Mark Twain said ‘Dance like nobody’s watching, love like you’ve never been hurt, sing like nobody’s listening, live like it’s heaven on earth’.

Movement is natural to the body and the reason why so many people don’t allow themselves to move, is they don’t get taught how to do this. The fact that we sit down alot and are using devices, means we have tension in our bodies and not relaxed.

Dance movement is therapeutic and is just as important as eating healthy. Moving the body, using flowing moves, jumps, spins, etc is the way forward and a component of the future of health and healing for now and the future.