Bellatrix Burlesque was established in March 2022, by Kelly Watkins, and designed as a safe space for women to improve their confidence and self-esteem.
Kelly says:
“In a world of Instagram filters and unrealistic beauty standards, I felt we had all started to lose track of embracing what people actually look like and celebrating ourselves for who we are! I have had a personal journey with my own body image and have a traumatic background with eating disorders. I am finally feeling comfortable with myself and I desperately want other females to feel that way too!
Kelly trained in burlesque many years ago and felt at the start of 2022 that this was the year to put these skills to use!
“I wanted to add an offering to my fitness business that was about female empowerment, and burlesque seemed the best fit. It’s not only good exercise but also helps you feel good and connect with your body.”
After launch, the classes have been a great success and Kelly is now running three troupes across Wrexham and Oswestry. She is delighted with the bonds that have been forged in the classes.
“The response to the classes has been overwhelming. I teach on Mondays in Oswestry and on Tuesdays and Thursdays in Wrexham. It has become an amazing community and a judgement-free zone. We have members aged 18 – 70 and all shapes and sizes and abilities – and everyone has great fun! We have really bonded together. It’s great to see everyone feeling empowered and connecting with their own bodies!”
These bonds led to the creation of the fundraising event, when two members of the troupe had strokes – which got Kelly thinking…
“We were not going to do an event this year, but then a member of our troupe had two mini strokes and then another had a stroke and is still recovering in hospital now. I wanted to do something as a tribute to them and their strength. I decided an event to raise money for a stroke charity was the way to go!
The stroke charities in the UK all do a great job but I was passionate about finding a charity that specifically supported younger people living with stroke. I got on to Google and came across the Different Strokes website and I was honestly blown away. It was amazing to see all the different types of support offered and particularly all the charity has done since the pandemic with online services, exercise and support.”
Kelly has also offered to do an online burlesque class in 2023 for the Different Strokes community, to help survivors to reconnect with and embrace their post-stroke bodies. Please get in touch with us at Different Strokes if you like this idea! Kelly explains that it is OK to do burlesque fully clothed – so nipple tassels are optional!
“Often people think you have to strip down and that’s great if you want to, but lots of our members show up and take part how they are comfortable to do so – including with their clothes on!”
The Bellatrix Burlesque Show- A night of Christmas Crackers will take place on Saturday December 17, at Hermon Arts Centre in Oswestry and all proceeds will towards supporting younger stroke survivors and their families.
Performers are from across North Shropshire and Wrexham and have been busy preparing a number of routines over the last months, ahead of the “night of burlesque and dance, tassels and tinsel, sparkly balls and bouncing bustles”.
The show has amazingly sold out of tickets – it is sure to be a packed house on the night!
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