 | | Seductive: Sara finds her inner showgirl |
Immodesty Blaize, ‘Queen of British Burlesque', is strutting her diamond-encrusted heels around the globe reviving Hollywood showgirl glamour. So when invited to a Burlesque and chair dance workshop, billed as the hottest new way to workout, I was intrigued.
 | | Instructor: Karen leads from the front |
In my mind, Burlesque brings images of the striptease of the 1950s but I am reassured by the instructor’s motto ‘it’s not about stripping it’s about dancing.’ Karen’s attire is black chic with no sign of a feather boa - phew! The lights are dimmed in the mirrored studio and, as the music plays, we launch into diva moves. Karen tells us ‘there will be less talking and more dancing!’ so with no time to feel self-conscious, we follow her lead. | "Legs are elongated in the air and kittenish backs arched: this is a cardio-striptease with your clothes on.." | | Sara Newman, dancer |
The chair becomes part of our performance but this is no ‘musical chairs’. Legs are elongated in the air and kittenish backs arched. This cardio-striptease with your clothes on is hard work on abdominals, legs and arms and before long I was gleaming. The style of the showgirl encourages us to release the goddess within, or in other words, work it. The luxurious moves glide into one another and Karen announces that ‘all we need now is chocolate!’
 | | Empowering: Jennie of Cheek Dance |
We thrust, flick, whip and hurl ourselves into the dance of a seductive heroine. The poses are strong, cheeky and, most importantly, the moves are fun. The choreography is sexy and even if you’re not quite doing it right, you still get the feel for it - and it feels fabulous. It is strangely empowering. The new Burlesque workout is not about freak shows or flashing bare bits. It is all about the ‘showgal’, celebrating female allure and injecting a bit of flirty fun into a dance-based workout. I leave feeling elated and, as a dynamite workout, it hit the spot. Cheek Dance run courses in burlesque, lap and pole dancing at the Armitage Centre, Fallowfield; Holmes Place, Didsbury; and the Printworks. See website for details | 
