The Sacred Art of the Striptease

[Alan2300]

SO LOVE YOU - eternally and voraciously Alan

[sarinabentley3]

Thank you Diane darling! My hubby & I took your coed class a few years ago & we are still enjoying all the sensual lessons learned from you. Your kind & open heart/mind brought a new depth of pleasure to us & we often thank you in whispers after a great lovemaking session. Keep up the good work!

[PeaceBody]

delicious!

[lionine9]

I'll admit it: I'm a guy, and I've taken Diane's class in the Sacred Art of Striptease with my girlfriend. It's a blast! And I found that I loved stripping for her as much as I liked her stripping for me! It sure heated up the bedroom! The video is terrific. Watch it and practice as a couple to spark up your relationship.

[ne0nsurf]

BORING.

[mofalconi]

fantastico

[LoveNtherain]

I think that every woman secretly desires to do this....I think it is what we were built to do. Bellydancing is the same.

[oneoverflowing]

Nice video Diane! Very fun and professional.

Max

[rychousmama]

Wow it's like you didn't even bother to actually READ what I said. I really don't care anymore to have any discussions with anyone here about this. Initially I thought that someone might actually REALLY consider the questions I was trying to raise. Instead you all tried to completely avoid them. Oh well.

[rychousmama]

what is UP with this idea that women are "empowered" by stripping for men? It's the most ancient expression of covered misogyny ever. Women are more than just their bodies and they are more than just what men think of them.

[babydove0330]

I think, honestly, that women are empowered by what they love to do. I don't think it's so much the act of stripping *for* a man, as the fact that she's radiant and confident, and basically saying "hey, look at me.... my body is gorgeous, I'm not a model, but I'm so proud of it that I just need to show you". We are empowered not because we're beguiling men, but because we're out there, in front of someone, loving our bodies. :o)

[rychousmama]

Why do we need to exhibit ourselves to be "confident"?  And not every choice a woman makes is a feminist choice. I have heard these "stripping is empowering" and "yada yada is empowering" phrases all the time and I think the term "empowered" is very abused in the name of having women kept in their roles of always wanting to BE SEEN. If it is so "empowering", why aren't men doing striptease?

[babydove0330]

actually, men *are* doing it. I think you misunderstood me: it's not the "exposing" that empowers you. It's doing something you enjoy doing. Women can be empowered by studying, dressing a certain way, exercising, even volunteering for a cause. A man can be empowered by these things as well. The empowerment comes from doing something that makes you feel good, worthy, valuable, proud of yourself. Not from the exposing itself. Oh, and I didn't say anything about feminism.

[rychousmama]

I must ask, how do you define "empowerment"? And I see you clearly have negative views about feminism...oh well.

[AshtonPark]

Hi Mama & Baby!

Actually it's about being Human - who ever we are. Diane just had a New Year's Eve party - male & female strippers. We all had a lot of fun and no one was worried about who was "on top". Being Human - all shapes & sizes - being happy to be who they were.

This is what Diane's classes are about.

[rychousmama]

I understand that everyone's intentions with this were good, I am not questioning that at all. What I am trying to say is that the whole concept of the striptease did not come from an appreciation of the feminine sacred, but from the idea that women are sex objects for men. And the essential meaning of striptease, even if you're trying to reclaim the act, will never change because this idea that women have to exhibit themselves to feel "confident" is sexist in itself.

[rychousmama]

But the concept of "empowerment" for women was actually BORN out of the feminist movement, so you can't praise stripping as "empowerment" while also blowing off feminism. I am not trying to create any conflict here but I have to raise the question. Also, even though you had both female and male strippers at your event the truth is that it has always been about men seeing and women being seen, it IS a power dynamic (you used the word "empowerment") whether we like it or not.

[AshtonPark]

Hi Mama!

Your last two responses seem to be targeted at my post re: the New Year's Party. But no where in my post did I mention "empowerment" or any mention of feminism - pro or con.

Most human beings like being admired by the opposite sex (or same sex as the case may be). How any individual elects to express this desire is up to them IMO - and this strikes me as the true measure of being liberated.

[rychousmama]

Woops, the 2nd message was supposed to be for Babydove. Striptease is not about the simple act of wanting to be desired by the opposite sex. As I have said before it is originally about the power men have to exchange money for women's bodies (or to view them). I don't know why you keep ignoring my main point: it's a power dynamic. Most strippers are in the business to make money, NOT to be "desired by the opposite sex."

Stripping does NOT equal "sexuality".

[AshtonPark]

Hmmm...

I think we are at cross purposes here. Diane's students are not looking to make one class into a career - they are amateurs looking for new horizons... usually to add a bit of spice to their existing lives.

But even if they wanted to strip professionally, so what? How is that different than being a doctor, lawyer, or an accountant - they're all in it for the money - of their own volition, according to their proclivities.

[FemmeVerde]

Mama,

We don't NEED to exhibit our bodies to feel confident, we do feel confident. it's simply fun to do so.  It's important to know neo-burlesque is a grass roots movement started BY women FOR women, for the fun - not money, not men, for the fun and doing it together.

Neo burlesque says all are sexy, no matter what size, shape, or gender. It's called celebrating the body. Why NOT let it be seen?

Warmly ~ A former Burlesque performer Holiday O'Hara

[darciayur]

Bravo Diane! I am sooooo happy to see you and your beautiful women really honoring the shakti. Thank you!

[bigsurgirl]

Beautiful Diane! Congradulations. Thanks for doing this work

[KaiaVZ]

So beautiful, amazing music, and your work is re-inspiring the return of the Sacred Feminine! Thanks for sharing this with the world. Congratulations my sister. I love you much, K

[CEODreamU]

professional, beautiful and divine. Diane is a yessssssssssss.

[DrZed42]

What a gorgeous video! I hope women all over the world have a chance to choose if they want to learn how to emobdy this sacred art form!

[maysbelle]

A guy recently said to me, that women usually know how to strip, but few ever do it in such a way that makes him pause. Diane is a masterful teacher, in the way she connects the body to the spirit, so that the dance makes a powerful shift to become something sublime, for the dancer, as well as for the viewer. Love you Diane and the wisdom you generously share with the world!!!!

[SLLoeper]

Diane, you are an amazing goddess. Thank you for all that you are and give to women of all ages. The time I spent with helped me expand and take flight. It was deep felt and transforming. May your life overflow with divine bliss!

[jonleland]

You go, girl! Hot stuff. Thanks for the gift of your sexy self expression. XOXO, DB

[lindama8]

What a classy clip! I love it! Thanks so much for putting it out there.

[sacredog]

love you & what you do sacredog sister-keep it flowing

[moseskravitz]

Ooh-La-La!

Beautiful woman/women

Songs of mystery

Inescapably

Deleriously

Desire/Desired

[tomasheartfield]

Your video is Inspiring for women of all ages and sizes--thanks for sharing this invaluable work! Joan Heartfield

[MacChrisDaddy]

I want my woman to take this class and I know she'll love it.

Great video, fabulous woman and teacher.

[burkefranklin]

As a man, stripping and 'being sexy' was not really in my consciousness, but after taking Diane's class, I was blown away by how I felt and how I shifted my sense of being around women. Altogether way more fun!

[philin1love]

I always knew once you put your class on video it would be GREAT!!In person is awesome too?Much Love to you beautiful,Love,Love

[marmaiddancer]

Beautiful music. Beautiful women, Beautiful sensibilities!

[AshtonPark]

The next best thing to being in one of her classes is to have the DVD. (Full disclosure: I am the editor of the DVD, but *one* of the reasons I signed on was I saw the effect she had on the students in her classes... amazing & beautiful.)

[buckdj8720]

Diane, you are as sexy and alive as ever.

[SpicyDelicious]

AWESOME... GO DIANE!

Helping women unleash their inner desire.

[ticklepink007]

Brilliant. Beautiful. Empowering. I am inspired!! I love this woman and the genuine heart of her work!