Melbourne Burlesque Workshops - Saturday 31st May

Melbourne, get ready for some exclusive dance & burlesque workshops with two of New Zealand's most esteemed burlesque performers: Lucy Lynch and Hannah Tasker-Poland!

There are two workshops to choose from, but don't be afraid to try both!

Location:

Jason Coleman's Ministry of Dance (Studio 3)

1/64 Sutton St, North Melbourne VIC 3051, Australia

Date:

Saturday 31st May 2025

Triple Threat Dance Workshop with Lucy Lynch

Time: 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm

Difficulty Level: All Levels

Looking for a fun, energetic dance experience that celebrates all bodies, ages, and abilities? This all-levels dance workshop, led by the talented Lucy, is perfect for you! With over a decade of professional touring and performing under her belt, Lucy brings a wealth of experience and passion to every class.

The workshop begins with a 30-minute warm-up designed to get your body moving, energised, and ready to take on the rest of the session. From there, you'll dive into a dance combination that seamlessly blends a triple threat of jazz, contemporary, and burlesque styles. Whether you're a total beginner or an experienced dancer, this workshop caters to everyone and ensures that you'll have a blast while learning something new.

Lucy has over a decade of professional dance experience across contemporary, ballet, jazz, and burlesque. Fresh out of dance school, Lucy was handpicked as a founding member of the New Zealand Dance Company, where she spent eight years touring the globe and performing on some of the world’s most renowned stages. Beyond her global contributions to contemporary dance, Lucy is a prominent figure in New Zealand’s broader entertainment scene and is currently touring the wildly successful rave endurance work The Butterfly That Flew Into The Rave, which exploded in popularity worldwide.

Skills Covered:

• Fun & Energising Warm-Up: Start your session with a dynamic, feel-good warm-up that gets your body moving and prepped for the dance ahead.

• Movement Confidence: Focus on feeling great in your body and moving with confidence, no matter your skill level.

• Dance Combination: Learn an exciting choreography that combines elements of jazz, contemporary, and burlesque, helping you express yourself through movement.

  
  

By the end of this workshop, you'll have a new dance combination in your repertoire, increased confidence in your movement, and the joy that comes with dancing in a supportive and inclusive environment. Come ready to enjoy the process, let go, and try something new with Lucy!

Reserve your spot today and join us for a truly energising and empowering dance experience.

What To Bring:

• Please bring a towel and water bottle.

• Wear clothing that you are comfortable moving in.

• This workshop will be barefoot, so no dance shoes are required.

Choreography & Performance Workshop with Hannah Tasker-Poland

Time: 1:45 pm - 3:45 pm

Difficulty Level: Open Level

This workshop offers a unique opportunity to connect with one of Aotearoa’s most accomplished and innovative artists, Hannah Tasker-Poland. To experiment with approaching creation, choreography and performance from different perspectives, and push to the edges of tropes and archetypes to subvert, shapeshift and recontextualise notions of burlesque, eroticism and the body.

Whether you’re a seasoned performer or an artist seeking fresh inspiration, this session will guide you through creating a powerful, short movement piece that spans from the flirtatious to the formidable, featuring choreography from both Hannah and the participants. The workshop is set to wild tunes, with plenty of opportunity for personal creativity, movement exploration, and theatrical expression.

Hannah is well known for their innovative artistry, fiercely visceral physicality and commanding stage presence. A self-described movement alchemist and political eroticist with a professional body of work spanning 20+ years across dance, theatre, film, TV, burlesque, special-effects, stunts and more, Hannah has a wealth of experience, knowledge and insights on various choreographic processes, character building, movement techniques and performance quality that can be applied across multiple art-forms and creative expressions.

Skills Covered:

• Choreographic Tools for Movement Creation: Explore techniques for generating movement and physicality that push the boundaries of traditional burlesque.

• Embodiment Techniques: Unlock unique and diverse performance qualities by tapping into your body’s potential and exploring different states of being.

• Integrating Physicality with Character: Learn how to incorporate your physicality into characters and state-based performances, using body language to tell a story.

• Stage Craft and Presence: Develop the essential skills for commanding the stage, connecting with your audience, and owning your performance space.

• Collaborative Choreography: Work together to create, adapt, and experiment with choreography that is uniquely yours, allowing for personal expression and creativity.

  
  

Expect an open, inclusive, and experimental environment where no one will feel rushed or out of their depth. This workshop encourages improvisation and play with conceptual ideas, giving you the freedom to explore your artistry in a supportive space. There’s no such thing as "perfect" here – just artistic anarchy, self-expression, and the collective power of the group.

The two-hour time period allows for adequate time for concepts to be explained and explored, with time for Hannah to connect with each participant one-on-one throughout the process, so no-one feels rushed or out of their depth. The session also includes a discussion and Q&A with Hannah, where you can dive deeper into the ideas explored during the workshop and discuss performance artistry in general.

What To Bring:

• Please bring a towel and water bottle.

• Bring a pen and paper/notebook to take notes during the workshops.

• Dance heels are required for most workshops, please check the individual workshop descriptions.

• Wear clothing that you are comfortable moving in. We will get very physical at times. While you are welcome to wear whatever you wish, there is no requirement to “dress-up”.

• If you have them, bring heels or shoes/boots with a heel.

• This workshop does not include striptease, however the concepts can absolutely be applied to striptease and we will touch on this.

Inclusivity

At EDL Studios, we believe that burlesque is for everyone, regardless of gender or body type. Our classes are a safe and welcoming space for all, and we welcome individuals of all backgrounds, identities, and skill levels. Whether you are a beginner or have some dance experience, you are welcome to join us in celebrating your body, exploring movement, and developing your skills. We aim to create an inclusive environment where all can feel comfortable expressing themselves and learning at their own pace. So, don't worry if you are new to dance, we are here to support and encourage you through every bump, grind, and shimmy.

Dress Code

We want you to feel comfortable and confident during class, so wear something that makes you feel good! Leggings, shorts, and a singlet are all great options. You're also welcome to wear lingerie or any other clothing that makes you feel sexy. However, please make sure you are able to move freely and safely in whatever you choose to wear.

In addition, we recommend wearing dance heels if possible. This will help you practice proper stance and technique, and will give you a better feel for the classic burlesque style. However, if you're not comfortable in heels, you're welcome to wear flat dance shoes or bare feet. Whatever you choose, make sure you feel comfortable and confident to strut your stuff!