Night before last something awesome happened. One of those moments that, even as you experience it, you think to yourself, “This is going to be one of those crystallizing moments in my life.” We’ve all had a few of them. The moment you realized what you wanted to do with your life, even if the impulse only lasted a week. When you got your first place. The first night you spent in the city that would become your Sweet Home. The day you finished your first burlesque class.
That’s right! For those of you following my misadventures into the wonderful world of Chicago burlesque, I have completed my first class. There was no huge ceremony. No tassel was switched on my nipple or anything (Though, that’s an idea there.). Still, it had that feeling of gravitas that only living life can provide.
The girls in my class are great and I’m happy that quite a few are going on to the next class. Each one has their own little thing that makes them awesome. One of the girls is a tiny little thing but has the look of a 1920′s ingenue with long, tightly curled brown hair with just enough frizz to make it look like she was lucky enough to not have to do anything. She wakes up ready. Another is just filled with light and happiness. Her smile is contagious. Also, when she’s not shimmying around town, she writes amazing short little fictions. The third young lady came in a little late and never let it hold her back. Every time we do drills or run the dance she looks like this Grand Dame, taking a moment to let her skirt fly. There have been many more who have dropped in and out but these girls are who I would consider my classmates. We’ve watched each other go from barely able to keep our eyes up to staring forward with confidence (on our good days).
Our teacher is great as well. I’ve been on the audience side of the burlesque world in Chicago for over a year now. Red Hot Annie was someone who I had seen perform many time. She is owner of Vaudezilla, which is where I take my classes and my favorite burlesque troupe in Chicago. They do free shows all the time and they are filled with all kinds of girls and boys taking it off! Annie has been very encouraging throughout the class and she has this great ability to find the thing we’re good at and then make us feel really great about being good at it. No matter your level there is something beautiful in your movement and when Annie finds it, she tells you. She also is a great proponent of, what I like to call, “Fake it ’till you make it.” (This is also known as the Jowett family motto. We use it proudly.)
It was funny the other night. The next level class is starting so we are normally off to our cars, train stops and awaiting significant others. Last night the four of us just kinda hung around. Asking over and over to each other, “You’re going onto level two, right?” and “Are you on the Facebook?” Even though the back and forth only lasted a few minutes before we were off again it felt different. We had done this together. We has showed up, suited up and seen what happened…and we liked it.
Right before we left Annie was talking to the Grand Dame about how important it is to have a group of people to go through this life-changing process with. Some people to depend on and commiserate with. Standing outside the studio I thought…
“Here’s some friendships waiting here.”
