FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

If you still have a question after reading this, please don't hesitate to contact us :

 info@arabesqueburlesque.com

How do I make my first solo as a Beginner? There are a lot of different ways to start your solo burlesque journey. We strongly encourage you to take our Class B progressive which guides you through creating your first solo act and finishes with a live student showcase where you’ll be able to perform your act in front of an audience. Class B requires that you have already taken classes at Arabesque Burlesque. Because burlesque is its own unique art form, even with dance or theatre experience, we require that you start with a beginner-level progressive class and continue with a group choreography onstage (Show Ponies) before joining Class B. Building your incredible burlesque solo from zero with our guidance is therefore a commitment of 3 sessions of 10-weeks at Arabesque.

If you can’t make it to the school, you can also subscribe to our On Demand channel to get access to over 60 different classes that will help you discover your burlesque style and practice your dance skills to help you through the process of creating your own solo. If you want more specialized guidance in costuming, act-creation and choreography, you can choose the videos you need on our Specialty Skills channel.

You can also build your solo one-on-one with a burlesque coach. With this type of efficient format, we can usually reach your performance goal in about half the time it would take in group classes.

And finally, you can always make this leap on your own! Go ahead and build your own solo without our guidance. That’s how a lot of us started! You’re already a star :)

The price of the class is keeping me from signing up. What can we do? We have a few options. Sponsored Spots for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) and Trans folks; reach out to us by email at info@arabesqueburlesque.com ! We offer a 50% discount on the total cost of a class to BIPOC and Trans folks who want it. We offer a free sponsored spot to an indigenous student every session. Please email us if this interests you. We have an internship program (it’s a one year commitment) that you can learn more about here.

I’d like to sign-up for a drop-in class. Do I need to register in advance? No, you don’t. We have limited space in our studio so it’s always best to do payment and registration in advance. You can register using a credit card online up to 1hr before the class start time. You can also take your chances and show up without registering. You can pay when you get here if there’s room in the class.

I registered for a Drop-in class that I can no longer attend. What’s your policy for cancellations? If you registered for a DropIn class, you have up until 2hrs before the start time of that class to cancel or change your registration. After that, you must pay for that class even if you don’t attend. We have limited capacity in the studio so thanks for understanding! All class purchases are non-refundable so when you cancel your registration for a class, please contact us by email to use your credit towards a new drop-in class registration.

I bought package of Drop-In classes - now what? After buy a pack of 3 or 10 classes (or an unlimited pass), you still need to register for the dates you want to join us. To register, open the email sent by Acuity that confirms your purchase of the pack. In that email you’ll see the “Package Code” you can use to register for your paid classes as well as a link to register for those classes.

What kind of clothing should I wear to class? Arrive ready to dance! We suggest you wear the same clothing to our classes as you would to any workout or dance class. We teach our fitness/workout classes barefoot and most of our students will do the same. You can also wear dance shoes (jazz, ballet or swing) or indoor running shoes that have a flexible soul. For Tease Burlesque 101, please bring heels.

How can I participate in the Drop-in classes? We have two drop-in classes: our hour of Burlesque Fitness, which is a surprise mix of all things sassy and sweaty, and the Tease Burlesque 101 class. Open to all levels of experience. To know what will be offered on any given week, check the schedule regularly. Information on prices and online registration, here.

Where are the classes given? Is there parking? All of our classes are held at our studio #204 located at 7100 st-Hubert street (2nd floor, near Jean-Talon). Just a few steps from Jean Talon metro station! There is paid parking on the street of Saint-Hubert and some parking on nearby residential streets. We don’t have a parking lot.

Are the classes in French or English? It depends! When you register for a class, the language of the class will be noted in the class title (EN or FR). The language is also noted in the weekly schedule.

Are men and/or other genders welcome in your classes? We teach men, women and everyone outside the gender binary. Burlesque can be embraced by all genders.

Who are the classes for? Everyone! Regardless of age, gender, or body type, you are welcome to join one of our classes. We have students from 16yrs to 75yrs of all shapes and sizes and we strive to make burlesque accessible for all.

Who teaches your classes? Our classes are all taught by burlesque artists who regularly perform in Montreal. Get to know them here.

When do your classes run? We have three sessions every year, Winter, Spring, and Fall. Winter runs Jan-Feb-March, Spring runs April-May-June, and Fall runs Sept-Oct-Nov.

What is the difference between a drop-in and a progressive course? We offer two types of classes, drop-in and progressive. Our progressive classes run for 10 weeks, and you sign up for the whole session. Our drop-ins are much more flexible and run for most of the whole year, even between sessions. You can sign up for one, two, or come every week to our drop-ins. Also, the content of our progressive classes is definitely more focused on the tease, choreography, character and sensual energy side of burlesque. The drop-in classes are movement and workout-based classes inspired by sass and freedom.

The progressive class I want to take is full/has already started. How do I join it? Is there a waitlist? Before each session, we have a registration period for our progressive classes. Registration closes for each class when it is full, or after the first class. Some of our classes are very popular and fill up quickly, so unfortunately you might have to wait until our next session to take that particular class. It’s a great idea to add yourself to the WAITLIST for a progressive class you’re interested in. Email us to do that!