Sirens sensuality gets sky-high with Sydney’s first aerial artistry, burlesque and pole dancing studio

SHE used to work as a graphic designer but Katia Schwartz came to realise she was “born to be a burlesque dancer”. Now she spends hours suspended each night teaching aerial artistry.

KATIA SCHWARTZ was born to be a burlesque dancer.

“I had a girl tell me, you are a burlesque dancer. I loved vintage and looked very pin-up all the time (but) I didn’t even know what burlesque was,” Schwartz said.

Eight years on, Schwartz spends four hours in the air each evening teaching at Sky Sirens — Sydney’s first studio specialising in burlesque, pole dance and aerial artistry.

Katia went from graphic designing to opening her own studio to teach burlesque.

The Surry Hills studio is all about glamour, sensuality and empowerment.

“(It’s about girls) trying to find their inner siren. Everyone’s got that hidden sparkle inside them, so trying to bring that out of them,” Schwartz said.

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The studio is a safe place of escapism, decorated with leopard print wallpaper, cushioned baby-pink satin walls, unbelievably high heels and cups of tea.

Schwartz, who left her job as a graphic designer to pursue the dream of opening her own studio, said the dances were “sensual, not raunchy — there’s a big difference.”

L-R: Amelia Du Vale, Lola Grace, Katia Schwartz and Liz Tang.

The confidence that comes from the classes means students can feel like “princesses for a day,” Schwartz said.

“Even though people may not know that they come here or how amazing they are on the hoop or pole or at burlesque, they know themselves and get such a rush out of it,” she said.

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Sky Sirens has also pioneered the Lyra method which sees girls perform tricks in the air in individual hoop — everything from beginners “Babydoll Lyra” all the way up to the advanced “Diamonds Lyra”.

Katia from Sky Sirens which is a burlesque studio that specialise in aerial hoop yoga.

The classes are for all shapes, sizes and fitness abilities. Enrolments have skyrocketed as everyone from professional working women to their boyfriends have signed up.

“Aerial and pole takes away from the aesthetics of your body and makes you focus on what your body can do and achieve as opposed to how it appears.

“You might look exactly the same but you appreciate your body is amazing,” Schwartz said.

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Sky Sirens

Sky Sirens offers Lyra, burlesque, pole dancing and Sexy Flexy classes, as well as Babydoll Ballet

Classes run Monday through Saturday

Prices for an eight-week term start at $170

Details: skysirens.com.au

Katia’s studio specialises in aerial artistry, pole dancing and burlesque.