The Atlanta School of Burlesque

The Spring Student Showcases over 50% sold out! There are just about 15 seats left for each show. April 11 at Metropolitan Studios!

Early Show: https://burlesqueshowcase-early.eventbrite.com

Late Show: https://burlesqueshowcase-late.eventbrite.com

Spring 2026 Burlesque Academy Student Showcase - LATE SHOW by The Atlanta School of Burlesque!

After 13 years we are taking our final bow! Metropolitan Studios and the Atlanta School of Burlesque will be closing our doors on June 30th. But don't you worry, there is still burlesque education happening in Atlanta!

Our final semester, Summer Sizzle is now enrolling! The Heat is On! We're returning with course favorites and brand-new courses for the final season. Come learn, move, and keep your shimmy strong all summer long.

This is your chance to be part of burlesque history and the legacy of the school and studio! Our final season to learn where so many Atlanta performers began.

- Sessions 1 & 2 will be at Metropolitan Studios and sign ups can be found here.

- Session 3 will be hosted by the new Atlanta Burlesque Academy at The Creatorspace. Link to register for classes beginning 7/6 coming soon!​

Our combined Summer Student Showcase is on 8/30 at The Creatorspace, located at 2055 Piedmont Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30324.

​We are so excited to have you as a part of our final semester and we look forward to supporting the future of Burlesque education in Atlanta!

! Don’t delay on getting your passes to BurlyCon 2026!
Register now to get the longest timeframe for you payment plan!

Access matters and planning ahead should feel doable. If you’ve been eyeing BurlyCon 2026 but want a little more flexibility, our payment plan options are available!

Spread out your registration cost and secure your spot for November 5–8 without paying all at once. 💖

Learn more and enroll in the payment plan!🎟️✨https://tinyurl.com/burlycon2026plan

Sharing news from all of us at Metropolitan Studios!

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

Congratulations on your graduation, Red!
We’re so proud of Big Red Phoenix for the dedication, heart, and artistry they brought to their graduating journey. Throughout their training, Big Red Phoenix showed steady growth, creative curiosity, and a real commitment to their story and craft!

A special thank-you to Roula Roulette, who served as Red’s mentor throughout the graduating track. Supportive mentorship, paired with a student’s hard work, is what makes moments like this possible, and we’re grateful to celebrate that!

We’re so proud of Sam Sational for the dedication, focus, and artistry they brought to their graduating journey. Over the course of their training, Sam showed consistent growth, a willingness to take risks, and a strong commitment to their craft — all of which are reflected in this well-earned milestone.

A special thank-you to Lola LeSoleil, who served as Sam’s mentor throughout the graduating Burlesque IV track with Sam. Thoughtful mentorship, paired with a student’s hard work and vision is what makes moments like this possible, and we’re grateful to celebrate that collaboration.

Success at our school is always a team effort, and most of all is driven by each student’s commitment. ’s commitment to creating, rehearsing, and leaning into feedback has been inspiring.

From Burlesque I with , Cali came full circle and completed the graduation track under Roula’s thoughtful and creative mentorship to develop an outstanding graduating number.

We love watching students and mentors grow together!

Congratulations! We can’t wait to see what’s next for you!

✨Casting call! READ CLOSELY✨SCRAPLESQUE Competition to Promote Sustainability in Performance✨
Welcome sustainable burlesque, drag, and variety performers! Do you want to learn new skills? Are you passionate about creating sustainability in the arts? Are you looking to challenge yourself? Do you love showing off your work, competition style? Then SCRAPLESQUE is for you!

Join Scraplanta Creative Reuse for a variety of sustainable costuming workshops and then take those skills and pieces and showcase them in Scraplesque, produced by Leela Lox & Roula Roulette. All performers must attend at least (1) of the sustainable costuming workshops (the first one is coming up SOON!!!) provided by Scraplanta and are required to share images / video of their process prior to the show as part of the show format. All workshops are priced on a sliding scale to ensure financial accessibility.

Scraplesque was created in partnership with the Atlanta School of Burlesque and Scraplanta and is made possible through the LARCH Fund from the Spruill Center for the Arts.

​HOW IT WORKS
✨Applicants attend a minimum of (1) Scraplanta Workshops (workshop info & sign up in the link)
✨Once selected as competitors, contestants share photos/video from their process of creating a sustainable costume
✨Winners are selected by a panel of 3 judges.
✨There will be a grand prize winner, runner-up and 3 category specific winners with the prizes as following:

👑Grand Prize - $150 Cash Prize + Atlanta School of Burlesque Class Pass & Scraplanta Gift Card

💎Runner Up - $75 Cash Prize + Atlanta School of Burlesque Class Pass & Scraplanta Gift Card

✨Category Winners - Atlanta School of Burlesque Class Pass & Scraplanta Gift Card
• Crowd Favorite
• Most Sustainable
• Most Creative Reimagining of Recycled Materials

✨APP INFO
• Application Deadline is Sunday, December 7th, 2025.
• All notifications will be sent by Sunday, December 14, 2025.

✨SHOW INFO
Saturday, January 31st, 2026, Doors @ 7:30pm / Show @ 8:00pm

This competition does not offer a guarantee. Performers will keep their own tips and we will ensure that performers tip handles are provided to the audience.
​
✨Workshop Schedule & Sign Up✨
• October 3 - How to Deconstruct a Ballgown

• November 21 - Creating Vegan Tulle Boas

• December 6 -Hand Beading & Head Dresses [counts as 2 workshops]

Scraplesque | Metropolitan Studios Welcome to Scraplesque, where sustainability meets performance! Created by Scraplanta and The Atlanta School of Burlesque.

Summer Sizzle Student Showcase night 1 is a wrap! Cheers to all these sparklers for hitting the stage with The Atlanta School of Burlesque last night and to those who are doing it again tonight!

Ready to dream big and dance across the floorboards with us? Fall 2025 Burlesque Academy is open for sign ups at atlburlesqueschool.com