Tassels & torment

Many students have emerged from the dance and choreography department to take on careers in modern dance and ballet companies such as the Richmond Ballet, Amaranth Dance Company and the Starr Foster Dance Project. But few take a path that pushes the boundaries of sensuality more than the five dance and choreography alumnae that make up Sweet Tease Burlesque.

Coming full circle to the place of their birth as a company, Sweet Tease will performs its first evening-length burlesque performance, “Lore,” Friday and Saturday nights at Gallery5. Composed of 17 works woven together to create one unique work of art, “Lore” seeks to entrance its 18-and-over audience with sultry modern movement, surprise queues, clever humor and some light nudity.

Helping to guide this breakdown of the taboo is company founder, Damion Bond aka the Muse.

“In modern (dance) we are always talking about the 4th wall, (the wall the audience can see through to the room of the stage),” Bond stated in an e-mail. “In as though the fifth wall is broken … the mind, the restriction of clothing, the exposure of our more secretive places-you can see into the mind of the performer, see into the fantasy, see into the wild worlds we build.”

Though traditionally performed as sensual art used for seductive entertainment, Sweet Tease has taken burlesque to the next level through the infusion of its background steeped in modern dance. Audience analyses of the movements are still invoked to convey a message that is more than just mindless sexuality.

“It is a perfect blend . we are taking everyone to another world-a land of myth and magic,” Bond stated.

With a wink, “Lore” takes place Friday and Saturday at Gallery5 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10, “We are asking guests to bring a pillow for their own comfort.” Dance party to follow with presents and guest appearances.