Just the Facts: 

Queer Ballet October 15, 22, 29 from 2:00-3:15. $5 or pay what you can. Advance registration available.

Come for the whole series or once or twice!  RSVP on Facebook to spread the word! 

Queer Ballet Class is for LGBTQ folks of all ages, regardless of gender, body type, fitness level, or experience. Whether you want to re-live childhood hours spent at the barre or are interested in exploring this dance form for the first time, this is your invitation to experience ballet in a fun, non-judgmental environment. Despite the strictures that are sometimes drawn around this art form, we can reclaim it and make it our own, discovering the subversive potential of movement. This workshop includes basic ballet terminology, gentle stretches, an introduction to proper alignment and lots of joyous movement.
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Presented by In The Streets Productions (the folks who bring you The Femme Show) with support from the Boston Pride Foundation.

​A few more thoughts:

I started teaching “Ballet Is For Everyone” when the Femme Show toured to youth conferences and retreats. We were hearing that these events wanted interactive, experiential workshops for their participants, and this was my contribution. I didn’t really know if it would take off, especially when it was scheduled for 9 AM the morning after the big drag show. But it turns out lots of people like to dance and move their bodies, and people whose genders don’t line up with  the ballet stereotype were eager to try it.  I have wanted to do a version of this workshop in Boston so my friends and community here could enjoy it!

Our human bodies are made to move. Queer people often have additional barriers to finding the ways our bodies enjoy moving. But we can’t have a revolution if we aren’t taking care of ourselves! Queer Ballet gives you an option to try another way to make your brain and body happy! I love this art form and I want to share it with you!

We’ll cover some of the basics that you would learn in any adult ballet class, but I also plan on including lots of joyful, expressive movement that will make you feel like you’re dancing! We’ll warm up focusing on individual movements and body parts – fingers, arms, feet. We’ll do lots of traveling steps to classical music and classical covers of pop music. We get to do all of this in the beautiful studio at Integrarte at Hope Central Congregational Church in JP.  I can work with injuries and physical needs including taking the class from a chair, scooter or wheelchair.  Email the femme show at gmail if you would like to discuss specific needs.

What you can wear:

• socks
• bare feet
• ballet slippers or other soft dance shoes – jazz shoes, dance sneakers etc.
• t shirts
• tank tops
• sweatshirts
• sweatpants
• leggings
• yoga pants
• shorts
• tights
• skirts, crinolines, tutus, tunics or dresses as long as you can move!
• layers

What not to wear:

• anything uncomfortable
• shoes you wear outdoors
• anything that will go flying off your person and poke someone else in the eye.

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Here are some bonus ballet shots from back in the day!
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Thank you to all of our audience members, volunteers, staff and performers for a fantastic spring show! Next spring we will celebrate 10 years of The Femme Show – that’s right, 2007-2017! I feel so blessed to be able to share these artists and their stories with your all.
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