[Improvers + Advanced] “A Pathway to Flow: Let’s Consider Bamboo” - with Nicolas & Burgundy Rose

🚨 We welcome A-Nicolas for the first time ever at Anatomie! A-Nicolas is one of the pioneers of movement and rope in Europe. If you've ever taken a class on movement related topics, it came from A-Nicolas and a couple of other OG European teachers who developed this style of rope over the last 15-20 years.

We are delighted that A-Nicolas is partnering up with Burgundy Rose for this one. Together they offer an explosive power combo of movement, flow and creative chaos.

Expect chaos, creative energy, out-of-the-box thinking and plenty of inspiring conversations.

👉 Our events deal with adult themes. You must be 18+ to join.

🪢 About the class

Like many rope artists, I love the material for its texture, its aesthetic, and its “flexible rigidity.” My research and practice use it as an element of movement, disruption, and dialogue. We will explore how bamboo can become an extension of the body, a tool for exchange, and a “disturbing element” that forces us to find new solutions in motion. What I call part of the flow.

This workshop is an invitation into my way of tying, and perhaps to rethink your relationship with bamboo.

🧺 The Spirit of the Gathering

I do not teach dogmas or step-by-step formulas. I share tools, concepts, and observations that you can integrate into your own style. The goal is not to create recipes, but to be part of a process—the shared journey toward a new sensation.

We will investigate how the “flexible rigidity” of bamboo teaches the same presence as rope, while bringing its own unique challenges. How can bamboo become an extension of the body? How can it disrupt our habitual systems to force us into new states of flow?

We will also explore some of my “basic” techniques to facilitate the relationship between my way of manipulating body ropes and other materials (like bamboo).

🔎 What We Will Explore

• Bamboo as a Disruptive Element: We will work on leverage, pressure, and how this hard object can create fluidity and impact our flow.
• Posture & Movement (One Rope & Flow): Many of the principles I use will be presented through short techniques and exercises. Tension, moving with the partner, body manipulation… much will be introduced through brief exercises.
• Creativity & Integration: This will be a space for freeform creativity where we let go of structure to explore intuition. While some exercises will be strongly directed to discover sensations and concepts, they will always conclude with creative exercises designed to invite creativity and personal comprehension.
• Power Exchange & Martial Dance: To me, power exchange is created by physical action, subtle or primal, but built with an understanding of basic principles found in many bodily activities.

📄 Format & Approach

As always, this workshop is organised around short exercises to approach concepts, followed by creative phases to integrate them.

• No Recipes: Every session evolves organically based on the group’s energy.
• Focus on Process: Beauty lies in the search, not just the final result.
• Adaptability: Newcomers to my style are welcome; we will find ways to integrate everyone into the flow without leaving anyone behind.

👩‍🏫 Who teaches this class?

Since his twenties, A-Nicolas has immersed himself in the art of ropes, and since his thirties, in the art of photography. His work draws from Japanese kinbaku/shibari, blending influences from diverse body practices, including Aikido, Thai massage, Tango, Contact Improvisation, and System A.

During four formative years in Japan, he trained under the esteemed master Arisue Go, focusing also on Aikido, Japanese culture, and kinbaku. Upon his return to Europe, he developed his unique tying style, Yoroi-ryu, under the name Nicolas Yoroï.

As a key figure in European rope communities, A-Nicolas has collaborated and performed across Europe and North America, studying with renowned artists like Tessin Doyama, Kinoko, Ottonawa, Kazami Ranki, and Pedro, among others. Over the years, he has contributed through workshops, public events, performances, and the establishment of multiple dojos, most recently in Brussels.

Key Milestones

• 1997: Began Aïkido practice
• 1999: Discovered rope art
• 2004-2010: Lived and trained in Japan, studying under Arisue Go
• 2008: First performance in Tokyo, launched photography, and adopted the artist name Yoroï Nicolas
• 2013: Began teaching internationally
• 2015: Opened a dojo in Brussels
• 2022: Began using his family name(Or A-Nicolas) as his artist name
• 2023: Battling leukemia
• 2024: Established a fifth dojo in Brussels
  

Website: https://dojo.a-nicolas.art/

Burgundy Rose is a rope switch, facilitator and artist interested in using the body as a tool for expression. Since 2016 they have had a broad education in Japanese kinbaku/shibari, and their personal style is influenced by their training in theatre, circus and contemporary dance. Burgundy Rose found Shibari through an interest in BDSM, and started learning at Anatomie Studio in London. Since then, she haslearnt from an extensive range of international educators and collaborators. Dynamic, playful and attentive, they are curious about the body and thrive on the intensities - both physical and psychological - that rope can bring out.
In 2019 Burgundy Rose was awarded a ‘Developing Your Creative Practice’ grant from Arts Council England to spend a period of time exploring rope, dance and physical theatre where they trained with Jasmin Vardimon Dance Theatre Company (JV Intensive) and with Arnoys Nicolas in Brussels. She also trained on the degree programme at Circomedia, a circus school in Bristol, specialising in aerial hoop.

Burgundy Rose’s shibari teaching and creative performances have taken her across London, Manchester, Bristol, Berlin, Prague, Copenhagen, Athens, Rotterdam and Portland (USA).

Website: www.burgundy-rose.com
Instagram: @_burgundy_rose

🕒 Schedule

• Doors open: 10:00am
• Class starts: 10:30am
• Doors close: 6:00pm

👥 Who can come?

• Level: This workshop is not for beginners. Excellent body awareness and the ability to communicate clearly are essential. Building and un-building will take time and will be demanding.
  
  
• Suspension: Depending on the group and the day, we will work on suspension or semi-suspension
  

➕ Other Info

• Environment: Nudity and kinky play are welcome, but be aware of your surroundings and respect others’ space. First and foremost, this is a study moment.
  
• Recording: Photos during creative exercises are welcome only if they capture just you and your partner. No recording during the presentation.

Come with curiosity. Leave with tools, insights, and hopefully a new way of seeing ropes & bamboo.

🧰 What to bring & wear

• Materials to Bring:
  
  • As much rope as you can bring.
  • As many short pieces of bamboo as possible (between 60 cm and 1.5 m; different thicknesses work well).
  • Tissues (a nice addition).
  • A good cutting tool.
  • Rings and carabiners (I will work with these, but you are welcome to adapt any exercise to your type of suspension anchor).

We have ropes you can use during the class and a communal kitchenette with fridge and microwave. Tea and coffee are free, but please bring your own food and snacks (plates and cutlery provided).

People usually wear comfortable clothing you can move in such as yoga or dancewear. Jeans can sometimes feel restrictive or difficult to tie on.

If you have your set of rope, we recommend you bring it.

🔴 photo & recording device policy

• Photos and videos are permitted only with explicit consent of everyone being captured — including staff and teachers.
• No photos of the general public.
• No photos with faces in the background.
• Smart glasses are strictly forbidden in the space at all times.

We reserve the right to ask you to put smart glasses away, delete footage, or leave the venue if we see people being recorded or photographed without consent.

❤️ Please note

For our Code of Conduct, see here.

🪢 Flexible Memberships

Join often? Our 6-month Flexible Membership gives you 12 credits for free Jam entries or 10% off other events. Purchase memberships on our ticketing website. Use your code at checkout.

🎟️ Refund policy

Tickets can be refunded or transferred up to 7 days before the event for events priced under £20, and up to 14 days before for events over £20. After these periods, tickets become non-refundable. If you’re unable to attend please join our ‘Ticket Exchange’ channel on Discord to offer your spot.

💸 Financial help available – click here to learn more.