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Sure I had joked about going to a burlesque aerobics class before, but I never actually got up the courage to try one out. I just couldn't see myself dancing like those women in "Cabaret" or "All That Jazz" in front of people. But that all changed after I got an invitation to try a free trial class at Thrive in Exeter from local "Boom Boom Burlesque" Instructor Caroline Ruhm.

"Take a chance, empower yourself and let your inner diva come out," Caroline urged women on the class's Facebook page.

Her ad promised a super fun and sassy exercise class with elements of strip tease and burlesque. I needed to bring only myself, a water bottle and a scarf. Oh yes, and be prepared to strut my stuff. I'm not exactly the strut your stuff type, but I figured what did I have to lose? The long winter had definitely taken a toll on my energy level and desire to exercise. Perhaps I just needed something new, something that would seem like fun instead of exercise, to jumpstart my routine.

If nothing else, I could feel like I was keeping up with current trends by trying out the class which is something of a craze across the country.

A longtime dancer, Caroline had always incorporated different dance styles into her Zumba classes but never thought of doing a whole class in a burlesque style. But after attending a workshop called "Hip to Strip" and talking with that instructor about burlesque, she came up with the idea for "Boom Boom Burlesque." She has been teaching the class in Exeter for just over a year and stressed that the class is not just for dancers, that anyone who is brave enough to try it, can do it.

"What I really want women to take from this experience is a sense of empowerment. I want to show women that they can do something they thought they couldn't do," she said. "When I'm creating the movement for this class, I'm trying to find a good combination of fun, sensuality, and strength. And something that's not too complicated."

That last part was key for me. I should perhaps mention that I have absolutely no skill or rhythm when it comes to group exercise and aerobics type classes. The beginning level of step aerobics on the Wii Fit is about as ambitious as I get when it comes to fancy footwork. Nonetheless I decided to give this burlesque class a try.

When I set out on Monday, I opted for my most conservative work out pants and tee-shirt. I wasn't quite ready to don burlesque attire. As it turned out, that was okay as most of the other women in the class were dressed like me. Caroline stepped it up a notch with a festive black sequined top and announced that we could dress up for the last class of the five week session.

A few of the women were regulars in both the previous burlesque classes as well as Caroline's Zumba classes. They got prime positions up front and were ready to go. I stationed myself near the back with a few older women and looked around self-consciously.

Excerpt from:
Putting some 'Boom Boom' into the old exercise routine

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Tran Thanh Tuan

Viet Nam News

Publication Date : 04-04-2014

The first-ever caricature festival will be held in HCM City to bring the art closer to the public and provide a comic playground for professional caricaturists and the audience.

This was stated by the organiser of the festival, The Thao & Van Hoa (Sports & Culture) newspaper.

The events in the festival, to be held this Sunday, include an exhibition of this year's Rong Tre (Bamboo Dragon) Journalism Caricature contest featuring 140 finalist entries, a live portrait caricature contest for the audience by noted caricaturists, a workshop on Viet Nam's caricature and a graffiti art performance by a group led by artist Le Hao. The award ceremony for this year's Bamboo Dragon contest will also be held at the festival.

The event will be organised between 2:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the Applied Contemporary Arts Centre, 3A Ton Duc Thang Street, District 1.

The fourth biennial caricature contest saw 420 entries by artists from across the country under a free theme with the purpose of "exchanging smiles".

The entries can be painted by both Vietnamese and foreigners living in the country and have been published or are designed to be published in various printed and online newspapers and magazines throughout the country between January 31, 2012 and February 14, 2014.

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Ho Chi Minh to host caricature fest