ROPETIMES with Luke George

ROPETIMES with Luke George

FACILITATED BY ACCLAIMED ARTIST AND ROPEWORKER LUKE GEORGE (NGV/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. An alluring 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

FOUNDATIONS:

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 connection between Rigger (Dom) and bunny (sub).

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. Throughout the workshop, you’ll be encouraged to switch roles with each other (Rigger/bunny). Ticket prices are listed per individual

DATE AND TIME

Sat 15th - Sun 16th April, 2023

11:00am - 6:00pm each day

LOCATION

Temperance Hall

199 Napier Street

South Melbourne

DURATION

7 hours per day

(including lunch break)

ACCESSIBILITY

Wheelchair accessible

TICKETS

Tickets (per individual)

$190 Full

$140 Concession

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 $70 tickets for folks who may be experiencing barriers to participating. If you need to access a ticket, please write to us and in a few short sentences, tell us who you are, why you want to the do this workshop and identify the barriers that may 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

ABOUT THE FACILITATOR

Luke George (he/they) is a performance and installation artist and ropeworker. Based in Naarm (Melbourne). Luke’s work takes him across Australia, Asia, Europe and North America where he performs, installs, teaches and ties, with his most recent work STILL LIVES for NGV/RISING 2022, tying and suspending 5 Aussie rules footballers into the re-creation of the 2011 AFL mark of the year. 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 pleasure, 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.

ROPETIMES is created and facilitated by Temperance Hall's Artistic Associate, Luke George, as part of the Care Tactics 2021-23 program of workshops, screenings, talks and artistic development. Find out more HERE.

ACCESS AND SAFETY

This event will take place inside.
Bathrooms are for all-genders and wheelchair accessible

In conjunction with the course content, this workshop focuses on physical touch with others (under the motivation of respecting non-harassment). Sexual Contact is not expected.
You will have the opportunity to state what interests you or not. You do not have to do anything you are not comfortable with.

If you have any specific accessibility needs or any queries regarding the workshop, please contact Temperance Hall Program Producer, Anna McDermott program@temperancehall.com.au

Image credit: ROPETIMES workshop, Luke George

Temperance Hall acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land in which we dance and create, the Boon Wurrung peoples of the Eastern Kulin Nation, and pay our respect to Elders both past and present and, through them, to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.