ROPETIMES
2-Day Immersive Workshop
Presented by Luke George x Abbotsford Convent

Facilitated by acclaimed artist and ropeworker, Luke George (NGV/Midsumma/Rising), ROPETIMES is an introductory workshop in rope bondage and navigating intimacy, pleasure and consent. This workshop is open to anyone who wants to learn, practice, connect and play. No previous experience required. Rope provided.

Rope is a sensitive and dynamic material. It can act like a conductor between bodies where energy, pleasure and power are exchanged. A sensuous art form and a form of play, rope bondage is a dynamic relational practice that involves a heightened sense of touch and sensitive mutual listening between the giver and the receiver, as they communicate their consent, trust, empathy and pleasure to each other. Discover what works for you and your partner/s.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Luke will teach the foundation principles and techniques of rope bondage. You’ll learn the foundation knots and ties to get you started on your rope journey alongside a strong focus on touch, intimacy, communication, pleasure, safety and consent between you and your rope-partner - building sensation, trust and the dynamic and connection.

PARTICIPATING AND PARTNERS

With an emphasis on care and creating a safe space and comfortable and comfortable space for all participants, Luke invites people of all genders and gender-non-conforming, sexualities, ages (18+), cultural backgrounds and interests to participate. For this workshop, it’s ideal that you come with a rope partner to work with, but let us know on check-out if you're attending solo and need to be paired with someone at the workshop. Throughout the workshop, you’ll be encouraged to switch roles with each other (tying/being tied). Ticket prices are listed per individual.

DATE AND TIME

Sat 20th - Sun 21st April, 2024
11:00am - 6:00pm each day (including 1 hr lunch break)
Latecomer lockout.
Exploring themes of intimacy, consent, touch and bondage.

LOCATION

The Oratory
Abbotsford Convent
1 St Heliers Street
Abbotsford VIC 3067

ACCESSIBILITY

Wheelchair accessible
All gender bathrooms

TICKETS

Tickets (per individual)
$195 Full
$145 Concession

Special allocation tickets: Exploring kink and pleasure should be for everyone, Luke wants to make this workshop accessible to anyone who wants to learn. We have a special allocation of $75 tickets for folks who may be experiencing barriers to participating. If you need to access a ticket, please email luke@lukegeorge.net with a few short sentences - tell us who you are, why you want to the do this workshop and what are the particular barriers that would normally prevent you in participating.

SCHEDULE AND BREAKDOWN

DAY 1

Morning:

Introductions and intentions
Protocols and safety
Warm up: body, sensation and awareness
Foundation knots: column ties and frictions
Practice, play and exploration: self-tie, partner-tie

Afternoon:

Touch and listening exercises: Consent, observation, communication and trust
More knots, more rope: Connecting rope, locking rope, finishing ties.
Practice, play and exploration: Partner-ties, improvisation, adding rope, binding, restraint, sensation, care and release.
Reflection and discussion

DAY 2

Morning:

Reflection and revision from Day 1
Warm up: body, sensation and awareness
Learn to tie the ankles and legs: cinches, ladder tie, frog tie/futomomo variations.
Practice and play: self and partners
Touch exercises: taking weight, giving weight, standing and floor, moving with each other's bodies, manoeuvring your bunny's body, pace, sensation, movement, stillness, breath.

Afternoon:

Learn to tie the wrists, arms and chest (arms in front/behind, Takate Kote)
Practice and play: self and partners
Design a rope-scene together with your partner – desires, needs, boundaries and communication protocols
Open play session: partner rope-scenes
After care
Reflection and discussion

ACCESS AND SAFETY

The event will take place inside in a private space
The venue is wheelchair accessible
Bathrooms are for all-genders and wheelchair accessible
In conjunction with the course content, this workshop focuses on physical touch with your chosen workshop partner (under the motivation of respecting non-harassment)
You will have the opportunity to state what interests you or not. You do not have to do anything you are not comfortable with.
Sexual Contact is not expected (especially when unsolicited by others)

ABOUT THE FACILITATOR

Luke George (he/they) is a multidisciplinary artist and ropeworker. Based in Naarm (Melbourne). Luke’s work takes them across Australia, Asia, Europe and North America, with their most recent work STILL LIVES for NGV/RISING 2022, tying and suspending 5 Aussie rules footballers into the recreation of the 2011 AFL Mark of the Year. Intersecting with their art practice, Luke is a sex worker, kink educator and rope bondage practitioner. Luke is passionate about sex positivity and how exploring pleasure can unshackle us from shame. With a particular focus on queer people, Luke creates safe environments for consenting adults to explore touch, intimacy and BDSM, based on a foundation of mutual respect. Luke believes that exploring intimacy with ourselves and with each other, is a radical and necessary action in the world today.

www.lukegeorge.net
IG/FB: @lukeandgeorge

Luke George and the Abbotsford Convent acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands in which these workshops will take place, the Wurundjeri peoples of the Eastern Kulin Nation, and pays their respects to Elders both past and present and, through them, to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Acknowledging that pleasure, intimacy and connection has been happening here for 60,000+ years.

Images:
ROPETIMES by Luke George
Photographer: J Davies
Shoot Designer and Stylist: Shaun Manyweathers (Studio Many)