BURLESQUERCISE PRESENTS:
The Foxy Sandra Andersen
2009-02-24
This class has changed me in more ways than one!
When I first started, I was looking to stay fit, get my dance fix in, and access that extra bit of confidence in myself that was hiding, just waiting for the right time to be coaxed out.
Originally I was reluctant to get up on Sunday mornings, but once I started the class that quickly vanished. It felt like you were walking into an alternate reality where you were free to let go and just be yourself. The classes are fun, relaxed, and taught me to love every part of my body. To be confident, you have to feel sexy; and to feel sexy you have to accept the way you are made. Once you are at this point, you realize you can do anything you want to.
The fitness targets areas that are usually missed in a normal workout and the laughter inspires you inside and refreshes you from a stressful work week in time to get you prepared for another one. Laughter is the perfect medicine for any ailment, and if you are badly in need of that type of medicine, Di's class has more than enough for everyone.
I remember now how much I loved dancing back then, and I'm glad to be dancing again and giggling with the girls of the Las Vegas Dance Company!
(2) Comments
The Foxy Ginger Bast
2009-02-23
I discovered my love for dance as an adult.
What started as a hobby 14 years ago has become a passion for me. I have studied everything from Country and Western, to Ballroom, Latin, West Coast Swing, Hip Hop, and most currently Middle Eastern BellyDance. After 7 years of Bellydance, something I currently do at a professional level, it was time to add something new.
A year ago I discovered "BURLESQUERCISE". The fact that I live an hour and a half N.W. of Calgary and drove in every Sunday for class should give you an indication as to how much I love Di's classes. The new friends, self confidence, and increased self esteem that the classes have given me, carry over into every aspect of my life.
In the very near future I will be re-locating back to Calgary due to a job transfer. In the meantime I still commute for class, and am very excited for the opportunity to dance with "The Little Vegas Dance Company"
(2) Comments
THE 2009 CALGARY OSCAR AWARDS
2009-02-23
Thank you!!! Thank you!!!!
My husband and I had a great time at the evening gala on February 21st 2009! It was an elegant evening celebrating Calgary's top businesses with proceeds going to the "Green Learning Foundation".
Burlesquercise was nominated in four categories: Indoor Recreation, Arts & Culture, Live Entertainment and Heart of the New West. Amazingly I was in the top 3 in all four categories...and my competitors were The Calgary Flames and Westjet Airlines. That means that my success is due to all the loyal people who voted for me!
Thank you to everyone for all your support!
(3) Comments
CALGARY HERALD “Burlesquercise adds fun to Fitness”
2009-02-23
Check out the February 2009 CALGARY HERALD article!
Once again, THE CALGARY HERALD has been generous in covering BURLESQUERCISE! Thank you to Robin Summerfield for spreading the sizzle...and thanks to all the fabulous women I have the honour of working with!!
Read the article at: http://www.calgaryherald.com/Health/Burlesquercise+adds+fitness/1305735/story.html
(62) Comments
The Foxy Teslin Ward
2009-02-23
Dancing is my passion!
I believe that you have to make time for the things that you really love, and make you feel alive, even in the "grown up" world. I started dancing with Di about 12 years ago. She is an amazing dancer, a fantastic coach, and a beautiful person. If anyone can make you feel great about yourself, it is her. The past few years have been on again, off again for me and my dance relationship, trying to fit classes in and really be able to be devoted to them is sometimes challenging with everything else going on in life. The chance to be part of Di's performance group was one I couldn't pass up. I am dancing, and performing again, and I haven't felt this good in a long time.
(3) Comments
The Foxy Nancy Situ
2009-02-23
All throughout the tentative and influential years of growing up, I was an outcast by choice.
Accustomed to the idea that standing out more than I already did would make my life a living social hell, I never stepped outside of my little shell -- especially not on a stage. As a part of a volunteering gig, a few friends and I formed a little dance troupe that would perform one number for the volunteer's appreciation dinner. It never went further than that, but the thrill of the audience cheering was exhilarating.
When I started with Di's burlesque class, there was no swanky website, and not even a classy logo for it. I'd heard about the very first class by word of mouth, and that it had been a blast to be a part of. From the second class on, I made sure to take part, and in the span of a year and a half, Di has transformed me. Now, there *is* a logo, a fancy website, even more courses, and a performance dance company! This has caught on so fast and so furiously that classes are always booked up, and the veterans of past sessions recognize each other, and share that knowing look.
I have always loved dance, but I was never formally trained in anything past casual lessons. One of Diana's biggest lessons that stuck most was that there is no right way to be yourself, and you extend that through your movement on the dance floor. Through her sexy (and that means naughty) choreography, I've freed my body from its casually polite movement to something more.
My friends see it in the way I dance to music; my colleagues see it in the way I walk down the halls and through the desks. Di's classes gave me my confidence, the spring and bounce in my step, and has moved my love of expression through movement past that line on the floor between dancing in my room and dancing out in public.
Beware, her classes awaken the little tiger in your cage, and when it starts pawing at the bars, you can feel it.
(41) Comments
CALGARY OSCARS NOMINATION! Please vote!
2009-01-23
Wow! Burlesquercise has been nominated for a CALGARY OSCAR AWARD! 
Thank you for the nomination! I really appreciate it! For me to actually win the award the public needs to vote....how cool is that!
Anyone with a valid email address can vote. You must vote in all categories...and watch closely, we are in 4 categories.
Arts & Culture
Heart of the New West
Indoor Recreation
Live Entertainment
Click on http://www.calgaryoscars.ca/vote.asp to cast your vote!
Voting ends February 14th 2009.
Thank You!
di
xo
(20) Comments
Come see “The Little Vegas Dance Company”!
2009-01-10Support our vegas coyotes in a fabulous evening of dancing at THE CALGARY DANCE STAMPEDE!
"The Little Vegas Dance Company" will be performing April 18th 2009 at this years, CAMPFIRE BALL VARIETY SHOW....(campfire might turn into an inferno)
Check out the website for workshops offered that weekend along with ticket information.
http://www.calgarydancestampede.com
(3) Comments
Reccomended reading..“Real sex for real Women”
2009-01-10
Wow! There I was changing diapers and multitasking with Oprah of course...
when this fabulous guest came on Dr.Laura Berman! Finally a show that discussed what sooooooooo many women have been feeling. What intrigued me the most was the discussion on the programmed thinking and limited beliefs women have developed regarding body image, body confidence, intimacy and what we think we deserve..or don't deserve.
Dr. Berman has written a fabulous and informative book, "Real Sex for Real Women". The book even offers exercises in discovering and then overcoming the negative programming you have accepted for yourself.
A MUST READ!!!!!
(0) Comments
The Foxy Janet McIver
2009-01-07
I have been taking Burlesquercise for one year now and it has changed my life, in more ways than I would have ever thought possible. Here I am at 44 years old and I have a whole new attitude on life thanks to Di.
Ever since I was a little girl I was chubby and all I ever heard from my Dad was “you would be so much prettier if you would only lose weight.” I, like many other girls soon learned that food could be comforting when the going got tough. Then when I was 13 years old I slipped on of all things a hardwood floor and tore the ligaments in my right knee. When I was 14 I slipped on ice and cracked all three bones in my right ankle and spent many a year babying my right leg. So when I started having pain in both knees in my thirties, an x-ray showed that I had osteoarthritis in both knees and at 37 I was told that I did not qualify for knee replacement surgery for 13 years. My physical therapist taught me how to do everyday stuff to help but he told me the best form of exercise would be the one that I enjoyed. After trying many different gyms and programs I was ready to give up (when you can’t walk up and down stairs due to pain), then I read an interesting article in the paper about burlesquercise.
Now I have to digress a moment here as when I turned 39 I met an amazing man who told me I was sexy no matter what… however his three stepsons had a thing or two to say to my face about a woman in her 40s who was confident in her sexiness and herself. I found myself digressing in that I didn’t wear the clothes that I wanted to wear and was again unsure of whom I was.
Let’s just say, last January when I started taking Di’s classes (my Dr said why not give them a try), and I have found that I can be sexy and be confident in who I am as a person and if you don’t like it well then tough s*&t ( ok so I did compromise and not wear a bustier in the stepsons’ presence) but I am glad to be back as the person I want to be.
Deva Dave told us we own the sidewalks of Calgary (we pay taxes) and so walk like we do. One of the ladies at work and I were discussing Vegas and I was telling her that I had done the backstage tour of Bally’s Jubilee and had learned how to do the cancan and the showgirl walk. She said show me and I did in the front hallway-and I even threw in the model strut Deva Dave taught us in class (ok so one of the guys caught me and I just laughed ). This is not something the old Janet would have done!
The picture you see of me is my attempt at doing Naughty Nasty Boy (one of the routines we learned in class) for my husband…ok so I couldn’t do the whole thing without giggling halfway through, but I tried and I felt good about doing it. I was confident enough in myself to do it (and I was confident enough with myself to have a picture taken).
Ladies if you want to have some fun exercising and learning about yourself then take Di’s classes. You not only get a good cardio work out and pilates session but you also learn about your body and how to be comfortable with it. I miss my Sunday’s when we don’t have classes… yes I even have to say I miss those crazy 100s. I have to wear bandages on both my knees to do it but I have to say I enjoy it and I can walk up and down the stairs the next day without the pain. I have even learned that there are graceful ways to get up and down off the floor during the routines!
This is not only an exercise class, it is also a confidence booster, a way to show your inner and outer sexiness and it is also a support group in so many ways (does the “circle of sexiness” intrigue you) I laugh at myself and learn at the same time. I have already registered for the chair classes… my knees are saying no but I will be there. I thank Di for being there for us and being who she is as a woman and saying it’s great to be sexy and having the confidence to show it.
Janet
(20) Comments
The Foxy Marie Claude Lafleur
2009-01-04
What an amazing effect these classes have had on me!!
My name is Marie-Claude, I'm an accountant, and you know what they say about accountants… boring, plain and too much down to earth. Well… that was a little bit true for me, until I started taking Di's Burlesque classes. I've also been a ballroom dancer for 18 years, but never have I had the Passion of dancing like the one Di gave me after I started with her. The sexiness, the confidence in yourself and the consciousness of your own abilities without being shy to show them, that's all precious gifts that I received with Di's classes. Thanks Di for inspiring us and for your contagious smile!
Quel effet incroyable ces cours ont eu sur moi!! Mon nom est Marie-Claude, je suis comptable, et vous savez ce qu'ils disent à propos des comptables… ennuyeux, ordinaires et trop terre à terre. Et bien… c'était un peu vrai pour moi, jusqu'à ce que je suive les cours de Diana. J'ai aussi commencé à faire de la danse internationale il y a 18 ans, mais jamais ne n'ai eu la Passion de la danse comme celle que Diana m'a transmise. Être sexy, avoir confiance en soi et être consciente de ses propres habiletés sans être gênée de les montrer, ce sont tous de précieux cadeaux que j'ai reçus par les cours avec Diana. Merci Diana pour nous inspirer et pour ton sourire contagieux!
(2) Comments
WATCH THIS FABULOUS SHORT FILM!
2009-01-03Coyotes!
PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO WATCH THIS SHORT FILM.....YOU"LL FEEL BETTER!
http://www.volleyball-magic.info/info/youramazing.htm#
Diva di
xo
(1) Comments
CALGARY NTERNATIONAL SALSA CONGRESS
2009-01-03Since so many of you have been inquiring...
check out this great event being hosted in Calgary the weekend of January 30th 2009!
http://www.calgaryinternationalsalsacongress.com
Also, those of you looking for group classes in ballroom & latin check out: http://www.albertadancesport.com
Those of you looking for some great private instruction in ballroom, latin, country or swing...check ou:t http://www.dancenergy.ca
Diva di
xo
(1) Comments
Make 2009 your year of HAPPINESS!!!
2009-01-01Happy New Year!
2008 was an amazing year for me. A great year of healing and gratefulness. The birth of my baby girl Bianca put so many things in perspective. Being a dancer my entire life, I have spent most of my life in front of a mirror. I had developed many bad habits in my thinking and developed some unhealthy perceptions regarding beauty and self-acceptance. Suffering from an eating disorder as a kid and building many walls around my heart, pregnancy was a fabulous healing experience. Being pregnant forced me to let all that go and embrace the miracle of what a female body can do. Wow, my body made that little baby.
Now that I am comfortably well on my way to motherhood, some of those old programmed HABITUAL thoughts come knocking at my door. Conditions and reasons why I simply cannot be happy. If I let my mind go long enough, the list could get really long. ..but then I had a thought. Why...could I not just decide that I was going to be happy? Happiness is after all, a perception of your reality. So what is it that will make my reality better? Do I need to adjust my reality?....or my perception? Maybe a bit of both? Where do I need healing? Where am I out of balance?
Funny enough right there, I decided..yup, 2009 is going to be fabulous and I am going to force myself to live my best life RIGHT NOW! Why wait? Really, why wait?
My burlesque project has become so inspirational. I get to connect with so many fabulous women, all who have a story, and all who are looking for some sort of healing. I have had some amazing feedback this year as women thank me for allowing themselves to embrace the femininity. Some of you said they had never touched themselves, never freely moved to music, never laughed at themselves..and most commonly it was the first time they could JUST BE themselves without any labels or judgement. All of this makes me realize, we are a community of women all suffering from the same thing. It is only us, women, that can change the conditions for ourselves. If you want to live your best life and let your negative conditioned thinking and past go...now is the time!
Make 2009 the year dedicated to you. Only you can put yourself first. I urge you to embrace the powerful, sexy and confident woman inside of you!
Hope to see you in class.
di
xo
P.S. I came across 2 interesting websites that you might want to check out:
http://www.livingorsurviving.com and http://www.zenhabits.net
(11) Comments
The Foxy Sandra Jones
2008-12-26
Congratulations Di!
It is so wonderful to see something be successful! Yes, women need to learn to delight in our differences from men and told it’s okay to be feminine and strong (not aggressive). We have generations of women that need to learn how to feminine without being a doormat.
Thanks Di and best wishes.
Sandra Jones
(2) Comments
