We are determined that ShibariClasses maintains its position as the best online shibari school, so we have been busy making it better. Thanks to your support, in three short years, our enrolments now grown to many thousands. Judging by the lovely comments we receive, we must be getting it right.
Here are some of the things we have been working on since I last wrote.
Performance Techniques: Part III
In ‘Performance Techniques: Part III’, we will look beyond the obvious to help you think outside the box when deciding upon what sort of show to do to capture your audience. The secret is the right show for the right audience. More often than not, it is this and what you add beyond your rope skills that is important. A creative novice who hits the spot can get a better reaction than a far more skilled rigger who misses it. Likewise, I have seen some of the best being almost ignored because they didn’t grab the public’s attention.
We have included everything from the very traditional old-school style formats that create a series of tableaux to dynamic ‘circus bondage’, humour, examples of drawing from one’s own culture, audience participation and some of the more adventurous modern takes. As learning by example is one of the best methods, we have analysed and critiqued the good, the bad and the ugly so you can see what was done well and what could have been better.
The tutorial contains nearly four hours of video tutorials, critiques and performances from which you will gain invaluable insights into how to develop yourself as the best performer you can be.
Student video feedback
We will now be integrating a facility to allow student video feedback in some courses. Initially, we will be adding it to the recently launched ‘12-part Suspension Techniques‘ bundle, which I’ll write more about later.
This easy to use option will allow you to upload videos so you can get feedback and advice. Students and instructors can make comments with a chat style interface. This means we can give you even better tuition and give you the confidence of having your work professionally checked; something you don’t get with books or other video tutorials. With some things, especially suspension, getting it wrong is not an option.
As it uses a seamless DropBox integration, the look and feel will be familiar to many already. If you haven’t used it before, it’s very simple with lots of help.
Live video mentoring
We have gone one better than allowing you to submit pre-recorded video of your rope tying for advice and assessment by integrating live video mentoring. Like the student video upload facility, it will be added to our premium shibari courses with a free time allocation. Of course, you can still benefit from video mentoring separate from any course or bundle right now.
We know many of you can’t access quality teaching easily. A lot of things get in the way…time, money, distance and it it can be hard to find a really good teacher. Live video mentoring will mean that you can get tuition with Nina or I, using the poplar Skype application; right there in your own home, or where ever you like, at a time to suit you.
Access to Esinem.com video and photo archives
The video and photo archives of Esinem.com‘s exclusive members’ area a fantastic resource that will massively enhance your learning. You’ll find some excellent examples of style, technique, stage-craft, rope handling from a wide selection of top performers. I wish I’d had similar inspiration when I was learning as I’m certain it would have massively helped my creativity and aesthetics.
With our premium courses and bundles, our shibari students can get full access to all the content from the membership area of Esinem.com almost for free. For technical reasons, it was not possible to make access entirely free. However, we have done the next best thing by reducing the subscription to only $1 for a full full year.
- Over 220 videos, many of which are exclusive to this site, of top western and Japanese performers including Osada Steve, Kinoko Hajime, Akira Naka and Kazami Ranki.
- Dozens of tutorials by Esinem, Nina Russ and others.
- Mobile and tablet-friendly.
- All videos downloadable.
- Photo sets of your favourite kinbaku models including Gorgone, Gestalta, Maya, Iroha and Ageha.
- In-depth articles on all aspects of kinbaku, with many unique insights into technique, engineering and safety.