Jaunted

Stripper 101, as the advertisement will remind you, was featured on E! which should tell you that this is not some serious stripping class. Stripper 101 also encourages you to let loose with a free drink at the bar outside the theater. Whether you want one or not, depends on what kind of functioning alcoholic you are. Since I fall down just getting out of my bed, I passed on the drink until I was more familiarized with the pole.

After waiting for the instructor for about 10 minutes, our group of old and young women alike were ushered into a room off to the side of the theater that was full of stripper poles and one teeny tiny stage. Our instructor Kindra stood here as she demonstrated lap dance and pole moves. Oh yes, you learn how to lap dance too. But because this class is for ladies only, you just have to imagine that Robert Pattinson is sitting in the chair in front of you.

This class is not for the shy. Fortunately, our group seemed to be very comfortable with themselves (a few even brought their own heels) and only a couple of us snickered when Kindra referred to our nether regions as our "cookie." Once we learned a few lap dance moves, we posed for a souvenir photo on the pole. I'm guessing they do this to make us more comfortable with the pole before we actually started swinging on it.

Finally, Kindra got into the moves. Things I learned:

1. Keep your arm high up on the pole for momentum.
2. You will get bruises.
3. Swinging on the pole is hard.
4. Don't be drunk when you pole-dance. It's a tad dangerous.

Luckily, a few bruises and sore arms are the only things I walked away with.

Towards the end of the class, Kindra gave us our Stripper 101 certificates--little business cards on which she wrote down our stripper name. I used my "porn star name" which is your middle name plus the name of the street you grew up on--Catherine Colt. (I'm trademarking this!)

Overall, it was a fun class and Kindra makes you feel very comfortable and sexy, not sleazy. Of course, if you wanted to really be a stripper I'm sure you would just get up there and start doing it. You probably wouldn't take a class.

That said, I wish there was more choreography and cardio. I come from a dance background so I probably would have liked to put together some routine with feather boas and top hats. And you know, maybe a little Motley Crue as well.

Tickets for Stripper 101 begin at $40 for a one-hour class and 1 drink.

Related Stories:
· Stripper 101 [Vegas.com]
· Viva Vegas [HotelChatter]