Kelly August, an experienced dance instructor in Reno, shares how she teaches burlesque not just as a style of dance but as a way to empower people to become confident in their own skin. Burlesque was first used as a rebellious way to dance and challenge society norms; today burlesque dancers use it for a multitude of reasons. Not only does burlesque empower its dancers, but as Sara Ewing reports it’s a statement that allows the dancer to show they are in charge of their destiny,
August starts all her classes with a pep talk and a clear expectation of what is needed from the dancers to have a successful class. She asks everyone in the class to be genuinely themselves and encourages a friendly community amongst the dancers.
“It’s really important to feel supported and empowered for the people around you, even if you don’t know each other, because ultimately you’re displaying this moment of vulnerability around people, and so you have to feel really secure enough to do that,” August explains…