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Hobart-based burlesque school, Miss Kitty’s Meow, has unveiled a packed schedule of courses, workshops and events running through the second half of 2026, alongside new educational resources aimed at helping performers navigate the technical side of the craft.
The school, which operates out of Equinox Film and Dance at 62 Cambridge Rd in Bellerive, is offering six distinct programs across August to October, ranging from beginner foundations through to intensive solo act mentoring.
Founder and Lead Instructor, Grace Cherry, is also turning attention to the less visible side of the burlesque industry, publishing a new blog series and free downloadable guides covering stage lighting and technical rehearsal planning.
A Full Roster Of Courses
The flagship offering is the Classic Burlesque Course, a six-week program running from Wednesday 5 August to Wednesday 9 September. Priced at $150, the course covers fundamentals of movement, posing and striptease technique, with Cherry leading students through a routine blending classic burlesque with a Sanderson Sisters-inspired theme ahead of Halloween.
Enrolment in the course includes the option to perform at the Mini Meow Cabaret on Wednesday 30 September and the Burlesque Showcase on Saturday 5 December at Salamanca Arts Centre.
Running alongside is Tease with Ease, a foundations course led by Instructor, Verity Siren. The four-week Saturday afternoon program, priced at $100, focuses on walks, poses, transitions and character connection. It is positioned as a smaller, lower-pressure alternative that does not include performance outcomes.
“All shapes, sizes, ages are made to feel welcome. Really friendly group of students who have become my friends too,” former student, Liz Knox, noted of the school’s environment.
Chair Dance And Fan Courses
From Saturday 5 September, a four-week Cabaret Chair Dance Course draws on Fosse-style choreography and the musical All That Jazz. At $100, the course teaches participants to use a chair as a performance prop and culminates in a complete routine.
Two fan dancing courses begin on Sunday 6 September. Silk and Shadows is a six-week silk fan course themed around Maleficent, while Parisian Plumes covers feather fan technique inspired by Moulin Rouge. Both are priced from $150, with options to hire fans through the enrolment process.
Each of these courses offers performance opportunities at the end-of-term showcases.
Elysia Mannix, a former student, described the experience in a testimonial: “Grace is a great teacher. We get to do so many fun routines. It makes you stand taller, feel sexier and you tick off the weekly exercise without even realising it. You also get to be surrounded by a great group of women who are supportive and wonderful.”
Solo Mentoring Program
For performers looking to develop their own acts, the Act Development Course provides individual coaching sessions with Cherry across several months. Priced at $350, the program includes a group induction, one-on-one mentoring sessions, a private Facebook group for ongoing support and an original e-book of performance tips.
Participants can select from multiple coaching dates between August and November and are given opportunities to perform at both the Mini Meow Cabaret and the December showcase at Peacock Theatre.
Former participant, Olive Allure, offered feedback on the mentoring approach: “Your feedback is always spot on and well delivered.”
Guest Workshops With Fortuna Maxima
Queensland-based performer, Fortuna Maxima, will visit Tasmania on Sunday 30 August for two back-to-back workshops at Kickstart Arts in New Town.
The first, Stillness on Stage, runs from 11am to 12.30pm and focuses on stage presence techniques. The second, Ethereal Fan Dance, covers feather fan manipulation from 12.30pm to 1.45pm. Each workshop costs $60, with a $20 discount available when booking both using the code FORTUNA.
A free Flex and Stretch workshop, led by Cherry, is also scheduled for Sunday 2 August at Equinox Dance and Film. The 75-minute session focuses on back strength and posture, and runs on a pay-what-you-can model. Cherry is a certified 200-hour yoga teacher in vinyasa and hatha styles.
Addressing The Technical Knowledge Gap
In a blog post on the school’s website, Cherry outlined why she is now focusing on the technical and logistical side of burlesque, areas she acknowledged she had no understanding of when she began performing.
“One of the things I know I knew nothing about as an early career performer was lighting and how to request or prepare the right lighting for an act,” Cherry wrote. “I also just didn’t know anything about pulling running sheets together when I started putting on burlesque events, or what a technical rehearsal even really should look like.”
Cherry pointed out that when she started, the industry was in its MySpace era, with fewer events to learn from and limited access to other artists’ methods.
Her blog post on lighting for beginners breaks down common scenarios into two categories: small venues with no lighting options, and larger venues where a technician can assist with design.
For performers new to working with lighting, Cherry recommended starting with straightforward requests such as a full stage warm wash, a centre stage spotlight, or a slow fade in and out.
“Simple is better than overcomplicated,” she wrote. “Asking for a basic wash of colour or for the technician to guide you is sometimes easier than requests that are overly complex and intricately timed to music.”
The school has published a free Beginner Burlesque Lighting Guide as a downloadable tip sheet, alongside a separate free guide on running technical rehearsals.
Upcoming Events
The school’s events calendar includes several public performances over the coming months.
Blues and Burlesque Beats returns to the Peacock Theatre on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 August, combining live blues music with burlesque performance.
Burlesque After Dark is scheduled for Saturday 3 October at the Founders Room in Salamanca Arts Centre, running from 8.30pm to 10.30pm.
Cherry will also appear at the Australian Burlesque Festival in Newcastle on Thursday 8 October as part of The Big Tease Soiree.
The year wraps up with the Burlesque Showcase on Saturday 5 December at Salamanca Arts Centre, which serves as the performance culmination for students across multiple courses.
Claire Batchelor, another student, reflected on the broader impact of the classes: “It is such a supportive space, and Grace’s teaching style is so clear and enthusiastic. I always leave class with a massive smile on my face and a huge boost to my confidence.”
Course Terms And Booking
All courses require pre-booking and full payment at the time of enrolment. Fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. Students are directed to review the school’s terms and conditions before completing bookings. Payment plans are available on request for the Act Development Course.
Enquiries can be directed to Grace Cherry at meow.burlesque@gmail.com.
