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The Velvet Burlesque
Celebrating over 30 years in business: Est. 1991
Welcome to the award-winning Velvet Burlesque (TM) - home of The Velvet Burlesque shows; the award-winning choreographer, curator & producer, dance & fitness teacher, and burlesque & cabaret performer Lara Gothique - "Hells Belle"; the Performing Arts festival; Sheffield Burlesque & Cabaret Extravaganza; the award-winning Velvet Burlesque & Yorkshire Puddings dance troupes; The Velvet Boylesque, plus our outstanding and highly-popular dance & fitness classes and workshops.
Founded in 1991, with Lara's fierce passion for the magic of theatre, performance, music, and dance; The Velvet Burlesque has earned a formidable reputation for a professional and extremely high quality of show performance, private & corporate event & party production, choreography & teaching. Due to this, The Velvet Burlesque are proud to be one of the largest and longest-running burlesque & cabaret businesses in the U.K.
Entrepreneur extraordinaire; international Choreographer, Teacher, Curator, Producer, & Performer; Lara Gothique - "Hells Belle" was voted into the "Top 5 Best British Burlesque Performer" category by The Burlesque Awards, and The Velvet Burlesque show troupe won the award for "Best British Burlesque Troupe". Lara Gothique/The Velvet Burlesque has also been awarded "Burlesque Dance Tuition Business of the Year" - Corporate LiveWire Global Awards, "Best Burlesque Dance Tuition Business - Northern England" by the Fitness and Nutrition Awards, "Adult Entertainment Specialists of the Year" by Central England Prestige Awards, and "Best Pilates Studio in Sheffield" by Distinguished Teaching.
The Velvet Burlesque show & events are an EXTRAVAGANZA of fabulous burlesque, vaudeville, cabaret, circus, & variety acts, featuring multiple-award-winning national and international guest performers ... expect nothing less than excellent quality entertainment! Presented in the Library Theatre, set in the heart of Sheffield's theatre district; or within the stunning Art Deco Ballroom at Sheffield City Hall - let us welcome you into an exciting, glamorous atmosphere for an unforgettable night of unique and truly spectacular entertainment!
The Velvet Burlesque dance & fitness classes and workshops are fully inclusive for all genders, ages, shapes and sizes.
Lara Gothique - "Hells Belle" & "The Velvet Burlesque" (TM) are based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire (U.K.), and are available for national and international corporate & private bookings.
Shows & Events
Dance & Fitness Classes
Lara Gothique
Choreographer & Teacher
Lara Gothique is a well-established, fully qualified, and highly respected international Choreographer, Performer, Show Producer, Dance & Fitness Teacher & Personal Trainer with an excellent reputation in her field of business since 1991.
Lara Gothique was voted into the "Top 5 Best British Burlesque Performer" category by The Burlesque Awards, and The Velvet Burlesque show troupe won the award for "Best British Burlesque Troupe". Lara Gothique/The Velvet Burlesque has also been awarded "Burlesque Dance Tuition Business of the Year" - Corporate LiveWire Global Awards, "Best Burlesque Dance Tuition Business - Northern England" by the Fitness and Nutrition Awards, "Adult Entertainment Specialists of the Year" by Central England Prestige Awards, and "Best Pilates Studio in Sheffield" by Distinguished Teaching.
Lara has choreographed and performed since she was knee-high to a grasshopper. Her focus was to create and run a business where she could share her passion for dance with others, and to encourage everyone to learn to celebrate the body they have, let go of their inhibitions, and feel the absolute freedom that dance can give, and so; The Velvet Burlesque was formed.
Lara is dedicated to ensuring everyone she teaches reaches their maximum potential - often exceeding the initial goals set by her clients, and all within a safe and supportive environment.
Fitness/rehabilitation programs/classes are tailored to suit each individual, and always within the client's physical capabilities & limitations.
Lara runs all her dance & fitness classes with absolute inclusivity in mind.
These classes have also proved to be a fantastic social experience for those attending.
All dance & fitness classes are suitable for absolute beginners.
Lara Gothique - "Hells Belle"
Performer
A mysteriously formidable Amazonian Goddess.
An intriguing experience not for the faint of heart ...
This bitch bites if you pull her tail!
Hells Belle's on-stage persona is a very strong, confident, feisty showgirl, with enthusiastic performances and grand costume.
Appearing nationally and internationally; her performances have enthralled many.
Voted into the Top 5 "Best British Burlesque Performer" category by The Burlesque Awards, and her show troupe; The Velvet Burlesque, won the award for "Best British Burlesque Troupe". Lara Gothique/The Velvet Burlesque has also been awarded "Best Burlesque Dance Tuition Business - Northern England" by the Fitness and Nutrition Awards, "Burlesque Dance Tuition Business of the Year" - Corporate LiveWire Global Awards, "Adult Entertainment Specialists of the Year" by Central England Prestige Awards, and "Best Pilates Studio in Sheffield" by Distinguished Teaching.
Performer repertoire includes a signature 'Victorian Lady' with exquisite costume, or a tassel-twirling striptease done in (very muddy) wellies; Charleston style acts, through to flirty Rock & Roll styles; classic fan-dances, all the way to an arrogant, shimmering, bright green man-eating Alien; an exotic "Dance of the Seven Veils"; a feisty Spanish Flamenco; a disco-dancing Nun; an intoxicated Reindeer; a jingling Christmas "Belle", plus the more Gothic Horror/Macabre “Gorelesque” routines if you are looking for more shock value!
You pick a theme – Hells Belle will provide the routine and show-stopping performance!
Performance & modelling work includes: Gothic/Vampire/Victorian-period styles (which are a particular favourite); various forms of Burlesque/Cabaret/Exotic dance; horror; fetish & fantasy; horseback, motorcycle, (can also ride both), and many more!
If you are looking for a bespoke theme, then please feel free to ask.
A very strong swimmer, Lara also trained & competed nationally in the sports of both Speed and Synchronized Swimming!
A skilled horse-woman in cross-country, dressage, show jumping, etc. and has also performed stunt work for various shows/events in past years.
"An hourglass figure, with the sand in all the right places"
- Mister Meredith
"Hells Belle was a Victorian Gothic masterpiece as an Old Fashioned Girl', fitting into the surroundings perfectly."
- 21stCenturyBurlesque.com
"Hells Belle ... the fastest tassels in the North!"
- Feline Productions
"Hells Belle aka Lara Gothique, the impresario and director of the Velvet Burlesque cabaret, troupe and dancing class teacher performs her routine ‘Hanky Panky’, wafting peacock feather fans to Madonna’s song.
She is so an absolute joy to watch,
I can feel the audience enthralled by her.
Her onstage persona is so large, vibrant and, confident. ... her performances prove there ain’t nothing like a pro."
- Alison J Carr, Artist and PhD researcher
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