I’ve no idea what possessed me to sign up for a fusion dance class. Unless you count the odd butt wiggle here and there, I’d never actually danced, so when I very impulsively decided to go to a two-hour workshop of burlesque and sexy dance on Saturday, it turned out to be quite a thrill.
I found out about Burlesque Express through Facebook, only to then discover that the dancer giving the workshop was none other than a dear friend of mine, the exquisite Mares, who has been ferrying to and fro Malta from the northern mountainous regions of Tarragona, Spain, and giving tribal dance workshops locally.
The dress code was ‘something comfortable and sexy’, an eyebrow-raiser in itself, because it’s tough to strike the balance at first. I settled for a pair of harems and a tank top, to avoid potential embarrassment, especially considering the fact that I am a complete beginner (and fairly clumsy for anyone’s good). Yet, although some people were clearly more experienced than others, Mares somehow makes it easy for you to feel at ease even as you’re (inadequately and stiffly) dancing to a Christina Aguilera track off the Burlesque OST. So much so, that you have loads of fun just slowly wiggling your body to the sultry music without a care in the world, because you’re given time to learn the steps to the choreography at your own pace.
Plus, it’s such a fun way to spend your time after a long day at work, with the added bonus of getting fit.
Follow Mares here to stay updated on upcoming workshops and classes