The School of Charm and Cheek

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" The curves of the female form have the power to stop a war and start a revolution." -Kitty Cavalier

The School of Charm and Cheek is dedicated to teaching women how to revel in and appreciate their innate beauty. We understand that there is nothing sexier than a woman simply being a woman, with gusto. A woman's beauty is not dependent on something visual or tangible - it is something that lives within her, in every cell of her delicious body.

The women who know this ancient secret are what we call Femme Vitale's. A Femme Vitale uses her rapturous beauty, her feminine charm and her erotic power to bring pleasure, love and joy to everyone she meets. She is shameless in her self love. She owns her body from head to toe. Her beauty transcends her age, her shape, her size. She knows how to turn herself on, and from that, she turns on the world.

The School of Charm and Cheek is like Femme Vitale Academy. A place for a woman learn how to truly own her beauty, her body, and her divine spark of charm and cheek. Let us introduce you to your inner Femme Vitale. Don't worry about trying to find her. She's the one who brought you here.

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"I am forever changed after taking this class..."

- Eve Baldwin, Charm and Cheek 101

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"Kitty embodies her beauty

as a woman, she taught us to

do the same..."

-Sarah Charlesworth,

Burlesque Undressed

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"I feel super empowered! I'm so proud of myself that I did this" -Leslie Turner, Sacred Seduction

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"This is the first time I've

looked in the mirror and

not felt self-criticism"

- Johanna Case, Sacred Seduction

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"To all the ladies out there considering a course with the Divine Kitty Cavalier....think no more! DO IT!! She will

rock your world!!!!!"

- Claudia Gomez, Sacred Seduction

Kittys Story01

Kitty's Story "How do I get my wife to be more like you?"I was asked this question at a party recently by two married men. I had just completed my role as entertainment for the party by performing a Burlesque striptease to the song “Fever” by Peggy Lee. First let me say, I love getting this question from men. It takes balls to ask this question. For a man to stand for his woman’s happiness so fiercely. When I get this question, I don’t hear: "how do I get my wife to be more like you, the sexy burlesque dancer". What I hear is a humble and honest: "how can I bring the fun, frivolous, sexy, sensual side of my wife out of hiding? How do I get us back to that place where she feels good about herself, loves herself and is happy all, or at least some of the time?Well I have the answer to this question. But first I'’m going to give you the full story behind how I found it.I was not always the sly fox doing a striptease at the front of the party. For about two-thirds of my life, I was suicidally depressed with a severe eating disorder. Everything revolved around my body, my weight, what diet I was or was not on. I would wear long sleeves and long pants in the summertime. I made up crazy stories so I would never have to go to the beach with my friends. I remember the practice I had of positioning myself in front of a mirror in the most unflattering positions possible, hoping to be struck with an a-ha moment like they wrote about in Fitness magazine. Even taking a shower in my own home was sometimes traumatic because it meant I had to undress. Underneath all of this shame was the deep belief that if I could just be pretty enough, thin enough, charismatic enough, successful enough, fill in the blank enough, everything would be ok. My body was my battleground. The place where all my grief, disappointment, shame, fear, and anxiety was held. And if she would just cooperate, I could have it all. And boy did I hate her for not cooperating with my wishes. So when I decided one day to go to a Burlesque show, it was a big deal. I found the thought of stripping extremely threatening, but also liberating when it was done outside the context of a male only club. What I saw that night changed the course of my life entirely. There, on stage, were women who looked just like me. But they were not covering up their “flaws”. They were flaunting them with a raw sex appeal that was irresistible. These women were not 23 years old with flat abs. They had real bodies, the kind of bodies you’d see in the locker room at the gym. The kind of bodies I feared more than death - NORMAL ones! What struck me the most about them is that they made the rules. The look in their eyes and the sparkle of their energy easily communicated that there are no such thing as flaws here. The audience was completely spellbound by their sparkle, their beauty, their glow. They were taking this art form that under certain circumstances objectifies and degrades women, and they were using it for their own joy, delight, and creative expression. They were not waiting for anything on the external to change or become “perfect” to experience their own raw beauty, power and sensuality. I was hooked. I was in love. I was changed. And I left there thinking, “Wow, if they can do that, maybe it’s possible for me too.”I threw myself into learning about what it takes to feel beautiful no matter what. I read books, I risked facing some of my greatest fears by going to burlesque classes, pole dancing classes and sensuality workshops. One of the most powerful courses I attended was Mama Gena’s School of Womanly Arts. (I recommend this course to every woman who comes to The School of Charm and Cheek.) Finally, after immersing myself in the study of claiming my beauty, I risked it all and performed a Burlesque striptease in front of 250 people.Even though I would rather have flown to Spain and run with the bulls than take off my clothes in front of strangers, I mustered all the courage I had and went for it. I seduced the crowd as I stripped down to pasties and a G-String. I stood there. Literally naked. Totally vulnerable. And to my surprise, instead my worst nightmare, it was my greatest triumph. All those things I told myself I would have to change in order to be loveable, all the times I had kicked the shit out of my body trying to abuse her into submission, all the times I denied myself pleasure because I thought discipline and restraint was what it took to win in life – all of it melted away as I stood there and received my applause. I streamed tears of joy and relief. I felt beautiful and powerful. I loved myself, inside and out. And I didn’t have to change a single thing.And now? I live my passion of teaching women how to embody their beauty no matter what. I cannot sleep at night until every woman knows this secret. I will not rest until every woman understands that her beauty is innate and eternal, and in no way is it dependent on her waistline, or her cup size, or whether or not her bikini line has been waxed. I want every woman to live the beauty that belongs to her, that has always been hers, and can never be taken away. I invite you to join me.

Sacred Seduction

Sacred Seduction

This 8 week class, which culminates in a group performance, is about more than just burlesque dancing. It is about unlocking the glamorous, fierce, sensuous power that lives inside of every woman, in a way that only getting up on stage can do. Its about owning your beauty without having to change a thing. That beauty which is ageless, timeless, and that transcends any belief about how a woman should or shouldn't behave. The experience of performing burlesque changes a womans life. In stripping away her clothes, she strips away all her insecurities. She becomes her most powerful when she is most vulnerable. And once you've danced burlesque in a NYC nightclub in front of adoring fans, is there anything you can't do?

Have you ever met a woman who posesses that sparkle, that confidence, that glow that comes from within? Get ready to meet one by taking this class, every time you look in the mirror.

This class sells out almost immediately. Click here to join the waitlist for our uupcoming summer series!

$500

Click here to read our frequently asked questions

FAQ

Ready to take the plunge?

Click here to sign up!

Sacred Seduction -Frequently Asked QuestionsIs performing required to participate in this class? Yes. The performance is a very big part of the transformation this class creates. You will be completely prepared for performance night in every way throughout this class. If you would prefer a class that does not include performance, click here to view Burlesque Undressed.How far do we strip in the performance? The performance is done in a classic and elegant burlesque style, and we strip down to pasties and panties. There is no full nudity in the performance or in the class itself. What if I have to miss a class? You are allowed one absence during the series. The classes that are mandatory are Week 1, Week 2, Week 3 and Week 8. All other classes the material can be made up. If you need to miss more than one class however, we ask that you wait to register for the next series so that you can have the full experience and be fully prepared to perform. Got more questions? Click here to send us an email!
A Message From Kitty pink headshot.jpg

A Message From

Kitty Cavalier...

It is usually those with the deepest wounds that create the greatest change in the world. Instead of sensing our cultural insanities like a low hum in the background, they feel them acutely, like a bullet in the back. The change-makers are the ones who take this great pain and transform it into their tale of triumph. We all have our individual "pet" wounds. The wounds where we think, "if only the world was relieved of this, oh how things would change". Mine is the way the culture teaches a woman to believe that her body is anything less than sacred, beautiful and holy. Which then causes her to believe that she must meet an impossible list of qualifications in order to feel good about herself. The tricky thing about this list of benchmarks however, is that there is not a woman alive who could even come close to meeting them all. For every woman who wishes her hips were smaller, there is a woman who wishes her hips were more round. For every woman who wishes her breasts were fuller, there is a woman wishing she could wear t-shirts without feeling self-conscious. It reminds me of the story "The Emperor's New Clothes". We are all striving so desperately to be perfect, sexy, beautiful, young; yet it is this exact desperation to change what is already perfect, which makes us feel so downright ugly.We all do it. Even women who love and adore their bodies are not exempt from the sneak attack of self-judgement that comes when we pass our reflection and see something other than what we'd see in a magazine. You can blame the media, but it is not their fault. Media messages are simply a reflection of the beliefs and trends that thrive in a culture. So, who's fault is it then?Yours.And mine.It is all of ours. The fact that a 13 year old girl will make herself vomit until her teeth fall out; the fact that girls are hating their bellies for how they stick out at the age of 4; the fact that girls are being sexually violated because they are so disconnected from their bodies that they think they have no right to say no - these things are downright CRIMINAL. If someone knocked your daughter's teeth out, what would you do? If someone railed against your 4 year old for having too round of a belly, would you give them what-for? Of course you would. And yet, here we are, squeezing our flab in the mirror and commiserating with our girlfriends about the size of our thighs. We don't think twice about the warfare we put our bodies through every time we find them wrong. But I am telling you girlfriend, it is killing us. And the only way to stop this cancer from spreading through our future generations is to take a stand. NOW.I have dedicated my life to finding a cure for this insanity. The School of Charm and Cheek is the asylum we have all been longing for. The members of this tribe of truth are what I call Femme Vitale's. We are all familiar with a Femme Fatale, a woman whose erotic power is considered dangerous and deadly. A Femme Vitale is a woman who uses her rapturous beauty, her feminine charm and her erotic power to bring pleasure, love and joy to everyone she meets. She is shameless in her self love. She owns her body from head to toe. Her beauty transcends her age, her shape, her size. She knows how to turn her lights on, and from that, she turns on the world.The School of Charm and Cheek is Femme Vitale Academy. A place where a woman can come and learn how to truly own her beauty, and bond with a culture of women who are pursuing the same truth. We have classes in the sensual art of Burlesque which give expression to the Seductress that lives within you. We offer Primp and Polish classes, which are like having a slumber party with your best girlfriends, and sharing all your best beauty secrets. We have sensual movement workshops, so a woman can work out the way her body was designed to - in a state of pure pleasure. All the things you wish your Mom would have taught you, if she had known herself.Right now I am obsessed with the song "Dog Days" by Florence and the Machine. Listen to these lyrics:Run fast for your mother; run fast for your father,Run for your children, all your sisters and brothers Leave all your love and your longing behind.You can't carry it with you, if you want to surviveThe dog days are over The dog days are doneCan you hear the horses'Cos here they comeThe dog days of senselessly disapproving of our bodies are OVER. So dance with me today, my dear Femme Vitales. Dance for your Mother and Father, who created your sexy, succulent body. Dance for your children, that they may never know the feeling of self hatred; all because of how you chose not to buy into it in your lifetime. And most of all, dance for your sisters and brothers, that we may all find the courage to tell the Emperor he is buck naked, and that he looks just great.
Store

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Black Nipple Tassels

Want to change the world? Pasties for Peace! You simply cannot be grumpy when twirling pasties. All Pastie orders include one application of body tape and instructions on how to twirl the tassels. Join us in the twirling revolution!

$25
Hot Pink Nipple Tassel

Want to change the world? Pasties for Peace! You simply cannot be grumpy when twirling pasties. All Pastie orders include one application of body tape and instructions on how to twirl the tassels. Join us in the twirling revolution!

$25
Turquoise Nipple Tassel

Want to change the world? Pasties for Peace! You simply cannot be grumpy when twirling pasties. All Pastie orders include one application of body tape and instructions on how to twirl the tassels. Join us in the twirling revolution!

$25
Red Nipple Tassel

Want to change the world? Pasties for Peace! You simply cannot be grumpy when twirling pasties. All Pastie orders include one application of body tape and instructions on how to twirl the tassels. Join us in the twirling revolution!

$25

Want to change the world? Pasties for Peace! You simply cannot be grumpy when twirling pasties. All Pastie orders include one application of body tape and instructions on how to twirl the tassels. Join us in the twirling revolution!

Checkout

JoyofMakeup

The Joy of Makeup

Saturday, February 25th 1:30pm

151 West 26th Street, btwn 6th and 7th Ave's

Sex is fun. Cooking? Ok. But Makeup? Pure ecstasy...IF you know how to have your way with it. Join guest teacher Jessica Padilla in this special workshop designed to put you right-smack in the driver's seat of your own beauty! The Joy of Makeup is a 2.5 hour workshop that will give you all the tools and knowledge you need to feel fresh, gorgeous and in control of your makeup ritual. Beginning with a demonstration, Jessica will take you on a tour of the essential techniques of creating a look you love. After the demonstration each student will receive personal hands-on instruction. You will also receive a one-on-one analysis of your makeup bag, where Jessica will help determine what works, what doesn't, and what can be added to make your regimen complete.Class size is extremely limited, sign up early to guarantee a spot!

click here to read more about Jessica

"You have changed my life and my Mom's. You made her look as fab on the outside as she does on the inside and I'll never forget that. I have a ton of products at home and thanks to you I am starting to understand how to use them and have fun with it. Your knowledge in the makeup field is proof that this isn't just a job for you, but a career that you are passionate about and one you clearly love.

-Darcy Wilson, Makeup Lesson Participant

Bonus Session!

False Lashes: Doing it well

To up the ante on your glamour toolbox, this bonus session is a down and dirty 30 minutes on how to easily and successfully apply false eyelashes. (lashes will be provided)

The Joy of Makeup +

Lashes Bonus $100

The Joy of Makeup $75

Parties

Private Parties

No one knows how to celebrate like a Femme Vitale!

The School of Charm and Cheek is here to make your party unforgettable. We celebrate every phase and facet of a woman's life - bachelorette, birthday, divorce, menopause, graduation, baby shower, illness recovery, holidays, just because..whateever it is we've got you covered!

Parties start at $350 for up to 10 participants and are completely customizeable to whatever your heart desires. Fill in the form below and let's schedule your big day!

Links

It takes a village to raise a Femme Vitale....

Movement

Photography

Burlesque Resources

NY School of Burlesque

Burlesque Beat

Blogs That Will Inspire You

The Diary of Kitty Cavalier

My Gurus

Mama Gena's School of Womanly Arts

Veronica Varlow

Jo Weldon - NY School of Burlesque

Barbara Stanny

Suzi Banks Baum

Health

Dr. Christiane Northrup

Services

Brazil Bronze - spray tan

Just Calm Down - Massage

Glitter Box Burlesque

Glitter Box Burlesque!

Thursday September 15th, 8pm

Fontana's 105 Eldridge btwn Grand and Broome

Starring: The Maine Attraction, Beelzebabe, Boozy Collins, Albert Cadabra, Kitty Cavalier and The Kittens Cavalier

Online Ticket Sales have closed. Tickets are available at the door. See you at the show!

Contact

e-mail: kitty_kittycavalier.com

phone: 718-404-7885

or...

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Burlesque Undressed

Are you spellbound by the sight of a glamorous, sensuous burlesque dancer? Do you ever wish you could embody your beauty with that much confidence and power?

Burlesque Undressed is an immersion in the study of striptease, confidence, beauty, glamour and of all the elements that go into becoming a living work of art.

What we uncover:

The differences between true beauty and learned beauty

Pin Up Goddess Movement: making your everyday movements into works of art

Owning It, Owning It, Owning It!

How to use props like a boa, bra, shirt and satin gloves to maximize your tease

Routines to practice and videos to study with at home

Burlesque History: learning from the legends

Tools and exercises to feel sexy and delicious, anytime you want

Facial expression and eye contact; how to spellbind with a wink and a smile

Make-up lesson in pin-up glamour

Costuming session where you will make your own costume

Handouts, videos and really fun homework!

This class will leave feeling confident, powerful, radiant and most of all - increasingly charming and cheeky!

Saturday, March 24th

12-6pm

$200

$200 - click to enroll!

Classes take place at

Chelsea Studios - 151 West 26th Street

Testimonials

Gallery

Photo by Liz Linder

Photo by Burke Heffner

Photo by Burke Heffner

Charm and Cheek 101

photo by Burke Heffner

Kitty on stage

Burlesque Undressed

Sacred Seduction Performance

Shows and Bookings

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Kitty Cavalier Show and Party Bookings....

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Menu

Burlesque Undressed

The Joy of Makeup

March 24th

12-6pm

February 25th

with Jessica Padilla

Sacred Seduction

8-week performance series

Ask Kitty

Ask Kitty

Got a question for Kitty Cavalier? Ask it here!

Burlesque
Undressed

March 24th 12-6pm

A Message
From Kitty

The Joy of Makeup

with guest teacher Jessica Padilla!

Saturday, February 25th

ASK
KITTY
ANYTHING
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