Season 6 Registration Opens March 6
Just in time for spring, we're super excited to bring you a jam-packed line-up of burlesque, bellydance, clowning, puppeteering, comedy writing and improv acting classes. Classes run Saturdays through Wednesdays starting from April 15 with an optional chance to perform for a live audience for students who complete their 8-week course. Scroll down for all our classes. We hope to see you soon!
Our mission is to introduce you to different fringe art forms in a safe, low-pressure environment and give you a chance to perform onstage. We’ll be offering a variety of 4, 6, or 8-week sessions in the heart of Lakeview from professionals that you know and love - including burlesque, bellydance, clowning, sensuality and fitness. Whether you’re getting your groove back or adding some drama for the first time, you can do it with creativity, self-expression, and confidence! Classes are open to all humans of all identities.
Note: The Newport Theater is located up one flight of stairs with no elevator. All students are required to comply with Newport's safety policy. QUESTIONS? Write to us at: NewportTheaterCamp@gmail.com
SaturdayS
burlesque Mixed Levels:
"Sensual & Sexy"
Saturdays 11:00am-12:30pm
April 15, 22, 29; May 6, 13, 20; June 3, 10
Showcases will be scheduled on June 22 or June 25
Maximum 12 Participants
Instructor: MochaMocha2.0
$160 for 8 week session ($20 per class)
A sensual class for those who would love to indulge in Burlesque, one of the most empowering dance forms. This class can be described as sensual, fiery, and powerful. In this class, students will learn how to captivate the attention of their audience by using sensual and seductive techniques. This class is for mixed levels - anyone looking to add a little sparkle into their life (no dance experience required!) Students who complete the full 8-week session will have an opportunity to perform for a live audience following the final class!
burlesque level 3: Advanced
"Floorwerk!"
Saturdays 12:30pm-2:00pm
April 15, 22, 29; May 6, 13, 20; June 3, 10
Showcases will be scheduled on June 22 or June 25
Maximum 12 Participants
Instructor: Elle Du Jour
$160 for 8 week session ($20 per class)
Get down and dirty with this advanced burlesque class all about Floorwork! Learn more advanced choreography, practice transitioning between floor and standing positions, and delve into provocative moves that test your strength, flexibility, and stamina! Some dance experience required or successful completion of previous burlesque classes. Those with chronic knee or hip pain are encouraged not to participate. Students who complete the full 8-week session will have an opportunity to perform for a live audience following the final class.
SUNDAYs
improv level 1:
The basics
Sundays 11:00am-1:00pm
April 16, 23, 30; May 7, 14, 21; June 4, 11
Showcases will be scheduled on June 22 or June 25
Maximum 12 Participants
Instructor: Marissa Chastain of Trash Panda Comedy
$160 for 8 week session ($20 per class)
Level 1 provides a safe environment to explore your creative potential, and experience the freedom and joy of improvisational play. We will go through the basics of "YES AND", and explore short form improv games, that will lay the foundation to create without self-judgment, be supportive, and improve your active listening skills. No experience needed. Come dressed to move, with a bottle of water.
Clowning level 1
Sundays 10am-12:00pm
April 16, 23, 30; May 7, 14, 21; June 4, 11
Showcases will be scheduled on June 22 or June 25
Maximum 15 Participants
Instructor: Journey Maranto
$160 for 8 week session ($20 per class)
INTRODUCTORY COURSE
From birthdays to murderers, everyone seems to have feelings about clowns. Clowning can be described as exploring the human experience through personal connection, physical comedy, and failure but it is also A LOT more than that. It can be childlike wonder, unadulterated joy, and even deep sadness. If you would like to discover who your clown is and how they traverse this wild world, then this class is for you.
Through physical theater exercises, group exploration, and a whole lot of play, this 8-week course will challenge you to be vulnerable and push you to embrace failure all while being truthful along the way. This class is geared towards folks who have never experienced clowning before and would like to learn the basics of the form and discover who their clown is. We hope to create an inclusive and welcoming space that is open to anyone and everyone who is interested. Come play with us!
Clown playground:
Advanced
Sundays Noon-2pm
April 16, 23, 30; May 7, 14, 21; June 4, 11
Showcases will be scheduled on June 22 or June 25
Maximum 12 Participants
Instructor: Evan Richter
Payment is on a sliding scale. Registration is free, but required.
Clown and improv are cut from the same cloth. But while improvisers play for an audience, clowns play with them. Clowns take risks. Break the rules. Celebrate success and fail epically. Clown Playground will explore clownprov and will push its players to tap into and play in their clown state. The exercises and games will help you commit to ideas without judgment and engage an audience more profoundly and intimately.
Clown Playground is not a class but rather a collective. Each week we will gather and explore different games and exercises that will challenge and guide you into a state of pleasure, joy, and play. Lead by a Clown Coach, you will be asked to leave everything at the door, be comfortable with the uncomfortable, make big choices, and relish in your failures. We will perform once a month for an audience. Come play.
Note: If you do not have clown experience, you must complete Clowning Level 1 before participating in Clown Playground. If you have never taken a class with the Hot Clown Company but have clowned in the past, please reach out to hotclowncompany@gmail.com.
Head Coach: Evan Richter
Evan has been clowning for almost a decade and is currently the Hot Clown Company executive director. He has a theater degree from Muhlenberg College and has trained with the Academia D’ell Arte, Francine Roussel, Philippe Gaulier, and more. He is also the founder of Hot Clown History, a virtual clown history learning course. He has failed spectacularly for far too long, so he decided to make it a profession.
mondays
burlesque level 2:
Intermediate
Mondays 6:30pm-8pm
April 17, 24; May 1, 8, 15, 22; June 5, 12
Student Showcases will be scheduled on June 22 or June 25
Maximum 12 Participants
Instructor: Willy LaQueue
$160 for 8 week session ($20 per class)
Ready for something harder, faster, and sexier? Join Willy LaQueue for this 8 week long intermediate burlesque course where you'll expand on the basics of burlesque movement and challenge your fundamentals of bump & grind! Some dance or performance experience required. Come as you are and unleash your sexy beast!
Solo Act Development
Mondays 7:30pm-9:30pm
April 17, 24; May 1, 8, 15, BREAK, June 12, 19, 26
SOLO SALON SHOWCASE - July 2
Maximum 5 Participants
Instructor: Eva La Feva
$200 for 10 week session ($25 per class)
This class for soloists will feature 10 weeks for act development, longer class times, and smaller enrollment to give each act more time and attention. Performers will learn theory and practical skills in Costuming, Choreography, Concept, and Music. Students will complete a comprehensive curriculum with individualized consultation and focus on act construction techniques resulting in a debut performance with a live audience. There are only FIVE SPOTS total, so don't miss your chance!
Tuesdays
Radiant darkness:
storytelling through shadow puppetry
Tuesdays 6:30pm-8:00pm
April 18, 25, May 2, 9, 16, 23, June 6, 13
Showcases will be scheduled on June 22 or June 25
Maximum 12 Participants
Instructor: Jennifer Friedrich
$160 for 8 week session ($20 per class)
Shadow puppetry is an ancient form of storytelling that involves flat articulated puppets used behind a screen that is illuminated from behind. Shadow puppetry ranges from being somewhat simple by using the body or objects- to being extremely complex with meticulously cut out silhouettes in paper or leather- and everything in between. In this class we will touch on the history and various forms of shadow puppetry while you learn how to make your own puppets, sets and screens. You do not need to be a skilled maker to learn and enjoy the art of shadow puppetry and this class is for all skill levels. Each student will create their own short shadow puppet show at the end of the session.
Burlesque Level 1:
introductory
Tuesdays 8:00pm-9:30pm
April 18, 25, May 2, 9, 16, 23, June 6, 13
Showcases will be scheduled on June 22 or June 25
Maximum 12 Participants
Instructor: Vivi Valens
$160 for 8 week session ($20 per class)
Whether you're looking to launch your burlesque career or just add some sparkle to your life, join Vivi Valens for this 8 week long course where you'll learn the basics of burlesque movement, fundamentals of bump & grind, and stage confidence to thrill your audience! This introductory course is open to all bodies, expressions, and persuasions in a fun, safe, and accepting environment. No prior dance or performance experience required. Come as you are and unleash your sexy beast! Students who complete the entire course are invited to perform for a live audience in the student showcase.
Wednesdays
fusion bellydance
mixed levels
Wednesdays 6:30pm-8:00pm
April 19, 26; May 3, 10, 17, 24; June 7, 14
Showcases will be scheduled on June 22 or June 25
Maximum 12 Participants
Instructor: Raks Geek
$160 for 8 week session ($20 per class)
Move like lightning, with precision - and then melt into liquid. Choose to have bones only when you want them! Join the dancers of the internationally-acclaimed Raks Geek for an introduction to a modern, fusion dance style that combines elements from hip hop, flamenco, jazz, classical Indian dance, ballet, and more with a foundation of movement from the Middle East. Your teachers have performed from Argentina to the UK!
No dance experience necessary. All genders and bodies encouraged. New movements and choreography every session, so we encourage returning dancers! Students who complete the full 8-week session will have an opportunity to perform for a live audience in a theater following the final class.
Joke and sketch writing for beginners
Wednesdays 6:30pm-8:00pm
April 19, 26; May 3, 10, 17, 24; June 7, 14
Showcases will be scheduled on June 22 or June 25
Maximum 12 Participants
Instructor: Fee Basanavicius of Trash Panda Comedy
$160 for 8 week session ($20 per class)
Students will learn the basics of joke/sketch writing and development with the opportunity to experience their work go through a writer's room, and be produced in front of a live audience.
Students will :
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Learn the basic building blocks of joke and sketch writing and construction. (Including how to give/receive/apply feedback.)
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Get out of this class what they put into it as the majority of our class will be spent workshopping everyone's writing assignments from the week prior.
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Experience their comedy writing being workshopped and performed by professional Chicago comedians.
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Have a packet of completed jokes and sketches to use for pitches or their own performance use.
Required for every class:
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Laptop or smart device to read/share your work with the class, take notes, and look up topical news stories for class. *Recommend bringing chargers as well.
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Notebook + writing utensil
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An open mind
Solo Act Development
for chair play
Wednesdays 7:00pm-9:00pm
April 19, 26; May 3, 10, 17, 24, BREAK, June 14, 21
SOLO SALON - JULY 2
Maximum 5 Participants
Instructor: Tila Von Twirl
$200 for 10 week session ($25 per class)
This class for soloists will feature 10 weeks for act development, longer class times, and smaller enrollment to give each act more time and attention. Performers will learn theory and practical skills in Costuming, Choreography, Concept, and Music. Students will complete a comprehensive curriculum with individualized consultation and focus on act construction techniques specifically focused on chair dance routines resulting in a debut performance with a live audience. There are only FIVE SPOTS total, so don't miss your chance!