This is a list of the classes that I am currently most excited about teaching. I do have many other classes available to teach upon request.
Busting Rope Myths: A hands-on discussion
Description: New riggers are taught so many conflicting views on how to do things. Unfortunately, sometimes that information is misleading. In this class, we are going to discuss and then try (hands-on) some of those things that we've been taught always to do or never to do. Come with your rope, a bottom, and an open mind.
Requirements: Rigs would be ideal but aren't absolutely necessary, a whiteboard or large paper with markers would also help
Rope Emotion
Description: This class is a take on the traditional “connected rope” classes. Rather than just looking at connection as the goal, we’re going to look at how to express many different emotions through a series of hands-on exercises. These exercises allow students to learn through doing. Be prepared to get up-close and personal with your bottom.
Requirements: space to tie
Building non-traditional ties for suspension
Description: This workshop style class will focus on helping students build their own ties from scratch and adapt them for suspension. These could be freeform ties or ties that the students are working on developing. This class is heavily student driven meaning that the content will depend on what the participants want out of developing these new ties.
Requirements: space to tie, rigs
Suspension for pain
Description: Sometimes you really just want your bottom to suffer and that’s what this class is all about. We are going to explore techniques for causing extra pain on top of what is already experienced by the bottom when they’re in the air. We will mostly focus on techniques for creating positional pain or adding strain to an already stressful situation by applying torque, extra weight, and leverage. We’re going to explore these techniques for increasing pain in a controlled manner while focusing particularly on how the risks change and how to go about mitigating those risks.
Requirements: One rig
Note: I am willing to adapt this to a hands on class
Efficiency in Motion
Description: Have you ever wondered how those rope performers are able to tie so fast and make it look like it takes no effort at all? This is class for you! In this class, we will discuss and practice some of the techniques that tops can use in order to tie more efficiently. This will lead to less fumbling with the rope and a better experience for both top and bottom.
Requirements: Space to tie
Partial Suspension
Description: Everyone is always in a rush to learn suspension and many people forget about the joy that comes from partial suspension. Partial suspension gives the bottom many of the same sensations as full suspension does but frequently increases the amount of time that they can play drastically. There are also many more positions and shapes that you can create with your bottom using partial suspensions. This class is going to focus on partial suspension on both a conceptual and practical level. We will discuss the safety surrounding partial suspension, tie-off points, how to attach someone to a hard-point, and then we will get the bottoms in the air (partially) and let our creativity roll.
Requirement: As many rigs as you can muster in one room
Beginning Suspension
Description: You've decided that you're ready to learn suspension? Great! This is the class for you. We are going to teach you to get your bottom in the air with a couple of basic suspension positions but also allowing you some creative license in where you put the rope and how you get them there. We will discuss the positions on a conceptual level and then give them a go.
Requirements: Lots of rigs
Bottom's Up!
Description: Bottom's up! is a rope class designed around the new rope bottom but shares vital information for tops as well. As a hybrid lecture, discussion, and hands-on class, we will discuss healthy and fitness for rope, techniques for staying in rope longer, communication, and negotiation from the perspective of the bottom. Each section of the class also includes a hands-on activity in order to illustrate or help cement the content from that section. Sharing of personal experiences is strongly encouraged.
Requirements: Chairs for people to sit in
Suspension Transitions
Description: If you’ve been dong suspension for a while, you’ve certainly run into a bottom who has to come down due to pain or numbness. We’re going to use this class to look at ways to move our bottom and change their position without having to bring them down. Dynamic suspension can significantly increase the length of your scenes. It is also the basis for rope performance. We will look at a few basic transitions while keeping a strong focus on safety.
Non-TK Chest Harnesses for Suspension and Transitions
Description: People choose not to use TKs for a variety of reasons while tying but unfortunately many of the harnesses out there that aren’t TKs don’t function in the same way. In this class, we are going to look at the functional parts of a TK and recombine them into a variety of different chest harnesses stable enough to be suspended but without the same risks or problems associated with TKs.