**Part of our series of events for Los Angeles Kink Pride. Please check out full line-up and specials here: LAKinkPride.com and follow on insta: @lakinkpride**

The physical challenge and aesthetic pleasure of rope is largely guided by the shapes created between the rigger, the person in rope, and the rope itself. The shapes we chose to create in rope can inspire connection and tell a story. They can heighten the intensity of a dynamic or instigate sensation and emotion. Using inspiration from body movement backgrounds, we will explore the many roles shapes play in creating dynamic rope that has intention and feeling. This all levels rope class will build your tool kit fore creating intriguing shapes with the body in rope by:

-Developing awareness of how to move the body throughout space

-Exploring what makes a shape aesthetically and physiologically interesting

-Using shapes to enhance power dynamics

-Understanding exposure, closure, expansion, contraction, resistance and release

-Exploring how to use shapes to tell a story in rope

-Applying dynamic movement to ties to create interest, increase sensation, and heighten the dynamic of a scene

This class is suitable for individuals of all levels, a familiarity with single column ties and basic frictions will be helpful but are not necessary. Participants may observe or tie along with exercises, tie solo or partnered. For those choosing to tie along, 3-5 lengths of rope will be sufficient.

About the presenter:

Nil (they/them)

Nil is a San Francisco based trans, indigiqueer witch, rope bender, and curator of spiritual-sexual synchrony. Nil first found love in the natural fibers of a well-spun rope while at Girl Scout camp, and they’ve been tying ever since. Nil relishes all ends of the rope as a rigger, self-suspender, and artistic masochistic. Interweaving the sacred into practice and play, Nil is a proud purveyor of all things creepy and curious. Nil regards kink as the ultimate artistic catharsis and uses their craft to banish gender, fracture binaries, and conjure queerness to challenge the norm.They are intrigued by the darkness behind why we play and exploring how sexual subversion creates avenues for self expression. Their classes take on the quality of the “why” behind what we do with a penchant for digging deep into our intimate experiences with kink, strengthening community, and creating unapologetic space to break rules and get weird. Nil can be found presenting and performing around the Bay Area and at events and conferences across the country.