Nightshade Conservatory
Burlesque Education
Nightshade Conservatory, located in beautiful Portland, Oregon, is a hub for burlesque education and entertainment. Led by Headmistress The Infamous Nina Nightshade, who boasts over 15 years of experience in the world of burlesque, the conservatory offers a variety of opportunities for individuals interested in this captivating art form.
Nightshade Conservatory offers monthly group workshops, 1:1 sessions, private parties, and hosts both local and traveling guest instructors. Nightshade Conservatory is proudly sponsored by Portland Dance Studio, which offers a professional and welcoming environment for burlesque education. The classes and workshops mostly take place in one of their studios located in the Oak Street Building.
Whether you're looking to step on the stage for the first time, an experienced performer looking to up their game, or a group seeking a fun and unconventional event, Nightshade Conservatory aims to provide a welcoming and educational space for all interested in the art of burlesque.
Email [email protected] to inquire or sign up for posted workshops
Nightshade Conservatory offers monthly group workshops, 1:1 sessions, private parties, and hosts both local and traveling guest instructors. Nightshade Conservatory is proudly sponsored by Portland Dance Studio, which offers a professional and welcoming environment for burlesque education. The classes and workshops mostly take place in one of their studios located in the Oak Street Building.
Whether you're looking to step on the stage for the first time, an experienced performer looking to up their game, or a group seeking a fun and unconventional event, Nightshade Conservatory aims to provide a welcoming and educational space for all interested in the art of burlesque.
Email [email protected] to inquire or sign up for posted workshops
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"As someone who learned from this incredible artist and educator how to move my broken body in a way that finally reconnected me to my true essence, I cannot endorse Nina Nightshade enough! ...her teaching style is patient and thorough, thoughtful and fun... She changed my relationship with myself in a necessary, powerful way and helped release my inner power through graceful movement, humor and bawdy sensuality."
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Monthly Workshops
Join The Infamous Nina Nightshade every 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7:15 PM for a 90 minute workshop.
All workshops are designed for newer performers, but novice and well-seasoned performers are also welcome.
Monthly courses now every 2nd Tuesday of the month - 7:15pm-8:45pm
Spring 2025 Term Courses:
Individual course: $30; Full term: $80
Chair Affair with Sara James
Tuesday, April 8 – 7:15p-8:45p
Nina got you an amazing substitute teacher since she’ll be out of town for this one!
Go beyond the traditional in this chair dance workshop with Sara James. Explore the multitude of ways to use the chair as an apparatus to convey power and seduction. Students will be led through technique-building sequencing followed by exercises to encourage them to add their own stylistic spin. Whether you are just beginning chair dance or are in a long-term relationship with it already, spice up the possibilities with Chair Affair!
Hip Me With Your Best Shot: dynamic hip movement for burlesque
Tuesday, May 13 – 7:15p-8:45p
Classic burlesque isn’t complete without some good old-fashioned bump ‘n grind, but hip movements aren’t just for the classic performer. In this course, The Infamous Nina Nightshade will teach basic hip movements & isolations including how to incorporate them into full body motion. Utilizing over 30 years of experience in various dance forms, Nina will show you how to bring the wow factor with powerful and sensual hips in this interactive movement course. Come dressed to move. Bring water & note taking supplies.
Walk This Way: the art of the strut and walking with intention
Tuesday, June 10 – 7:15p-8:45p
Performers can exude stage presence just by the way they walk across a stage or within the audience. In this course, The Infamous Nina Nightshade will teach how to strut across a stage and capture the attention of the audience along with lessons on how to display emotion and intent with various walks. Learn to captivate an audience just by stepping on stage in this interactive course. Come dressed to move. Bring water, note taking supplies, and performance shoes if you have them.
All regular monthly courses will be capped at 10 participants. Please email [email protected] for signup information
Scholarship Opportunity: Nightshade Conservatory is offering one scholarship spot per course. Scholarships are open to anyone to whom the cost of a course would be a burden and would make this opportunity otherwise unattainable. Preference will be given to BIPOC performers. Email a short (1-2 paragraph) summary about why you or someone else should be granted a scholarship. We limit 2 scholarships per year per person.
Spring 2025 Term Courses:
Individual course: $30; Full term: $80
Chair Affair with Sara James
Tuesday, April 8 – 7:15p-8:45p
Nina got you an amazing substitute teacher since she’ll be out of town for this one!
Go beyond the traditional in this chair dance workshop with Sara James. Explore the multitude of ways to use the chair as an apparatus to convey power and seduction. Students will be led through technique-building sequencing followed by exercises to encourage them to add their own stylistic spin. Whether you are just beginning chair dance or are in a long-term relationship with it already, spice up the possibilities with Chair Affair!
Hip Me With Your Best Shot: dynamic hip movement for burlesque
Tuesday, May 13 – 7:15p-8:45p
Classic burlesque isn’t complete without some good old-fashioned bump ‘n grind, but hip movements aren’t just for the classic performer. In this course, The Infamous Nina Nightshade will teach basic hip movements & isolations including how to incorporate them into full body motion. Utilizing over 30 years of experience in various dance forms, Nina will show you how to bring the wow factor with powerful and sensual hips in this interactive movement course. Come dressed to move. Bring water & note taking supplies.
Walk This Way: the art of the strut and walking with intention
Tuesday, June 10 – 7:15p-8:45p
Performers can exude stage presence just by the way they walk across a stage or within the audience. In this course, The Infamous Nina Nightshade will teach how to strut across a stage and capture the attention of the audience along with lessons on how to display emotion and intent with various walks. Learn to captivate an audience just by stepping on stage in this interactive course. Come dressed to move. Bring water, note taking supplies, and performance shoes if you have them.
All regular monthly courses will be capped at 10 participants. Please email [email protected] for signup information
Scholarship Opportunity: Nightshade Conservatory is offering one scholarship spot per course. Scholarships are open to anyone to whom the cost of a course would be a burden and would make this opportunity otherwise unattainable. Preference will be given to BIPOC performers. Email a short (1-2 paragraph) summary about why you or someone else should be granted a scholarship. We limit 2 scholarships per year per person.
Guest Instructors
The conservatory is always excited to host guest instructors both locally and traveling.
Upcoming Guest Instructors:
See "Chair Affair" with Sara James above
Interested in being a guest instructor? Whether local or traveling through PDX, lets talk! Email [email protected] to discuss options.
Private Instruction
Nightshade Conservatory offers private lessons with The Infamous Nina Nightshade
Private Movement Lesson and/or Act Development
$50 per hour
This is your time and Nina will tailor it to you. Polish up an existing act, hone your skills, or get some basic movement lessons.
Online 1:1 Mentorship/Act Development
$35 per session
40-minute 1:1 Zoom session. This is your time and Nina will tailor it to you. Polish up an existing act, talk about how to level up, or get movement training.
Costume Consultation
$35 1-hour consultation, $60 2-hour consultation with basic lesson
Let Nina help you level up, problem-solve, or ideate your costume! One hour sessions either at your place or Nina's. We will talk through costume challenges and ideate on how to improve your costumes. We can consult on one costume in depth or try to get through as many as we can fit in our time together.
2-hour consultations include the addition of basic lessons on costuming including sewing, crafting, and building. Let's spend your 2nd hour working on those ideas and get started on your costume together!
$50 per hour
This is your time and Nina will tailor it to you. Polish up an existing act, hone your skills, or get some basic movement lessons.
Online 1:1 Mentorship/Act Development
$35 per session
40-minute 1:1 Zoom session. This is your time and Nina will tailor it to you. Polish up an existing act, talk about how to level up, or get movement training.
Costume Consultation
$35 1-hour consultation, $60 2-hour consultation with basic lesson
Let Nina help you level up, problem-solve, or ideate your costume! One hour sessions either at your place or Nina's. We will talk through costume challenges and ideate on how to improve your costumes. We can consult on one costume in depth or try to get through as many as we can fit in our time together.
2-hour consultations include the addition of basic lessons on costuming including sewing, crafting, and building. Let's spend your 2nd hour working on those ideas and get started on your costume together!
Private Parties
Need a fun activity for your party? Nightshade Conservatory will gladly curate an evening your guests won't forget.
Parties include:
Party themes:
Nightshade Conservatory can come to you or we can find a venue that fits your needs.
Email [email protected] to inquire about pricing and options
- 1-hour or 90 minute instruction led by The Infamous Nina Nightshade
- All required props and materials
Party themes:
- Pastie making and tassel twirling class
- Basic burlesque bump & grind
- Fun with fabric props (fan veils, isis wings, veils)
- Glove and/or Stocking Peels
- Have a different idea? Let's talk!
Nightshade Conservatory can come to you or we can find a venue that fits your needs.
Email [email protected] to inquire about pricing and options
Previous Conservatory Courses
Here's a list of previous courses taught by Nina at Nightshade Conservatory. These can be adapted into 1:1 lessons, private parties, or requested to return to our monthly conservatory schedule:
- Poise & Stage Presence: How to make a lasting impression on your audience
- How to Get the Gig... and How to Keep It: Marketing, professionalism, & etiquette for new performers
- Stumped on the Floor: Dance movement & musicality for non-dancers
- Show of Hands: Expressive hand movements and arms with bonus glove basics
- Do You Need That Prop?: An interactive workshop to become less reliant on props to convey intention and context in your acts
- Make Them Shiver With Antici.... Creating dynamic performance with stillness & slow movement
- Calling All Fans: Basic fan technique using feather fans, hand fans, & fan veils
- Peeling with Panache: Skillfully removing clothing on stage including basic costuming tips
- Hip Me With Your Best Shot: dynamic hip movement for burlesque
- The Interactive Performer: Connecting with the audience on their level including floor-show style performance, audience participation, and engaging with mutual consent
- Fake It 'Til You Make It: improv movement and how to survive when things go wrong
- Walk This Way: the art of the strut and walking with intention
- Get On The Floor: basic floorwork techniques
- From Ideation to Creation - Processes and tips for building an engaging burlesque act
- Siren’s Gaze - The art of the smolder (even when you’re not feeling it)
- Leg Show Basics - Classic leg show moves including stocking peels
Refund Policy: All class fees are non-refundable. Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis for extenuating circumstances such as serious illness or emergencies and are at the discretion of Nightshade Conservatory.
