THE FLY HONEYS PRESENT…
HONEY MOVES:
SUMMER CLASS SERIES
FRIDAY NIGHTS + SUNDAY AFTERNOONS
AUGUST 2 - SEPTEMBER 6
The Fly Honeys and friends invite you to get into your body and out of your head in our signature dance classes and new master class series that are built for Everybody, All Gender Expressions And All Dance Experiences. Join us in the studio and enjoy a low-pressure chance to get down, learn a new rhythm, style, and practice.
We’ll open registrations on a rolling basis every two weeks! See below for more information about this two part series.
HONEY MOVES:
OPEN LEVEL COMMUNITY CLASS
If you’ve taken our dance workshops before, you know the drill - this class is a space to feel FLY in the studio.
Created and taught by longtime Fly Honey choreographers and dancers, we offer a joyful, low pressure, affirming environment where we can shake ass all together. The Fly Honeys celebrate sexuality, gender-expansion and personal expression through dance. We create choreography that invites you to practice playfulness, eroticism, and body empowerment. Dancers can expect a class structure that includes full body warm up with prepared choreography, pulling from a mix of styles and aesthetics.
This class is an Open Level class, which means that we welcome dancers at any stage of dance training. Material is designed to expect a range of skills, styles, and bodies in the space with us. Either way, don’t worry honey - we’ll go slow and take our sweet sweet time with it.
** REGISTRATION FOR CLASSES 1 + 2 WILL OPEN ON SUNDAY 7.28 @ 12P
** REGISTRATION FOR CLASSES 3 + 4 WILL OPEN ON SUNDAY 8.11 @ 12P
** REGISTRATION FOR CLASSES 5 + 6 WILL OPEN ON SUNDAY 8.25 @ 12P
HONEY MOVES:
FLY FOUNDATIONS SERIES
We’ve got something glittering and brand new for you, Baby Bees! This class series is created to platform and center the wide variety of dance forms and performance cultures that deeply influence and inspire the Honeys work.
Taught by our fly-ass friends, Fly Foundations is a master class series that brings in guest artists and field experts to share their dedicated practices in styles like vogue, striptease, camp, cabaret, and queer-informed, body-forward wellness. Each class will be a unique experience from the next, where we hope you will dive into something brand new or return to something familiar to get deeper into your groove.
*** FLY FOUNDATIONS TICKETS ON SALE AUGUST 4 ***
See below for full schedule, class description,
and teaching artist information!
sunday august 11: Adv Heels / Floorwork Focus
with Erin Kilmurray
12pm - 1:30pm
Visceral Dance Center
3121 North Rockwell Street Chicago, IL 60618
Drop down and slide around in an advanced heels-dance-class with an athletic, erotic floorwork focus! Fly Honey director / choreographer Erin Kilmurray pulls from movement vocabularies like jazz, showgirl, and contemporary dance forms to craft empowering, playful material supported by strong storytelling and body language.
Class structure includes warm-up and practice floorwork exercises that transition into stylized choreography pulled directly from The Fly Honey’s rep. This class is geared towards experienced dancers.
Kneepads are recommended. Heels optional; comfortable footwear recommended.
ABOUT ERIN KILMURRAY
Erin Kilmurray (she/they) is a dance artist creating genre-straddling, femme-forward performance work while facilitating a dance and community practice that relentlessly explores the celebrations and liberations of women, queer folks, and the underdog. Erin is the creator / director / longtime choreographer of The Fly Honey Show, a 2024 US Artist Fellow in Dance, and one of 50 People Who Really Perform for Chicago (2023; Newcity).
SUNDAY AUGUST 18: Open Level Vogue Femme Workshop
with Legendary Fabulous Freddie
1:30pm - 3:00pm
Color Club
4146 N Elston Ave, Chicago, IL 60618
In this foundational class, students will learn how to explore their femininity, musicality, and individuality, while focusing on the five elements of vogue femme: hands, catwalks spins and dips, duckwalks, and floor performance. Students should bring knee pads, gym shoes, heels, and / or combat boots.
Students are welcome to bring a notebook but this is not a requirement.
ABOUT FABULOUS FREDDIE
Frederick “Fabulous Freddie ” Leroy is a Voguer/Bboy in the community. Throughout his career, Freddie has learned to grow and adapt with who he is as a dancemaker, experimenting with femininity and masculinity in the artist’s own lexicon of movement. They are a 2022 Chicago Dancemakers Forum Lab Artist, and have recently achieved Legendary status. Students can find me at RhythmHood / Snipes studio every Tuesday from 7pm-8:30 p.m. class is only $12.
SUNDAY AUGUST 25: STRIPTEASE 101
with Po’Chop
12pm - 1:30pm
Visceral Dance Center
3121 North Rockwell Street Chicago, IL 60618
Join renowned burlesque artist, Po'Chop, for a 90 minute crash course that will delve into elements of burlesque. Whether a curious novice or an experienced burlesquer this workshop is sure to leave you oozing with confidence and rooted in the foundation of striptease. We'll cover everything from bumps and grinds to shimmies and struts. Class will begin with a warm up and transition into across the floor exercises and culminate with a choreographed combination.
Participants should bring water and a piece of clothing to practice removing.
Heels/shoes optional.
ABOUT Po'Chop
Jenn Freeman | Po’Chop (they/them) is an interdisciplinary artist, spacemaker and educator who has been navigating the Chicago performance scene for over 15 years. Weaving together storytelling, burlesque, drag, digital art and dance into their artmaking, Po’Chop is known for creating experiences that are irreverent and transformative all while centering the lived experiences of Black queer folks. S/O to House of the Lorde (www.houseofthelorde.com or IG @houseofthelorde), our multifunctional art studio rooted in Black feminism. Home of our teaching practice and our monthly Reading Room: A Black feminist study group.
sunday september 1: Soft body movement
11:30am - 12:30pm
The Honeycomb Network
2659 West Division Street, Chicago, IL 60622
Even though the Honeys love to go hard, we still need to slow it down and focus on body care. Join us at holistic community space, The Honeycomb Network in Humboldt Park for some soft energy, led by creative, musician, and facilitator Angel Hart. This class is a moving meditation. this gentle vinyasa flow intends to root you in the present while stirring the senses and softening and slowing your energy. Here we link breath to movement offering you space to surrender what you’re carrying while creating room for what you dream and need. The class will be almost fully guided, with some space to move intuitively. modifications and hands-on assistance will also be offered with consent. This class is also open to everyone no matter what level of yoga experience you have.
Please wear comfy clothes, bring water, & bring a journal.
ABOUT THE HONEYCOMB NETWORK
The Honeycomb Network (est. 2020 - present), a holistic, multi-functional community space + network in the Humboldt Park community of Chicago, offering co-working, co-creating + collective care services. The physical & digital space hosts a boutique apothecary gift shop, community events, + a BIPOC Network of healers, makers and holistic service providers.
ABOUT ANGEL HART
Angel Hart (she/her) is a creative, musician, and 220-hour experience registered yoga teacher from Chicago's south side. Her practice is rooted in a combination of movement and music. Angel believe music is a key to so many locks and pairing it with athletics cultivates a profound environment that’s ripe for growth and change. She would love for you to check out Octavia Butler’s “Parable of a Sower”, the Loveland Foundation and the Nap Ministry.
FAQS…
What should I expect during OPEN LEVEL COMMUNITY CLASS?
We craft an autonomous space in the studio where you can take on as much or as little material as you’re comfortable with --- we deeply encourage you to do YOU.
Movers in class will hold range of identities, dance experiences, age, and mobility, and we ask that you please take care of yourself! If you see a neighbor needing a hand, ask if they want a little help! If you need a hand, please do ask questions to the teacher or turn to someone else in class to practice with you. Modifications to choreography are typical made available, and we hope that you explore moving in the style and expression that is most affirming to YOU.
In this class environment, we will practice all together in one big, glorious group! At times, teachers will split the larger group into smaller ones in order to encourage more space for full dancing AND so that we can witness and affirm one another during our dance practice (we love to cheer each other on…). Teachers will never create small, specialized groupings EVER.
VERY IMPORTANT! PHONE CAMERAS OFF! We want to encourage dancers to be present during class. At the last 5 minutes of class, we will invite folks to take video of themselves (as a group) if they’d like, with consent.
Will the choreography change every week?
EVERY TWO WEEKS, the class material will change. For example, classes 1 + 2 in the series will learn and practice the same combo, and a brand new combo will be introduces for classes 3 + 4 and then classes 5 + 6.
Fly Honey teachers will rotate each week, so if you choose to return to practice the same material from the week before, you will get a totally different approach and perspective to work from!
What should I wear / bring?
Wear what makes you feel most comfortable in your own your body. Typically folks wear gym clothes, or pieces that are breathable to move around in.
We encourage sneakers for safety (hello, traction!), but the choice is yours! Go ahead with any footwear that makes you feel FLY.
Don’t forget to bring a water bottle, or a knee brace if that’s where you’re at!
What’s the cost to attend?
Class rates are made available on a tiered system, ranging from $10 - $25. In order to make space for everybody who wants to dance, please self-select the class rate that best reflects your financial privileges.
For those who identify as BIPOC / TGNC folks, free spaces are available for each class!
What is the refund policy?
If you are no longer able to attend, you are welcome to request a refund through Eventbtite’s ticketing site up to 24 HOURS before class. After that window has closed, we unfortunately are unable to refund the class fee.
Are there any age restrictions?
Yes! Dancers who are 18+ are welcome.
Our content is geared towards adults in both choreography and musical choices. Fly Honey teachers are holding space for those comfortable with explicit language and physicality that is openly expressive of personal sexuality.
Dancers under 18 will have to wait a few years to shake it with us.
What’s the COVID policy?
Masking is up to the individual, however we will provide KN95 masks as an option to you at each class, if you’d like to share in that extra community protection.
Is the studio accessible?
Unfortunately, the studio we are hosting these classes at are not ADA accessible. In order to enter both studio spaces, you will have to climb a set of stairs that is roughly one story high. Once on the second floor, ground is level.
All Bathrooms are available to expansive gender identities.