No-Hassle Tassels

"My mom always makes comments about how shy I was when I was young, and she just can't believe that I'm doing what I'm doing," says Burlesque As It Was founder and dancer Vivienne VaVoom — aka Michelle Baldwin, a Westword contributor. "It's changed the way I dress, the way I hold myself, the way that I talk to people. I'm just so much more comfortable with my body."

Baldwin became hooked on burlesque eight years ago when she formed Burlesque As It Was; now you can reap the rewards of her experience with Vivienne VaVoom's Burlesque Lessons. In addition to a six-week program that teaches you everything you need to know to titillate and tease, she's offering drop-in lessons on basics such as fan work and stage makeup. At tonight's drop-in class, Tassel Twirlin'!, Baldwin will teach interested women the ancient art of, well, twirling tassels on their nipples.

"There's going to be women of all shapes and sizes," promises Baldwin, "and it's one of those things where you might have this fear in your head, but once you walk into the room and see all these women just like you who are like, 'Oh, my God, I'm going to be twirling tassels on my boobs,' it's so much fun.

"It's an all-women group," she continues. "Everybody's going to be topless and spinning tassels, and it's going to be ridiculous. So don't be shy!"

Tassel Twirlin'! starts at 7 p.m. at Ancient Harmony Tai Chi Studio, 278 Galapago Street. The class costs $30 with tassels, $15 if you bring your own. Visit www.burlesqueasitwas.com, call Baldwin at 720-308-5091, or e-mail her at ms_burleyque@yahoo.com for more details.
Wed., Oct. 4, 7 p.m.