Bella De Jac - Classy Strippers: Sexuality, Society, Whorephobia, and Burlesque

Date: Sunday 3rd May 2026

Time: 2pm - 3.30pm

Venue: Studio Take Care - 1 Pitt St, Brunswick VIC 3056

Studio: The Art Room - downstairs location

More info about the space here: https://www.studiotakecare.com/spaces

See accessibility information here: https://www.studiotakecare.com/accessibility

Cost: $60

Level: Open to all levels - This is a listen & talk workshop. There are some visual aids which can be audio described by Bella for those with low/no vision.

Please arrive 15 minutes early

Information:

If you've ever heard the phrase "All Burlesque Is Political" & wanted to know more, this one's for you! Learn why "Classy stripping" elicits eyerolls from your faves, and why every Burlesque performer should care about politics and sex worker rights, in this introduction to the politics of sexual performance. 

Whether you're new to the glittering world of Burlesque, or you've been treading the boards for a while, it's essential to have an understanding of the context of Burlesque within the landscape of societal attitudes towards "taking it off". 

This workshop will introduce language and information from which you can build a foundational understanding of your place as a Burlesque student, performer, or enthusiast within the bigger socio-political picture. Designed as an introductory level workshop for those who are new to these concepts or want to understand more, we'll be unpacking stigma, lateral whorephobia and how to liberate yourself from your inner morality cop in a welcoming, conversational environment.

What to wear:

Wear whatever is comfortable! N95 mask encouraged: those who can wear a mask please do (I will have some available for a donation).

What to bring:

Notepad & pen if they want to take notes. 

Artist bio:

Glamour cryptid, human party-popper, and poetic powerhouse of the Australian Burlesque Industry; Bella de Jac defies branding binaries to bring the art of uncovering to the stage…and the studio.

They were crowned Mx Burlesque Australia 2015, thundered across the Burlesque Hall of Fame stage in Las Vegas, and named twice in the Top 50 most Influential Burlesque Performers in the world. 

In addition to their lengthy career as a respected and established art maker, they also have over 15 years experience as a Burlesque teacher and mentor. 

In a 2019 performance tour across the UK they caused a stir (and the lecture was very nearly banned) with their introductory lecture on Burlesque history and the social politics of striptease at New College in Oxford. Demonstrating that even talking about stripping away clothes has a knack for revealing more than just skin.

Drawing on both formal arts education and vocational experience in Burlesque and sex work, they are devoted to the continuing development of welcoming learning spaces and the expansive possibilities of how Burlesque as an artform can change the world.

Artist links:

Website: https://www.belladejac.com/