Workshops
About the workshop
Hosted by Stephanie “Oracle” Cushing & Melody Mangler of the Cirque des Morts Vaudeville Society
Ready to summon your inner goddess and move like you’ve got secrets? 🔮💋
This 19+ Bellydance & Burlesque workshop is a decadent double-feature designed to awaken your body, unlock your confidence, and stir up a little chaos (the fun kind).
Part I: Fusion Bellydance with Stephanie “Oracle” Cushing
Stephanie will guide you through slow, sensual technique focused on the hips, belly, and arms, teaching you how to inhabit your movement with intention. You’ll explore:
- foundational fusion movement + footwork
- core engagement + breath
- muscular control and fluidity
- tapping into your mysterious, magnetic power
We’ll wrap it all up into a short choreography you can build on, play with, and make entirely your own.
Intermission: Wine + Snacks 🍷
Catch your breath, refuel, and toast to your own brilliance with a short break—complete with wine and snacks, because we’re civilized like that.
Part II: Burlesque with Melody Mangler
Burlesque is more than movement; it’s storytelling, anticipation, mood, and delicious tension. Melody will take you through the building blocks of burlesque seduction and expression, including:
- tantalizing traces + showgirl struts
- shimmies, isolations, bumps + grinds
- playful performance choices + stage presence
- connecting your body to the tease, the power, and the possibility
This class is designed to leave you feeling charged, creative, and dangerously confident, like you just walked out of a smoky cabaret with the room still watching.
$40 for One
$65 for Both
✨ No experience necessary. All bodies welcome. Come as you are and leave like a legend.
About the Instructor
Melody Mangler is an award winning, internationally renowned burlesque performer. She co-founded both the Vancouver International Burlesque Festival as well as Screaming Chicken Theatrical Society and has gotten over 300 women onto the burlesque stage for their first time through her signature two month course Becoming Burlesque.
She now runs the consistently sold out Glam Slam East Van weirdo wrestling show, variety spectaculars , Dreadful Delights and Garden of Delights as well as performance art based cabaret Beyond Bizarre.
Starting her burlesque career in 2003, she is known as Vancouver’s tattooed fireball, and has been a constant competitor at the Burlesque Hall of Fame in Las Vegas winning Best Debut, Best Large Group and Most Comedic.
From clowning, to gorelesque to chair acrobatics, you never know what strange world Melody will create for you on the stage.
About the instructor
Navigating the bustling streets and vibrant lights of the entertainment district, Stephanie “Oracle” Cushing is a well-known performer on stage.
She began her belly dance journey in 2001 in Atlanta, Georgia, training with some of the top instructors in the United States, mastering styles ranging from Raqs Sharki to Tribal Fusion. Currently, she favors American Cabaret, a style rooted in the 1960s New York club scene.
In addition to belly dancing, Stephanie is a circus performer specializing in dance trapeze and partner acrobatics. As a true vaudeville artist, she captivates audiences of all ages with her remarkable blend of strength, power, and sensuality.
Stephanie has always aspired to create her own artistic community. In 2023, she realized this dream by founding Cirque des Morts and Crossroads Cabaret.
Cancellation policy:
All payments for punch cards, workshops, private lessons, sessions, and drop-in lessons are non-refundable.
There are no make-ups for missed workshop lessons.
Up to 2 weeks prior to the workshop: 90% refund
Less than 2 weeks but more than 1 week prior to the workshop: 80% refund
Less than 1 week prior to the workshop: non-refundable.
Calling All Circus Instructors!
Bring Your Workshop to West Coast Circus
At West Coast Circus, we’re passionate about fostering creativity, skill-sharing, and community growth. If you’re an instructor with a unique workshop to share, we’d love to collaborate with you!
Why Teach With Us?
✅ Engaged Students & Team – Inspire a dedicated community of circus artists eager to learn and grow.
✅ Professional Space – Our fully equipped facility is designed to support a wide range of disciplines.
✅ Collaborative Environment – Join a network of like-minded performers and educators.
✅ Promotion & Support – We’ll help market your workshop to our audience and handle logistics.
Whether you specialize in aerials, acrobatics, juggling, clowning, or another circus art, we want to hear from you!
Let’s Create Something Amazing Together!
📩 Get in Touch
Share your workshop idea, and let’s bring it to life at West Coast Circus!
Information We Need From You
To help us prepare your workshop smoothly, please have the following details ready before filling out our submission form.
1. Instructor Information
- Full Name
- Bio (A short background about you and your teaching experience)
- Social Media/Website (Instagram, Facebook, personal website, etc.)
- Promo Photo (High-quality image for marketing—we can pull from your website/social media if needed. Photographer credit appreciated!)
- Contact Number (Phone, WhatsApp, or Skype for coordination)
2. Workshop Details
- Workshop Name (Creative and engaging title)
- Apparatus/Discipline (Aerials, acrobatics, juggling, etc.)
- Equipment Needed (Let us know if you’re bringing your own or if you need ours)
- Workshop Description (What will students learn? Why should they join?)
- Skill Level/Prerequisites (What experience do participants need?)
- Minimum Age (Is there an age restriction?)
- Lesson Size (Min/max number of participants)
- Duration (Recommended: 1–4 hours)
3. Pay Rate
We offer a 60/40 split in your favour—you set your instructor rate, and we add our fee on top. Based on our market experience, the most successful pricing tends to be:
- $30/student per hour
- $50/student for 90-minute workshops
Higher rates may reduce sign-ups, but we’re happy to discuss what works for you!
4. Preferred Date & Time
We’re flexible! Weekends typically see higher registration, but we’ll check availability based on our schedule.
Ready to Submit?
Once you have these details prepared, fill out our Workshop Submission Form and we’ll get back to you soon!
West Coast Circus Foundation
411-19055 Airport Way
Pitt Meadows, BC, V3Y 0G4
Canada