GV teaches March 22 for the Hollywood Burlesque Festival
At the Hollywood Burlesque Festival, I’m teaching The Art of the Build-Up: Gloves, a deep dive into one of burlesque’s most iconic peels. Whether you want to ooze sensuality, command the room with power, or leave your audience wrecked with want, your glove peel is a flirty weapon when you know how to wield it.
💋 What we’re doing:
A breakdown of my five pillars of tease and how they apply to gloves
Three distinct glove peels to build tension and keep your audience hanging on every move
A sultry glove tease combo to Closer by Nine Inch Nails
This class is for performers, aspiring showgirls, and anyone who wants to move with more confidence and control. You’ll learn how to own the space, stretch anticipation to its breaking point, and make them beg for more, with just a pair of gloves!
I’ll see you there. Bring your gloves. And maybe a fan, bc it’s gonna get hot. 🔥
What’s the difference between a good glove peel and a show-stopping one?
It’s not just about the gloves—it’s about the build-up and creating tension.
Burlesque is all about anticipation and self expression. And glove peels are so classic when it comes to the art of the tease. I used to really struggle with glove peels because they can feel so uninspired or predictable. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Whether you’re slipping, yanking, biting, or barely letting go, the way you create, build and amplify tension is what makes the moment inspiring and unforgettable. That’s exactly what we’re diving into in my upcoming class: The Art of the Build-Up: Gloves.
This isn’t just a glove class—it’s a full-on masterclass in tease. We’ll work on:
✨ Three different strategies to take off gloves (or anything!) ✨ Controlling their attention so every move lands ✨ Mastering the perfect payoff moment
Plus, we’ll go through a warm-up, conditioning, stretch, and then dive into my original choreo to Closer by Nine Inch Nails (because drama).
✨ Bring knee pads. All levels welcome. Modifications provided.
If I had a rhinestone for every time one of my students or private clients or even my peers confessed that they were struggling from imposter syndrome, I could rhinestone my whole house. So if you often feel like you’re not good enough, you’re not alone.
confidence is a skill we build
it’s not something we are born with. And while “faking it till you make it” can get you out of your comfort zone, nobody wants to be phony – we want authenticity, right? So in my humble opinion, action is the only course to ditch imposter syndrome to the curb because you can’t fake showing up. The only way to stop feeling like an imposter is to keep doing the thing (whatever it is) until you prove yourself wrong.
Another approach is understanding that perfectionism causes imposter syndrome and perfectionism is a tenet of white supremacy which we are actively fighting, so it’s imperative that you do this work. Not even joking.
Think about your first day at your job – you felt awkward and unsure, but now after some experience, after consistently showing up, it gets easier (I hope!).
So next time you’re feeling that Imposter Syndrome kicking in, don’t ask yourself am I good enough, ask yourself, did I show up? That’s all that matters.
If you’re looking to improve your expression through burlesque, check out MemberStrip, where we train, learn and grow together. If you’re ready to step into your confidence, it’s waiting for you. Join here.
THIS JUST IN: I’ve had two considerate friends let me know they can no longer make my SOLD OUT workshop this Sunday, Feb 2. Do you want to join us? Grab your spot now!
class description
There’s magic in making them wait. In this transformative masterclass, I’ll teach you the art of the build-up—the ultimate technique for commanding attention, creating anticipation, and leaving your audience breathless. Whether you’re performing on stage or just walking into a room, this class will teach you how to slow it down, hold the moment, and own your power. Spots are limited—claim yours now. This class includes a conditioning sensual warm up, movement, and a whole lot of fun.
I am so excited to be joining some of my favorite folks to help raise funds for the community of Altadena. Join us for From Ashes to Aide, a spectacular night of live music, burlesque, and variety at the Crown Theatre Pasadena! This benefit show supports the Altadena community, bringing together an all-star lineup of dazzling performers:
My Burlesque Journey: How I Found Confidence, Sensuality, and Joy
Look, I’ll always keep it real with y’all—progress is not linear. In my personal experience with building confidence, I’ve learned that it’s not about reaching a point where you never doubt yourself again. Instead, it’s about learning how to:
Bail on shame spirals,
Know when to take a step back, and
Practice mindfulness.
Okay? Okay.
That being said, I do feel pretty confident most of the time now (which was not always the case), and burlesque played a huge role in changing the game for me. But here’s the thing—what I’ve gained from burlesque is universal. I truly believe that anyone can embrace their own journey—whether it’s through burlesque, basket weaving, or whatever excites them—and build confidence by trying new things.
So stick around till the end, and I hope you’ll feel inspired to start your own adventure.
The Moment I Fell in Love with Burlesque
Like many of my burlesque peers and friends, the media I consumed growing up played a huge part in my fascination with burlesque and showgirls.
When I was nine years old, I saw Who Framed Roger Rabbit? in theaters, and Jessica Rabbit had a huge impact on me—along with classic Hollywood movies and cartoons.
Fast forward to the late 2000s, I had just moved back to my home state of Texas when I heard about a local burlesque show. The moment I found out about it, I knew I had to figure out how to learn burlesque as fast as possible.
My First Step into Burlesque
You don’t need prior training to do burlesque, but many of us come from stage backgrounds, and I was no different.
I was a pretty serious ballet student through high school, and that discipline gave me a little edge. I already felt comfortable:
Being on stage,
Learning choreography, and
Pushing myself physically.
But despite my experience, I was so nervous. I felt incredibly insecure about doing anything remotely sensual in front of real, live people.
On an intellectual level, I was all about it—but actually doing it? That was terrifying! It felt like a betrayal of everything I thought I was ready for.
Still, I forced myself to audition for a burlesque-inspired cabaret troupe. I got invited to rehearsals (we all did—it was just a couple of us, haha), but that tiny audition opened a huge door for me.
It led me down a path I never imagined for myself, and honestly, I think there was a teeny tiny part of me that knew this was where I was meant to be. Because let’s be real—there’s no way I would have pushed through the nerves and shown up otherwise.
The First 10 Years: Struggles and Lessons
It took me 10 years in burlesque before I truly arrived at where I am today—confident in my body, my art, and my perspective.
For the first decade, I was still caught up in all the external pressures:
Hustle hard,
Be thin,
Be strong,
Never show weakness, and
Always appear happy.
I didn’t have much confidence during that time—at least not the kind that runs deep. I had a phony, surface-level confidence that could be shattered by the smallest critique.
But here’s the twist—burlesque is actually what helped liberate me from those limiting beliefs.
Joy is such a powerful form of resistance, and I had completely let the joy fade from my burlesque practice.
Rediscovering Joy and Confidence
One day, I was having a really tough time, and it hit me—
“Wait a minute. I got into burlesque because I thought it would be fun.”
And it was fun, but my own thoughts and habits were blocking me from seeing how many of my dreams had already come true.
So, I made a change. I started:
Following my fun,
Setting boundaries, and
Letting my creativity flow again.
I stopped caring so much about being “perfect” and started having fun with burlesque again.
Another major turning point? At 37, I took up roller skating. Doing something brand new and physical gave me a fresh perspective on burlesque and reignited my passion.
Confidence Isn’t Just About Performing
Taking a burlesque class or performing on stage will give you confidence, but the real, unshakable confidence comes from:
Accepting yourself as you are,
Giving yourself time to enjoy the ride, and
Not comparing yourself to others.
If you’re about to walk into your very first burlesque class, remember:
None of us knew what we were doing at the beginning. (Honestly, I barely know what I’m doing now!) But we just went for it.
Direct action cures fear—just go for it!
If you enjoyed this story and want to start your own burlesque journey, join my MemberStrip program for classes, inspiration, and support.
This is me on December 18, 2008 in my very first “big girl” burlesque routine where I went down to pasties for the very first time. This was at the Church in Dallas (IYKYK) for their Christmas party. I danced to Sugar Rum Cherry and sewed every single one of those round cup sequins on myself. I almost still have the callouses to prove it!
