Stripper-aerobics and pole-dancing classes may be growing in popularity. But one fitness and dance class is reminding Tempe that it's actually the art of the tease that makes a woman sexy.
Scandalesque, Arizona's first burlesque troupe, began three years ago, performing about monthly at various events in the Valley. The group started teaching burlesque classes in June, after receiving countless e-mails and phone calls from women who caught a show.
Now, every Thursday and Saturday, about a dozen women gather at the Mystic Jewell dance studio in Tempe on Broadway Road. Classes are held in eight-week sessions. The new winter session began Oct. 15, but anyone can drop into a session at any time.
At the classes, members stand in front of a mirror draped with lush fabric as Christina Aguilera's sultry tunes play in the background. Teachers Pyra Sutra, Lady Fontayne and Peek-a-boo Pixie-Lou combine burlesque, vaudeville and cabaret into something that goes beyond a sexy jazz-dance class — and helps women get a workout at the same time.
"Some fitness clubs, all they're doing is showing women how to take off their clothes in a hurry, and there's no artistic value to it," says Christy Zandlo, co-founder of Scandalesque, whose stage name is Pyra Sutra. "That's the thing about burlesque. It's not about getting your clothes off real fast and getting in bed. When it started, the women were all artists."
Co-founder Julianna Curtis, who goes by Lady Fontayne, says burlesque began as a live performance art for women where they often had a signature skill, such as singing, dancing or juggling. "As time went on, it began to include stripping. It got more risqué, but it was always artful," she says.
Women of all ages and all professions — including schoolteachers and accountants — come to the class, Sutra says. Although no ASU students have taken classes yet, Sutra says the class is great for college-age adults.
Some women may be initially shy about taking such a class, and Sutra says she understands their concerns. "Believe it or not, I'm modest," she says. "I'm a ballet teacher. I have that in me. But, at the same time, I like letting loose, and this is my way of doing it."
Sutra says those wary of attending should know it's an inviting, fun atmosphere. "A lot of women don't have perfect bodies. They just go out there and shake it, and we welcome them and really make them feel comfortable," she says. "You can enjoy being a girl and burn some calories at the same time."
Jen Bentz, a 27-year-old from Tempe, says she was excited to see Scandalesque teaching a class and immediately signed up. "I love the classy way they do the burlesque," she says. "I love the attitude. It's very powerful and sexy."
