From New York, where American Burlesque Striptease was born...
...the NY School of Burlesque combines direct training from the most glamourous performers of the 1940s-1960s with the mischief and creativity of the most prolific neo-burlesque scene in the world!
The New York School of Burlesque gives you access to amazing and experienced teachers with a real commitment to joyous, dazzling burlesque, and a love of performance. These teachers will fully engage and inspire you!
We are the first, the original, and the most fun burlesque school in NYC. We're not jumping on the burlesque bandwagon--we built it!
We have been producing classes for 7 years, as well as producing DVDs and handbooks. We produce student showcases from some of our classes, presenting NYC's newest burlesque performers. Join the feathery, fringe-y fun!
More classes for this fall will be added shortly! Join our email list (see the left hand column of this page) to be notified when they become available.
Don't Miss!
New York School of Burlesque Student Showcase!
Presenting New York's newest burlesque performers for over half a decade, we've been helping students to find joy onstage since our first Student Showcase in 2004. Some of them just had one night of fun with it, and others have gone on to develop careers in burlesque.
Read about the students in the show!
The Burlesque Handbook will be available for sale and signing at the show, courtesy of Bluestockings Radical Bookstore.
Wed August 25 8 pm $7 at the door
Bowery Poetry Club
308 Bowery (Between Houston and Bleecker)
Headmistress Jo Weldon performing with Storybook Burlesque at The Burlesque Handbook show.
Bachelorette, Birthday, and Other Events
We are the original burlesque party providers. Don't risk hiring someone who's just jumping on the burlesque bandwagon. Trust your event to our experience and expertise, and treat yourself and your friends to a fabulous class! More Info
The Essential Burlesque Dance Series
Want to take the entire series of beginner burlesque dance classes? Learn all the moves that make burlesque so much fun: the sexy shimmy, the tantalizing glove peel, the devastating bump n grind, and the dazzling tassel-twirl, chair dance, fan dance, and more! More Info / Enroll
Saturday, September 4th @ 7PM
Bluestockings Bookstore, NYC
Click here for more information
Presentation: Jo Weldon "Glitter and Rebellion"
Neo-burlesque is flourishing. New performers are expanding the scene, experienced performers are traveling the world, and the glitter and rebellion of burlesque is influencing other artistic disciplines. Join Jo Weldon for a look at the underground origins (drag, fetish, sex work, punk) of neo-burlesque, and for a discussion of the worrisome possibility that mainstream acceptance will diminish the outlaw integrity of this vibrant culture. Jo Weldon (aka Jo Boobs) is the Headmistress and Founder of the New York School of Burlesque. Her heels have stood on stages about the globe with the likes of Leonard Cohen, Margaret Cho, and Spinal Tap. She is the author of the recently published "The Burlesque Handbook: A Backstage Guide."
Ultimate Self Confidence!
World Famous *BOB* is offering her celebrated self-confidence workshop!
Ultimate Self Confidence is the radical and astonishing workshop that everyone is talking about! As seen in the Village Voice "Best of New York 2008" guide. World Famous *BOB* has created a workshop to encourage women (this class is currently women-only, though a co-ed version is planned to be offered in the future) to take larger steps towards who they ultimately want to be - whether it is on stage or in everyday life situations. Confidence is something that is only true when it is created by ourselves and *BOB* will guide you through a series of fun and sometimes challenging exercises to create "courage references" that are guaranteed to stay with you long after you've left class. Come ready to work and be prepared to amaze even yourself! More Info / Enroll
Flirting with Burlesque
One of our most popular classses! More Info / Enroll
Hula Hoop with Miss Saturn
HULA HOOPING FOR AN AUDIENCE. This workshop can apply to any type of prop manipulation in performing as well as all levels of performers. We will focus on cultivating a performer's "bag of tricks." We will work beginnings, middles, and ends, attempt to strip away extraneous movement, incorporate exercises that bring focus from inward to outward thus sharpening the performer/audience relationship, and finally looking at different techniques in handling nervous energy. Please come with shoes you like to perform in or a costume piece that will help you organically get in touch with your performer "persona." It helps to bring something that is not apart of your day to day-for example if you never wear lip stick or a bowler hat trying wearing it during the workshop. It does not matter how developed the "persona" is. Come to play. More Info / Enroll
Burlesque Dance and Choreography
Get your burlesque groove on! More Info / Enroll
New York School of Burlesque Students peform with Headmistress Jo Weldon at a benefit for Coney Island USA. Photo by Norman Blake
The Classes
Most classes are suitable for beginners as well as for experienced performers who are interested in learning the vocabulary of burlesque. Classes are suitable for entertainment purposes or training to perform. For more information, see the schedule.
NYSB in Action on CBS Sunday Morning
Recent News!
Burlesque Brings Babes Together
Ten Tips for Trying Burlesque
Five Tips for Giving a Sexy Striptease
NYSB Founder Jo Weldon Voted into the Top 10 Burlesque Performers in the World
Storybook Burlesque Presents The Burlesque Handbook
Jo Boobs Teaches the Va Va Voom!
Sizzle This Summer with Hot Burlesque Moves
A Chat with Jo Boobs Weldon
Excerpt from The Burlesque Handbook
