Our lovely friends at Anatomie Studio, who run PURE (Pop Up Rope Events), are hosting Nina’s next workshop on 11 July at 13:00. Who better to learn suspending using technique, not brute strength, than from a rigger routinely suspending models 50% heavier than her? This workshop with be of special interest to the growing band of female riggers for this very reason.
Get your tickets here!
Biography
“I am a gardener with the passion for ropes.” – Nina Russ
Nina’s attraction to bondage started 10 years ago, when she discovered the BDSM community. Until 4 years ago, her exposure to shibari was limited to pictures, videos and discussion. Then, thanks to Stefano Laforgia, rope artist and BDSM educator, who led the first Italian bondage school, Itoh Seiyu, she had the good fortune to become a shibari model and she fell in love with it.
In 2011, at LegArti, a PR exercise in Rome to present shibari, Nina modelled for Esinem, a very well know name in these circles. After their performance, a beautiful friendship was born and convinced by her passion and ability for rope, he has taken her as his student and model.
Since then she have attended classes with Ranki Kazami and Hajime Kinoko, Yukimura Haruki, all highly respected Japanese nawashi. Of course, being Esinem’s model and student, she has attend all his lessons and assist with many of them.
Nina’s passion for rope has lead to obsessively collecting all sorts of bondage photographs, especially those by her idol, Suguira Norio; his photography features Japan’s most respected artists perfectly capturing her vision of kinbaku. Videos of Masato’s tutorials, Yukimura’s sessions and Osada Steve’s stage shows have been a major influence. Of course, Nina’s experience as a model has been extremely useful in building an appreciation of exactly how rope should feel and many hours of practice are shaping this into practical application with the help of Esinem.
Being one of the organisers of BOUND, the UK’s first regular shibari show night, involves a lot of practice on both sides of the rope.
Workshop Description
Elements to cover:
* Understanding basic harnesses and their functionality (gote & hip-harness)
* Understanding the differences between main and secondary lines and their use in combination with the harnesses (attachment and closure of the lines)
* Understanding and controlling the tension flow in the tie and its effect on the body (in suspension)
* How to safely undo your suspension
* What to look after your suspension, feedback and aftercare
Minimum Requirements for the class
You should know how to tie any functional gote/TK and any functional hip harness.
What to Bring
A set of 8×8 meter ropes, carabiners or ring.
