Have you ever participated in a burlesque class that felt like a divine hallucination?
In 2020, Creator of SpeakEasy Noir, Switchress Shay Au Lait received a testimonial from a Student Initiate. It means the world to us and shows our strengths as well as our weaknesses as a brand, lifestyle, movement and collective.
“I could share for miles about the positives that YOUR gifted teaching and brand brought to my life. I talk about the loss of your classes all the time in therapy! During one class- my first?- I had an experience that was…what’s the word…Otherworldly, ecstatic, possibly a divine hallucination. It sent me on a very deep dive.
I’d have to write out in a long email or over a chat. Your offering is like no other, Shay. Potent is just the first adjective that comes to mind. From the very beginning, I wanted to work my butt off and make enough money so that I could pay to learn and train and learn and train to become one of your teachers. I still do! I took one of the current pole classes and hated it. Maybe I ought to take it to learn techniques and get stronger? Honestly, after I discovered you left, I stopped moving at all – not even yoga, which I’m certified to teach, because I lost that newly claimed part of my being. I’m so glad I found you then – and again on the [inter]net. Consider me one of your “disciples” hahaha!”
Switchress Shay mused upon reading, “This is a beautiful and haunting message from a past student of mine. I failed her in that I didn’t give her enough tools and enchantments for her own personal practice beyond me. I might be a catalyst or a portal during my classes but my goal is for my students to learn to access this even without me. Granted she was a very new student and I left the studio she’s referencing soon after she began taking classes with me. And as my face was always covered with a mask and I promoted the studio over my own brand during my classes, she never knew I was online or offered online classes on my own and she didn’t even know what my face looked liked because I always wore masks. I’m glad we found each other again. And this time I want to ensure that whether after one day or 100 classes…. Without me, I want her to always move and discover her own ‘Otherworldly, ecstatic, possibly divine hallucinations.’
I’m not your average pole dance and burlesque teacher. I always tell my students that’s simply a marketing ploy. There’s other intentional work at play in my erotic sanctuaries. We’re doing shadow play for our shadow work!”
We ask again, have you ever participated in a burlesque class that felt like a divine hallucination?
SpeakEasy Noir classes, workshops, trainings, intensives, and retreats are offered in person and online. If you feel provoked or curious, consider bringing SpeakEasy Noir to your studios, communities, festivals, homes, polycules, festivals and more. We love popping up in immersive environments, boutique studios and sanctuaries too!
