Fox Den Presents: Shibari Performance & Social
The Fox Den cordially invites you to another very special event curated by Studio Ma - Fox Den Presents: Shibari Performance & Social on Saturday 27 June 2026.
Note from Foxy: "I am excited to be partnering with again with Studio Ma on a very special evening for Fox Den. The evening will feature a Shibari performance as well as a social and rope taster so is a great way to meet others in the community. Here's what a guest shared about the last Fox Den Presents at Studio Ma: “Thanks so much for putting the event on - as a new member of the Fox Den, it was a great way to get a feel for the crowd, chat to people away from the pressure of a more intense dungeon or play party, and have an absolutely captivating performance to watch as well."
At the heart of the evening is shibari artist Gestalta. She was first introduced to shibari in 2007 and has been immersed in the practice ever since. The initial attraction was in the potential of rope to open new pathways for connection—both with others, and with her own body—and a curiosity about pushing herself into seemingly ‘extreme’ psychological and physical states of being.
She began incorporating shibari into performance around 2009. Since then, the interplay between performance and rope has profoundly shaped the way she ties in private settings—not only in terms of technique, but also in how she structures scenes and builds narratives. Over time, her practice has come to reflect a broader philosophy around impermanence, fragility, and the shifting balances between self, environment, and intimate connection. Between 2020 and 2022, she completed an MA in Fine Art, where she explored shibari in performance and its potential to intersect with other art forms—particularly Butoh. Her research into the history and philosophy of Butoh continues to deeply inform her approach to rope.
Although viewing shibari as an art form, Gestalta believes it’s important not to erase its roots within the sex industry. For her, rope has always been a fascinating space in which art, sex, pornography, and philosophy meet and intermingle—a place where their perceived contradictions can be explored, blurred, or reconciled.
In 2019, she published a book Shibari Suspensions, a step-by-step guide to suspension techniques. In January 2024, she opened Daruma, a dedicated shibari studio in Berlin. She has performed across Japan, Australia, and throughout Europe, in cities including London, Moscow, Paris, Berlin, Rome, Athens, Prague, Geneva, Barcelona, Lisbon, Gothenburg, Helsinki, and Lyon.
The event will be held at Studio Ma - a washitsu (和室), a Japanese tatami room located in Stepney Green. Set in a Grade II listed building, the space spans over 1,400 square feet with an open architecture leading into a large wooden deck terrace overlooking the vibrant east London skyline.
Schedule:
7pm: Doors open with welcome drink on arrival.
8pm to 9pm: Performance.
9pm to 10.30pm: Rope taster and social with shibari practitioners guiding in an informal, fun setting.
The evening is open to max 45 people (non-members welcome).
Location, timings and cost:
Studio Ma
Adams House
129 Mile End Road
London E1 4GB
Arrivals: From 7pm for an 8pm performance start.
Close: 10.30pm.
Cost: £35 per person which includes a welcome drink.
Looking forward to meeting you all.
Love Foxy 🦊
x
📷 with thanks to Gestalta.
Guest reviews from our last Shibari Performance & Socials:
“A big 'thank you!' for last night. I greatly enjoyed it. A nice, relaxed atmosphere. I had some great conversations. The performance itself I found impressive, dignified, and inspiring. I felt welcome.”
“That performance was just incredible. Truly opening up a lot for me. It's interesting that on my journey navigating the erotic, I'm finding it doesn't always align with arousal, although the two can of course intertwine. This performance, while arousing at times, was more than anything one of the most profoundly charged, erotic pieces of theatre I have ever witnessed. I can't think of anything that surpasses the intensity of connection between the two performers, the authenticity of their presence, the laser focused concentration, yet still allowing for so much play, and occasionally even a touch of lightness.”
“This event was exceptional. The performance was captivating and I went home in awe of the expertise of the rigger and the raw beauty of rope. More of this please!”
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I need to bring or prepare?
Something comfortable to sit on the floor. Please note there are no chairs in this space so you need to be comfortable sitting on the floor. Water bottle to keep hydrated.
I can no longer attend. Can I get a refund?
Tickets are strictly non-refundable but they are transferable to another person of your choosing (not another event). Please contact us with the name of the new guest in advance of the event. We do not normally operate a waitlist for Present events but reserve the right to do so if the event is sold out. There will be a £10 admin fee per person if we can fill your place via the waitlist.