From In-Studio to Online - Our Maison Burlesque Story
Maison Burlesque studios opened in February 2014 and have grown to become Australia's largest burlesque academy - and one of the largest in the world! Located in a beautiful historic building our two studios are home to over 40 weekly in-person classes, and we offer 10 annual student performance showcases, private events, an on-site boutique and more.
During the covid pandemic, our home city of Melbourne was dubbed "the world's most locked-down city". We responded by moving our entire burlesque studio exclusively online for many (many!) months. The unexpected benefit of this was being able to reach a beautiful community of students worldwide for the first time.
We continued running live burlesque classes on Zoom until mid 2023, when we decided to work to create something even better - and Maison Burlesque Online was born!
We launched Maison Burlesque Online in August 2023 with a vision to provide even more burlesque classes, with a higher quality of video and sound, with the ability for students to work classes into your own schedule.
With our rotating team of over 18 teachers and special guests we are blessed to work with incredibly experienced burlesque artists who combined have a rich tapestry of unique talents they want to share with you.
Burlesque is for everyone, no matter your age, gender, background or experience level - whether you're dipping your toes into the burlesque world for the first time or looking for challenges and professional development.
We look forward to dancing, moving, playing and creating with you soon.
xx Poppy Cherry,
Maison Burlesque Headmistress
Meet Our Teachers!
Poppy Cherry
Maison Burlesque owner and school headmistress, Poppy has been a regular fixture on the Melbourne Burlesque scene both on and off the stage since 2009, and is known for her energetic, theatrical take on classic burlesque, and creative and challenging fan dance choreographies.
Poppy Cherry brings the spirit of burlesque to life in her classes with her vivacious nature and extensive experience as a performer, producer and mentor. As a teacher she always encourages her students to grow, providing them with the support and patience they need to blossom. Her students can expect a great balance between fun and hard work to help them advance their skills.
Whisky Falls
Our resident dance nerd. Like a good malt, Whisky will warm the cockles of your heart with her unique blend of fire and finesse.
After training in dance from the tender age of three, Scottish born Whisky has years of professional dance teaching under her belt (including Bird College, UK for 7 years).
Whisky has developed signature teaching methods that she has transferred into burlesque, and has shared her 'alternative showpony' style of burlesque with audiences around the world. Whisky's combination of a vast wealth of knowledge and playful teaching style makes her classes a delight.
Maple Rose
Miss Maple Rose combines her professional expertise in costume and set design with her foundation in classical dance to guide budding performance artists in the art of tease! She’s here to prove that “classic burlesque” doesn’t have to be boring. Either with feather fans or tapping toes, Maple will take you on a deep dive into burlesque history.
Winner of the the 1st Runner Up crown at Miss Burlesque Australia 2018, Headliner of the Australian Burlesque Festival 2020/21/22, voted #21 in the 21st Century Burlesque’s Top 50 Most Influential Burlesque Figures of 2021, voted Best Solo Artist and Most Classic at the Australian Burlesque Industry Awards, The Busties, in 2018 - Maple has shown Australia she's one tornado with her feather fans and couture costumes!
Velma Vouloir
Velma Vouloir is the golden-age glamazon with a penchant for seduction and all things quintessentially showgirl! Taking the burlesque world by storm in 2017, she has already a string of accolades under her garter belt including the titles of Miss Burlesque Victoria 2018 & 2023.
An established dance & aerial arts instructor - Velma has trained & performed extensively in classical, commercial, lyrical & broadway jazz, pole, aerial hoop & pilates. She has over ten years of teaching experience under her belt, teaching both in Australia and internationally. She believes everyone has the right to dance & move unapologetically and has a passion for creating nurturing, fun and challenging classes for her students.
Bella De Jac
Glamour queen, party girl and powerhouse of the Australian Burlesque Industry Bella de Jac brings a formidable weight of experience to the stage. Bella is Miss Burlesque Australia 2015, and a strong advocate for body-positive, sex- positive, feminist performance art. She has sung, danced and acted her way across Australian and international stages from Melbourne to New York, London and beyond.
Taking out both #31 and #50 in the 2016 & 2017 21st Century Burlesque Top 50, headliner of countless tours, co-director of BEAST and Bitch Stole My Act, and winner of a slew of awards including the most recent, The Australian Burlesque Lifetime Achievement Award, Bella has been a key figure within the Australian Burlesque Industry for over a decade.
Sham
Sham is a multi-faceted performance artist and theatre maker who specialises in movement and devised work. A trained dancer from an early age, after over 16 years of ballet training, as well as a broad range of other dance styles; she developed an interest in dance theatre forms such as Butoh alongside her acting. She holds a BA Performing Arts from Monash University, supplemented by training with Film & Television Studios International, Stella Adler AoA Los Angeles, AAFTA, and Meisner Technique.
When not on large scale stages and screens, Sham is an active performer of Australia's queer cabaret scene, and is passionate about creating high energy performances with her signature style.
Juniper Fox
Qualified yoga, pilates and fitness instructor Juniper Fox celebrates movement, the art of tease and sexuality, lust and desire, through her captivating unique performance style. She infuses every act with a mesmerising grace and sensuality, with an ability tells a story through her harnessing of emotion and energy, a burlesque fantasy that is both erotic and captivating.
Whether dressed in feathers or glittering lingerie, latex or leather, Juniper commands the stage with confidence and poise. Born to perform, this dynamic artist brings a unique blend of glamour and raw sexuality. Her passion for movement is to the core, an unforgettable performer who embodies all that is seductive and subversive about the intoxicating art form that is burlesque.
Gina Stirling
Gina Stirling: putting the 'G' in 'G Spot' and revealing herself as a radical, queer, self-loving act. Gina has been performing internationally in Burlesque, cabaret and musical theatre for over two decades. One of her career highlights was being voted into 21st Century Burlesques ‘Top 50 Most Influential Burlesque Figures’ in 2021 world wide and headlining Perth International Burlesque Festival 2022.
As well as being a performer, Gina is a freelance life model and dance teacher, offering workshops and private mentorship all around Australia and internationally. She is extremely passionate about body confidence, sexual empowerment, compersion and seeing her students flourish through dance. Feast your eyes on this femme fatale as she allures you into her world of pleasure.
Strawberry Siren
Strawberry Siren has 20+ years experience in the entertainment industry. Nicknamed “The Tarantino of Burlesque…. Both Sexy… And Dangerous”, Strawberry Siren received many awards and titles over her 10 years on the International Burlesque circuit. In 2013 she was crowned Miss Burlesque Australia, in front of a roaring crowd and esteemed judges, at the Athenaeum Theatre in Melbourne. Then in 2019 she was crowned Miss Burlesque World as part of the Miss Nude World pageant. Strawberry Siren has performed in Burlesque Festival’s all over the world. She has also headlined and featured in some amazing shows and event’s including The Australian Burlesque Festival, Big Band Burlesque at Adelaide Fringe, The Best of Burlesque at Edinburgh Fringe, the Tim Burton Australian exhibition opening, the London Burlesque Festival, Bring Back the Showgirl, SEXPO Australia and the Australian & N.Z Tattoo Expo's.
Ruby Slippers
A high-femme kaleidoscopic cyclone of extroversion and light perversion, Ruby Slippers lives by the motto that you’re either Dorothy, or you’re the twister. Gracing burlesque and drag stages alike and leaving a trail of glitter in her wake, she’s earned a reputation as one of the best dressed (and undressed) kids in town.
In 2017 she toured the country as a national headliner for the Australian Burlesque Festival, and in 2017 and 2018 was honoured by her peers, winning the title of “Most Innovative” at the The Busties, the Australian burlesque industry awards. In 2022 she was invited to perform at the Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekender in Las Vegas at their Movers, Shakers and Innovators showcase, as well as New York’s iconic Slipper Room. She rounded out 2022 by being named one of the Top 50 Most Influential Burlesque Artists in the world by her peers and fellow community members.
Joanna Angelidis
For over 25 years, Joanna’s experience in the performing arts has lead her to achieve proficiency in numerous dance forms outside of belly dance - including ballet, jazz, and musical theatre. She holds a Bachelor in Entertainment Business Management, as well as Certificates across music theory, performance and sound engineering.
Joanna’s love of MENAHT (Middle Eastern, North African, Hellenic & Turkish) dance has thrusted her into the international realm, where she has performed on festival stages across France, Spain and Greece. Her belly dance style is described as Oriental/American Cabaret, however she is known in Australia for her strong influences in musical theatre, queer culture and cabaret.
Lauren Bok ("Ivana Showoff")
Lauren Bok is an award winning stand up comedian and burlesque artist with big attitude, big energy and big face.
Nominated for the Golden Gibbo at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in 2019, she has been described as 'jaw-achingly brilliant' by The Music and 'a joy to watch' by the Herald Sun. She has created 5 solo comedy shows and performed in the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Adelaide Fringe, Perth FringeWorld and Edinburgh Fringe.
Lauren holds a Bachelor of Creative Arts/Teaching from Melbourne University and has facilitated comedy and burlesque workshops for over a decade, with a methodology in collaborative and directed play within a safe space designed to find the funny in every student.
Valerie "Va Va" Valentine
As far back as she can remember, Va Va has been star-struck with the glitz and glamour of the silver screen, rummaging her mums makeup bag and prancing around in her shiny Saturday night heels always waiting for anyone and any occasion to soak up the spotlight. As a formally trained classic ballet dancer with a bust and booty that just won't quit - Valerie spent many a moon dreaming of a home to shake it the way she was meant to.
Va Va has sauntered stages over the east coast of Australia and graced many a lap(top) worldwide through digital cabarets in London and Spain. She has also been featured on the cover of many pinup publications in both Europe and America. Known for her cheeky charm this vintage vixen takes you back to the golden era of Burlesque one bunny hop at a time, like a living, breathing MGM Glamour Girl.
Winter Greene
The breath of fresh air that’s always in season!
With facial expressions that could strike fear into a Disney villain, Winter has jazz-hands’d and box-step’d across many stages; from nerdlesque shows, queer clubs, horror cabarets, and on our very own Burlesque Showboat. They also took out the title of Mx Burlesque Melbourne 2023.
Winter is also our specialist in all things glittery! You can sometimes find them teaching crafty afternoons of bedazzling covers for your pink bits and all things in-between.
