How Burlesquercise’s unique blend of dance and fitness helped bring out my sultry side

Like most women, I have struggled with my confidence and self-image.

I’m sure we are all guilty of being too hard on ourselves at times.

I am my own worst enemy and have picked apart photos of myself when I think they are unflattering.

Looking at ourselves with kinder eyes and strutting through life with confidence is easier said than done.

But I have had a bit of extra pep in my step recently after pushing myself out of my comfort zone.

A need to get out of the house

Working from home comes with a lot of benefits.

The biggest ones for me include not having to commute or even go outside when it’s cold and snowy.

But I realized soon after I started working for Calgary Citizen that, some weeks, I wouldn’t leave my home for days at a time.

I wanted to find something to get me out of the house and keep me active and busy.

But what?

Finding something that fit my interests

Admittedly, I have never been the workout type.

I have attempted in the past, but could never find the motivation to go to the gym.

One of my biggest interests is the pin-up, rockabilly, and vintage culture, and I also love burlesque.

When I was brainstorming about a class I could take, I remembered something I had heard about that an acquaintance of mine recently tried.

Burlesquercise.

Right up my alley

I knew it would be something right up my alley, so I started looking into it.

Diana Lefebvre, AKA Miss Di, founded Burlesquercise in 2008 and has more than 25 years of experience in the dance industry.

A self-described introvert, even Miss Di admits to struggling with body image and confidence.

However, with the help of some great teachers, she eventually became comfortable in her own skin.

Miss Di believes all women are natural dancers, artists, and performers, and for almost 15 years, she has been devoted to helping her students discover the same inner confidence she did.

Not sure what to expect

As I was perusing the Burlesquercise website, I discovered that a four-week teaser class was starting in mere days.

Before I had a chance to talk myself out of it, I signed up.

I will admit that I approached that first class with a lot of trepidation.

I had never done anything like it before and had no idea what to expect.

Within minutes of the class starting, Miss Di and all of my classmates put me at ease.

Searching for confidence and empowerment

We went around the circle introducing ourselves and everyone shared why they were taking the class.

Most of us had similar reasoning—we were looking to come out of our shells a bit, feel confident and empowered, and get in touch with our sexy sides.

And the best part about that first class was how inclusive it was.

Across the entire Burlesqercise community, the age of women ranges from 18 all the way up to 70.

Women of all shapes, sizes, and abilities are welcome, and the dance numbers are tasteful and incorporate fun props like boas and fans.

Learning the fundamentals

The first class covered some fundamentals like learning the different zones of our bodies, strutting, and basic dance moves.

By the second class, I knew four wouldn’t be enough, so I immediately signed up for the Ultimate Showgirl Experience.

The eight-week course included a longer and slightly more complex routine, with an opportunity to perform at an end-of-year showcase.

At first, I wasn’t sure if I would have the guts to perform in front of people.

I am not very graceful or coordinated and I wanted to learn the routine before I made any decisions.

A supportive and positive environment

Miss Di promises plenty of giggles during a Burlesquercise class, along with a supportive and non-judgmental environment.

As each week passed, I was having more and more fun, and I found learning and remembering the routine easier than I thought it would be.

I genuinely enjoyed my time in class and looked forward to each one.

I loved spending time with like-minded individuals and getting to know the ladies in the class—who Miss Di affectionately refers to as “babes.”

It truly was a supportive environment and we would cheer each other on as we learned the routine.

Jumping on the sexy train

If I thought just my own class was uplifting and empowering, I hadn’t seen anything yet.

The Rockabilly Christmas Showcase was scheduled for Dec. 10, when all of the many Burlesquercise classes would perform the numbers they had been working so hard on.

It was time for me to decide whether or not I would join the performance.

I opted to take the leap and “jump on the sexy train,” as Miss Di put it.

And I’m so glad I did.

A massive rush

I joined 14 of my classmates to present our routine first.

We were dubbed the Fab Fifteen—a fitting name because I believe we all felt fabulous that night.

The rush from performing and hearing the crowd cheer was unlike anything I had experienced before.

And the support from Miss Di, the other instructors, and all of the babes in the wider Burlesquercise community was incredible.

There were so many smiles and giggles that night and the positivity was infectious.

The moral of the story

Was my performance perfect? Of course not.

Have I rewatched videos of it over and over critiquing myself? I sure have.

Would I do it again? In a heartbeat.

The moral of the story is: take chances and push yourself out of your comfort zone.

It might just be one of the best things you’ve ever done.