Burlesque 101

Saturday, September 5th, 2009 | Classes | No Comments

We are head over heels for Burlesque dance!

Aradia Fitness is excited to have a new workshop added to our schedule - Introduction to Burlesque. Our instructor Fauna is a vivacious dancer & performer from Greensboro, NC - you can check out her company, Soulflower Dance, by clicking HERE.

When most people think of Burlesque, they immediately think “stripping”.

I however imagine brightly colored outfits, tight corsets, big feathers and a little “risque” behavior.  Burlesque is not, and has never been, simply a strip show.

Origins of modern-day Burlesque dance can actually be traced back to the Shakespearean era of theater, when writers such as Miguel Cervantes (think Don Quixote) and Geoffrey Chaucer (The Canterbury Tales) began to poke fun at traditional literature/theater and medieval society.

The term “burlesque” itself is rooted in the Spanish verb “to joke”.  The key to this form of dance is that it is FUN!  Modern-day Burlesque emerged in the late 19th  & early 20th century in music halls featuring elaborate, over-the-top sets and actresses.  Known for turning social norms head-over-heels, Burlesque shows employed parody and wit to entertain its audiences.

British (or “classical Burlesque”) focused mainly on parodies of popular opera & theater often poking fun at upper class society.  The entertainment of American Burleqsue, however, tended to focus more on bawdy humor and low society.

Striptease had its part in American Burlesque as it was incorporated into the comedy routines.  Often people confuse the role of striptease in Burlesque and automatically associate it with the performances seen in modern-day strip clubs.  The role of striptease and risque clothing in Burlesque dance was that it defied societal norms at the time; remember, the term “burlesque” itself means “to joke” and “to turn upside down”.  If society turned its nose up at something, Burlesque troupes were sure to incorporate it into their acts!

The confusion between Burlesque and striptease arose in the mid-20th century as Burlesque shows began to feature less satirical entertainment.  The 1930s was considered the birth of striptease as Burlesque performances ceased to feature elaborate comedies and instead hosted rather simple strip shows.

Burlesque dance became dormant for some years until the late 1990s when a revival began to take place.  Presently you can find Burlesque troupes and shows at local theaters and even find elements of Burlesque incorporated into the increasingly popular Roller Derby circuit.

Now that you understand a simple history of Burlesque, isn’t it time for you to give it a try yourself?  Check out the upcoming workshop at Aradia Fitness on Saturday September 12 2009 and get a taste of the fun and bawdy Burlesque style of dance!

Can’t make it in September?  Keep an eye on the Aradia Fitness schedule for upcoming classes or add yourself to our mailing list to be notified of new classes.

(Interested in learning more on Burlesque? Information for this article is credited to Wikipedia.com; you can learn more by clicking HERE.)

Tags: aradia fitness, burlesque, class, pole dance, pole fitness, striptease

Stop the War in My Rack!

Wednesday, May 13th, 2009 | Events, News | No Comments

JOIN THE FIGHT AGAINST BREAST CANCER!

You may know that one in eight women will be stricken with breast cancer in her lifetime.  What you may not know is that you can help these women and thousands of others in the fight against breast cancer.

On June 13, 2009, Aradia Fitness will be participating in the 13th Annual Komen NC Triangle Race for the Cure in Raleigh with a great team of dedicated people.

Join the fight by registering as part of our team, ARADIA FITNESS FLIRTY GIRLS! The Aradia Fitness instructors invite all our clients, family and friends to participate with us in the Recreational 5K event.  The Flirty Girls will be bold & beautiful at this event… help us make an impression!

Can’t make it on Race Day? Join us by registering to Sleep In for the Cure® or support our efforts by making a contribution to the team. Or drop off a donation in person to any of the Aradia Fitness instructors at the studio.

Click here to view the team page for Aradia Fitness Flirty Girls

The money raised through the Race will fund vital education, screening and treatment programs for underserved women in our own community and will also support the national search for a cure.  75% of the dollars raised by the Komen NC Triangle Affiliate go to our local Community Grant Programs for underserved women in need of education, screening and treatment services.  The remaining 25% supports the world’s largest private funding source for breast cancer research.

We need your support! Every step counts!

Thanks and we look forward to sharing this incredible experience with each of you! Please email Heather with questions regarding this event at [ heather@aradiafitness.com ].

Tags: aradia fitness, breast cancer, breast cancer awareness, charity, fundraising, north carolina, pole dancing, pole fitness, race for the cure, raleigh

Ladies… it’s time for a TEASER!

Wednesday, March 11th, 2009 | Classes | No Comments

Perhaps you are wondering… what in the world is a “Teaser” class?!

The Teaser class is designed for the new Aradia Fitness student and is the perfect introduction to our one-of-a-kind workout! This one-hour introductory session will give new students a tantalizing taste of our trademark Pole Dancing & Sensual Movement for fitness routines.

March is halfway over, so don’t put off signing up for this intro class any longer!

Teaser classes available on:

(1) Monday   March 16   @   600pm

(2) Saturday  March 21   @   1100am

(3) Tuesday   March 24   @   700pm

(4) Saturday  March 28   @   1045am

Simply visit OUR WEBSITE and look for the “Schedule” tab.  Once there, click the link of the day/time you want to sign up to register yourself for the class!

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Psst… here’s a secret hint!  If you snoop around the Aradia Fitness ZSpotlight.com page… you may stumble across a way to save 50% off the Teaser class!

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Spaces are filling up fast so reserve your spot today!

Are you ready to Meet Your Sexy Side?!

Tags: aradia fitness, discounts, introduction class, pole dancing, pole fitness