02/03/2026
Dear community,
I’m writing with care, honesty, and a full heart to share an important update.
I will be closing The Atlanta School of Burlesque, Metropolitan Studios, and The Candybox R***e, with all taking their final bow on June 30, 2026.
These decisions were not made lightly. I want to be very clear: The change reflects positive growth and thoughtful evolution, not conflict, crisis, or a lack of support. I am choosing to close intentionally, while the work is strong, the studio’s community is vibrant, and what we’ve built together is something to celebrate with deep care, pride, and gratitude.
The foundation of this work was The Atlanta School of Burlesque, which Ursula Undress began in 2013 as a way to make burlesque education accessible, thoughtful, and inclusive. From the start, the school existed to meet students where they were and to offer not just choreography, but confidence, creative agency, and community. It was built on the belief that burlesque is for every body, every background, and every level of experience.
From that foundation, The Candybox R***e emerged. Founded by Ursula in 2014, Candybox was created as a playful, intentional, and artist-driven performance ensemble. Over time, it grew into a long-running r***e that celebrates humor, theatrical storytelling, social commentary, and representation—challenging narrow ideas about who belongs onstage and redefining what burlesque could look like.
As the work continued to grow, Metropolitan Studios was formed in 2016 through a shared vision held by Ursula, Talloolah, and me. We wanted to create more than a rehearsal or performance space; we wanted a welcoming home for movement, creativity, and community. A place where burlesque, dance, and embodied expression could be explored in ways that were affirming, brave, and artist-led.
Across all three projects, the mission remained consistent: to center artistry, joy, experimentation, and representation; to challenge social norms; and to create work and spaces where burlesque was not defined by size, ability, age, identity, or background but recognized as an art form for everyone.
Through classes, rehearsals, and performances, our community became a creative home and proving ground. We supported artists and students at every stage of their journey, offering room to take risks, build skills, find confidence, and connect deeply with themselves, one another, and with audiences. Some people joined for a single chapter; others helped shape our community across many seasons.
All of them left their mark.
The Atlanta School of Burlesque, The Candybox R***e, and Metropolitan Studios represent a shared legacy within burlesque history. A legacy that shaped artists, expanded representation, and redefined what burlesque could be. Choosing to not pass these projects on preserves the integrity of what they have been, allowing their history—burlesque history—to remain intact while making space for new voices, new visions, and new creative futures to emerge.
As these chapters come to a close, I also want to acknowledge what comes next and share a note of continuity. Zara Estelle will operate a new studio business—Atlanta Creative Arts—in a new location. It will include a burlesque program, the Atlanta Burlesque Academy, and Zara is committed to honoring the work done by those in The Atlanta School of Burlesque’s Burlesque Academy to allow for educational and professional continuity.
Plans for future projects and a new collective by members of The Candybox R***e are still unfolding, and we’ll share updates and direct you to the appropriate places as information becomes available. Please stay up to date via our social channels, we are excited to share more information as they solidify their plans.
These new offerings are not rebrands or successors to the entities that are closing.
These new offerings are entirely independent from The Atlanta School of Burlesque, The Candybox R***e, and Metropolitan Studios. I'm genuinely excited to see new creative work take root in Atlanta and to watch the next evolution of burlesque education and community unfold here. Zara has been instrumental in studio operations since 2022 and I have the utmost confidence in their ability to build upon the strong education and community foundation that is in place.
This transition also reflects a new chapter for me personally. After years of building, stewarding, and nurturing these projects and this community, I’ll be moving to the West Coast to be closer to family, and to pursue new adventures, creative opportunities, and personal growth.
As I step forward, it’s important to me to do so with integrity by closing these chapters with intention, care, and gratitude.
While the physical spaces and productions I’ve built or overseen are coming to a close, what was created here does not end. The impact of The Atlanta School of Burlesque, The Candybox R***e, and Metropolitan Studios lives on through the artists who trained, performed, and connected here, and through the communities they continue to shape.
What made all of this special was never just the rooms, the stages, shows, rhinestones, photos and decor, or the schedules. It was the people: the instructors, students, performers, producers, collaborators, volunteers, and audiences who showed up, shared space, and built something meaningful together.
Thank you for trusting me, and these spaces, with your creativity, your vulnerability, and your time. I am endlessly grateful for what we built together and for the legacy that continues beyond this moment.
As we move through this transition, I want to make sure everyone feels informed, supported, and clear about what comes next:
• Additional details about timelines and transitions will be shared directly with students, performers, renters, and collaborators.
• To ensure clarity and prevent misinformation, all questions and/or official communication regarding the business closure should be directed to Roula Roulette, at [email protected], which will serve as the single source for accurate information.
• For questions about Atlanta Creative Arts, contact Zara at [email protected]
• Metropolitan Studios is not the owner of the building. The property will be listed for sale by the owner. All questions regarding purchase should be directed to the listing agent, Alicia Parker, at [email protected] or 404-635-6626.
We hope you will join us as we close our final season. There are still many studio, school, and troupe events happening through the end of June. We look forward to connecting with you and celebrating what comes next.
With deep gratitude,
Roula Roulette
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