QUEEROPE 2020FULL PROGRAM

Our daily warm-up sessions will guide you through the program of the day and give you pointers and ideas of how to make the most of it.

After the introduction it’s time for something practical. Every day we will discuss a topic, share tips and tricks of how to make your rope practice better, easier, deeper, funner.

Today’s topic: What to do, when you don’t know what to do with Sawa

Throughout all levels of rope-mastery riggers come to a point when they ask themselves “what now?” You have successfully tied a handcuff. Great, what now? You have tied a solid TK. Amazing, what now? You have progressed to a mermaid tie. Awesome, what now? How do you move forward? The more capable one becomes, the more ‘tools’ one has mastered, the more ‘fluent’ we become in improvising ropes. Yet it takes time to learn more tools and pattern and this being a limiting factor in creativity, sometimes leads to frustration.

This guided discussion/class aims to explore possibilities, on how to playfully and safely explore what might happen ‘after’ that handcuff or ‘after’ that TK. It is designed to show simple tools and open the discussion for creativity in ropes for all levels. It is an invitation to geek about the world beyond pattern und positions.

Bring your ideas and let’s lab together!

Finding ways to be intimate, vulnerable and yet non-intrusive can be challenging when practicing shibari. How do you continue to improve your skills and have fun with those you wish to tie with? When you remove one or more of your senses the others become heightened to compensate, offering another form of sight.

This workshop aims to offer a slower pace to finding those answers, with simple concepts and removing your sense of sight with a blindfold, allowing participants to see rope in a different way.
Caritia invites you to move from seeing and doing rope, feeling and being with the person in rope.

Details:

Format: workshop & demonstration

Minimum Knowledge Level: beginner

What to Bring:  ropes, safety gear, a blindfold, ear plugs etc.

Solo or Partnered: both

Class recording: yes

This class will be recorded (only the facilitator, not the participants) and is available for ticket holders for 30 days after the event.

photo credit: Florian Geldner

The login details for this class will be sent to you via email shortly before the event.

This workshop is for people who want to develop their knowledge within shibari. The focus of this class is to improve technical knowledge for building traditional shibari structures. We are also addressing aspects of connection between bodies while showing and using structures that  have a main focus on being comfortable and safe for plus-sized bodies. Tips and tricks included

model/assistant: Mariana

Details:

Format: workshop & demonstration

Minimum Knowledge Level: beginner (you need to know about safety and how to tie a single column and double column tie.)

What to Bring:  ropes, safety gear

Solo or Partnered: both, you need a partner if you want to tie along

Class recording: yes

This class will be recorded (only the facilitator, not the participants) and is available for ticket holders for 30 days after the event.

photo credit: n/a

The login details for this class will be sent to you via email shortly before the event.

Our hands, faces, heads and feet are powerful recipients of sensation and information. Using rope on these parts of the body can evoke many different feelings, physically and emotionally, and enhance our tying experience whether it’s with ourselves or our partners.

In this class we will take time to enjoy and explore different and creative ways to tie these parts of the body, and understand a bit more deeply how tying them can really change the feeling within a tie.

Details:

Format: workshop & demonstration

Minimum Knowledge Level: beginner

What to Bring: Just an open creative mind, maybe some thinner ropes if they have them – a silky scarf

Solo or Partnered: both

Class recording: yes

This class will be recorded (only the facilitator, not the participants) and is available for ticket holders for 30 days after the event.

photo credit: Sophia Rose

The login details for this class will be sent to you via email shortly before the event.

The value of beauty and ugliness are social constructs. In this workshop we will process our uglies through movement exercises and self tying. The objective is to start feeling more neutral about the beautiful/ugly binary. We do this through empathetic witnessing and accepting the grotesque.

Details:

Format: workshop/performance

Minimum Knowledge Level: beginner

What to Bring: ropes, safety gear

Solo or Partnered: both

Class recording: yes

This class will be recorded (only the facilitator, not the participants) and is available for ticket holders for 30 days after the event.

photo credit: Ceci Ferox

The login details for this class will be sent to you via email shortly before the event. 

Our daily warm-up sessions will guide you through the program of the day and give you pointers and ideas of how to make the most of it.

After the introduction it’s time for something practical. Every day we will discuss a topic, share tips and tricks of how to make your rope practice better, easier, deeper, funner.

Today’s topic: How to Draw Your Shibari with Miah Flowers & René de Sans

Miah & René will teach you how to draw your shibari patterns and newly acquired knowledge in a good and comprehensive way. Never get stuck in amazing workshops again where you learn a pattern or sequence but just don’t know how to take notes and draw yourself little patterns that help you understand and memorize.

This warm-up session is for everyone, no matter your skill level. Bring things to draw and share your own ideas in this lab session.

This advanced class is focused on how to suspend larger bodies more safely. We will discuss the variety of possibilities that can be taken and how to handle larger bodies in the air while doing dynamic transitions. This class is not about being a strong rigger, nor about a model enduring undesirable painful ties or endlessly struggling in air time.

This class is about taking a lab approach (to what can be a complex topic) and finding practical solutions and tips for more enjoyable and less complicated ways to enjoy suspensions and transitions. We will use one exercise as an example to explore several points of discussion, plus there will be model feedback/insight. This class potentially great for new suspenders, as well as helpful in general for anyone interested in suspensions.

Model & assistant: tba

Details:

Format: workshop & demonstration

Minimum Knowledge Level: intermediate (Participants rigging should know basic knots and frictions, should know how to lock safely upper lines, and how to tie basic pattern ties on their models that are sustainable and safer. Models and riggers should have knowledge about nerve injury issues and some knowledge about their own physical and technical limitations.)

What to Bring:  if you wish to participate you need ropes, safety gear and a hard point

Solo or Partnered: both, depending on whether you wish to tie along

Class recording: yes

This class will be recorded (only the facilitator, not the participants) and is available for ticket holders for 30 days after the event.

photo credit: René de Sans

The login details for this class will be sent to you via email shortly before the event.

A warm up and connective workshop for all bodies, skill levels and interactive constellations. Caritia aims to ground you into your body no matter what role you choose – self tying, partnered or group. Offering suggestions on getting started with your rope scene, no matter your mobility or experience level. Practical exercises will be given to participants that can be adapted to those tying or being tied.

Details:

Format: workshop

Minimum Knowledge Level: beginner (you need to be able to tie a single column tie)

What to Bring:  1-3 ropes, safety gear

Solo or Partnered: both

Class recording: yes

This class will be recorded (only the facilitator, not the participants) and is available for ticket holders for 30 days after the event.

photo credit: René de Sans

The login details for this class will be sent to you via email shortly before the event.

This technical workshop will focus on a versatile and simple upper body harness that can be adapted for different bodies. The base form of the harness has the hands tied in the front. We will also look at some other hand position options. The workshop also sneakily teaches you rope tension and placement on different bodies.

model/assistant: Nana Quinncoon & Hansu

Details:

Format: workshop / demonstration

Minimum Knowledge Level: intermediate

What to Bring: ropes, safety gear and a partner

Solo or Partnered: solo if you just watch, otherwise you need a partner

Class recording: yes

This class will be recorded (only the facilitator, not the participants) and is available for ticket holders for 30 days after the event.

photo credit: tba

The login details for this class will be sent to you via email shortly before the event.

Tamandua & Gestalta will host a discussion around sharing tormenting and challenging experiences in ropes with a partner. Skills and perspectives on communication, management and getting to know yourself as well as your partner when engaging in these types of scenes. They will share their own personal experiences as well as leave plenty of time for questions and input from participants.

Details:

Format: discussion

Minimum Knowledge Level: beginner

What to Bring: –

Solo or Partnered: both

Class recording: yes

This class will be recorded (only the facilitator, not the participants) and is available for ticket holders for 30 days after the event.

photo credit: Malymilydimoaja on Instagram

The login details for this class will be sent to you via email shortly before the event.

Our daily warm-up sessions will guide you through the program of the day and give you pointers and ideas of how to make the most of it.

After the introduction it’s time for something practical. Every day we will discuss a topic, share tips and tricks of how to make your rope practice better, easier, deeper, funner.

Today’s topic: Choose your own bottoming adventure with Ceci Ferox

Bottoms have more influence on guiding the direction of sessions than we often give them credit for. Join this workshop for some ideas and exercises that help you define how you like to bottom, what you would like to do more and how you would like to develop your bottoming.

This workshop is going to be a mix of demonstration and discussion of concepts in floor play. Instead of focusing on the form/pattern or a specific harness/tie, Subay will talk about the small details in floor play that might make all the differences, such as (a) the different use of nawajiri (b) when to use rope and when to use your body (c) how to assess things like timing, distance, rhythm and gravity (d) what to “see” as in what to observe. Subay will talk about how people can alter these elements to fit in their styles, and to give different feelings and emotions to their bottoms.

model/assistant: n/a

Details:

Format: workshop / demonstration

Minimum Knowledge Level: beginner

What to Bring: ropes, safety gear

Solo or Partnered: both

Class recording: yes

This class will be recorded (only the facilitator, not the participants) and is available for ticket holders for 30 days after the event.

photo credit: Touchwood

The login details for this class will be sent to you via email shortly before the event.

Tamandua will teach you a suspension shape which starts sitting and lifts into a torsion. It will be demonstrated with a TK but can be adapted to other harnesses loaded from the back. Tamandua works from a bamboo but the suspension can also easily be adapted to single point types (rings), too.

Model & assistant: Gestalta

Details:

Format: workshop & demonstration

Minimum Knowledge Level: intermediate (you need to know how to build a good TK and have suspension experience)

What to Bring: If you wish to tie along, you need ropes, safety gear and a hard point

Solo or Partnered: both, depending on whether you wish to tie along

Class recording: no

photo credit: Tamandua

The login details for this class will be sent to you via email shortly before the event.

This class offers a deep dive into an upper body asymmetric pattern/ tie, that can function for suspensions, aesthetics, and playful purposes, and at the same time taking into account the needs of each body and how we can adapt and personalize one pattern into many others.

Model & assistant: tba

Details:

Format: workshop & demonstration

Minimum Knowledge Level: intermediate (Participants who ties needs to know how to tie basic knots and frictions, know a non collapsable knot. All type of participants should be aware of nerve issues related. Self tying participants should be able to tie frictions on their own back.)

What to Bring:  if you wish to participate you need ropes and safety gear 

Solo or Partnered: both

Class recording: yes

This class will be recorded (only the facilitator, not the participants) and is available for ticket holders for 30 days after the event.

photo credit: Pauline Massimo

The login details for this class will be sent to you via email shortly before the event.

This workshop is aimed at creating fun, playful scenes, whilst also building up an awareness of body mechanics for smoother movement and flow. We are happy for participants to follow along with the workshop at home, or just to watch as a demo/inspiration.

model/assistant: Miauleks

Details:

Format: workshop & demonstration

Minimum Knowledge Level: beginner/intermediate, but less experienced participants are asked to use their judgement over which parts they are confident to follow along with at home, and which parts they should just sit and watch for inspiration. You need to have understanding of basic ties including any form of chest harness (hands free, or hands tied) that the bottom is comfortable in. Basic knowledge of suspension lines, however you can participate in the class using only low(er)-risk partial suspensions, so beginner level participants with relatively limited practical experience of suspension are still welcome.

What to Bring: ropes, safety gear, hard point

Solo or Partnered: a partner unless you are just observing

Class recording: yes

This class will be recorded (only the facilitator, not the participants) and is available for ticket holders for 30 days after the event.

photo credit: Ceci Ferox

The login details for this class will be sent to you via email shortly before the event.

Our daily warm-up sessions will guide you through the program of the day and give you pointers and ideas of how to make the most of it.

After the introduction it’s time for something practical. Every day we will discuss a topic, share tips and tricks of how to make your rope practice better, easier, deeper, funner.

Today’s topic: Consent, Boundaries, Negotiation in Rope with Caritia

How can we find best practices around finding, respecting and upholding boundaries and consent of folks, both inside and outside of rope? What are useful questions to ask when tying and/or being tied?

A place to share thoughts, ask questions and challenge perspectives around shibari and how individuals choose to tie.

Kanna & Kagura will talk about their idea of semenawa (rope for pain, “torture” rope). What is semenawa to them and what do they use it for? After the introduction to their concept of semenawa there will be a demonstration and discussion with the participants.

model/assistant: Kagura

Details:

Format: workshop / demonstration / discussion

Minimum Knowledge Level: beginner

What to Bring: openness & curiosity about semenawa + knowledge about play safety and clear negotiation for consent

Solo or Partnered: both

Class recording: yes

This class will be recorded (only the facilitator, not the participants) and is available for ticket holders for 30 days after the event.

photo credit: Kanna

The login details for this class will be sent to you via email shortly before the event.

MUSUBI is a performance followed by some sharing and discussion. The performance will be improvised and without prior rehearsal as Subay never rehearses her shows. In the sharing and discussion part, Subay would like to share her thoughts about doing shows, her journey as a female rope top (in particular how she found her style) and concepts she find interesting in rope.

Participants are invited to ask any questions or raise any topics for discussion.

model/assistant: n/a

Details:

Format: perfomance / discussion

Minimum Knowledge Level: beginner

What to Bring: openness & curiosity

Solo or Partnered: both

Class recording: yes

This class will be recorded (only the facilitator, not the participants) and is available for ticket holders for 30 days after the event.

photo credit: Anonymous

The login details for this class will be sent to you via email shortly before the event.

Do you make it a habit of considering your emotional intention before a scene? Are you curious about deepening your emotional connections in doing rope? The energy of the moon is fluid, nurturing, emotional, and deep.

We have access through deep connection and rope bondage to bravely adventure through the emotional spectrum from a grounded and aware place. Come explore the ways in which you are unknowingly limiting your ability to explore deeply with emotions in rope and learn what embracing moon energy can help you explore in your partnerships.

Sage and Shakti Bliss will be sharing evidence-based and experience-based information and education, opening up discussion and taking Q&A as well as showing a demonstration of an emotionally connected rope session.

Details:

Format: discussion / demonstration

Minimum Knowledge Level: beginner

What to Bring: an openness and willingness to explore their emotions and deep dive into energy exchange

Solo or Partnered: both

Class recording: yes

This class will be recorded (only the facilitator, not the participants) and is available for ticket holders for 30 days after the event.

photo credit: Shakti Bliss & Sage

The login details for this class will be sent to you via email shortly before the event.

This session is the best of all worlds. We are coming together for a virtual bondage jam. Tie your partner and jam along. Or take part in a short guided session and then plenty of open space with Sophia. Sophia’s self tying session offers dedicated time and space to connect with ourselves to explore creative floor based self tying. She will gently guide self-tying folx into working with sensation, sound, breath and movement in ropes.

The session will then melt into a bondage jam with live music for all. Tie yourself or others or come watch and enjoy some community.

Details:

Format: bondage jam & guided self-tying session

Minimum Knowledge Level: beginner

What to Bring:  ropes, safety gear

Solo or Partnered: both

Class recording: no

photo credit: Sophia Rose

The login details for this class will be sent to you via email shortly before the event.

Our daily warm-up sessions will guide you through the program of the day and give you pointers and ideas of how to make the most of it.

After the introduction it’s time for something practical. Every day we will discuss a topic, share tips and tricks of how to make your rope practice better, easier, deeper, funner.

Today’s topic: How to Go on – Making new connections, building new communities

Queerope is almost over and we wish to look ahead. How can we all go on from here. How do we make (new) connections and how can we expand and extract a network of LGBTQIA+ & womên rope practitioners? How can we create community as a whole and local communities as such?

We want to hear from you. What are your needs and desires? What are the obstacles you face? How can we support each other?

Join us for an open an honest discussion.

Who can attend:

If you have a full pass or day pass for Queerope this event is already included.

If you do not have one of those passes, please get your free ticket further down. You need to register for this discussion.

Anyone who self-identifies as LGBTQIA+ and/or womên.

LGBTQIA+ describes the full spectrum of non-mainstream sexual orientation and/or gender identity meaning: lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, transgender, non-binary, genderqueer/fluid, queer, intersex, asexual, aromantic, agender.

Womên describes people who are identifying themselves as female in their gender identity. People that fit this category can be part of the LGBTQIA+ spectrum or not. We created this category specifically indicate that we also invite cisgender, heterosexual womên.

The word is our own creation and serves as a replacement for the word “womxn” which is now being (ab)used for transmisogynist statements. The ^ in womên represents a marker (similar to the “x” in womxn) that wishes to give emphasis to the fact that womênhood is an intersectional umbrella term that holds many different people and experiences and is not biologically predetermined.

The group will decide on what kind of play and tie they wish to see and then Kanna will create the tie with Kagura and show what can be done with it. The focus of this class will be predicaments  of floor work and (or) partial suspension. You can watch or tie along.

model/assistant: Kagura

Details:

Format: discussion and demonstration

Minimum Knowledge Level: beginner, intermediate if you want to tie along

What to Bring:  if you want to tie along you need ropes, safety gear, space, a partner, a hard point

Solo or Partnered: both

Class recording: yes

This class will be recorded (only the facilitator, not the participants) and is available for ticket holders for 30 days after the event.

photo credit: Kanna

The login details for this class will be sent to you via email shortly before the event.

Self suspension presents a different set of challenges and rewards than partner suspension. The ability to push, play, experiment, and tailor is countered by different leverage, drains on strength and stamina, challenging rope handling techniques, and a compromised ability to respond to the unexpected. This class starts with the basics of self suspension, from line management to common ‘oops’ spots to practice exercises, building up to a simple, versatile, highly adaptable self suspension sequence, not based around a hip harness (though one can be added).

The workshop will cover safety considerations, equipment, and common trouble spots, uplines, locking techniques, moving in the air, emergency exits, troubleshooting and tailoring.

This is a demo-style class, with several simple exercises that can be tailored to the individual. The goal is to compare options, and provide the tools for people to be able to find what works for them.

Details:

Format: workshop & demonstration

Minimum Knowledge Level: intermediate (you need have knowledge of suspension mechanics, be able to tie a non-collapsing single column tie and a basic upline)

What to Bring: If you wish to tie along, you need ropes, a hard point and safety shears/knife

Solo or Partnered: both, depending on whether you wish to tie along

Class recording: yes

This class will be recorded (only the facilitator, not the participants) and is available for ticket holders for 30 days after the event.

photo credit: Barkas

The login details for this class will be sent to you via email shortly before the event.

Rope Bondage is often seen only through one particular lens but what happens if we are looking for similarities in completely different fields? Higher mathematics doesn’t seem to have anything in common with rope but a quick look offers a vast variety of tools helpful for rope bondage as it is basically nothing else than applied differential geometry.

This workshop is first and foremost for people who wonder, who are curious and not only for those with a strong interest in mathematical, physical and engineering contexts of Rope Bondage. Reflecting on these contexts can help in understanding the structure of certain patterns. It also can help to increase the ability to handle the rope on a body.

Content

• Curved and flat spaces. A very short introduction into differential geometry.
• Angles on curved spaces. Where to put the fingers when.
• Knots and topological equivalence. Different “hitches” and their use
• Forces and their direction. Frictions and suspension lines.

model/assistant: Addie

Details:

Format: workshop / demonstration / discussion

Minimum Knowledge Level: beginner

What to Bring: pen and paper and a piece of rope (<6m)

Solo or Partnered: both

Class recording: yes

This class will be recorded (only the facilitator, not the participants) and is available for ticket holders for 30 days after the event.

photo credit: Shiobhan

The login details for this class will be sent to you via email shortly before the event.

CUT ist a spontaneous live performance and rope demonstration by Gestalta and Ceci Ferox.

Details:

Format: performance / demonstration

Minimum Knowledge Level: beginner

What to Bring: –

Solo or Partnered: both

Class recording: yes

This class will be recorded (only the facilitator, not the participants) and is available for ticket holders for 30 days after the event.

photo credit: René de Sans

The login details for this class will be sent to you via email shortly before the event.

QUEEROPE 2020 is a 5-day virtual conference for shibari/kinbaku/Japanese bondage that is exclusively by and for LGBTQIA+ people and womên.

We welcome all roles (rigger/tops, model/bottoms, switches etc.), all knowledge levels (beginner, intermediate, advanced) and all styles to this gathering that aims to bring queer & female identifying practitioners together to celebrate their love for rope and exchange knowledge and experiences.

line-up:

– Addie & Barkas (Canada)

– Caritia (UK/Germany)

– Ceci Ferox (Finland)

– Gestalta (UK)

– Karllana (Entre Nós) (Brazil)

– Kanna & Kagura (Japan)

– Pauline Massimo (Spain)

– Sage & Shakti Bliss Bunny (USA)

– Sophia Rose (UK)

– Subay (Hong Kong)

– Tamandua (Sweden/Germany)

Get more info on the facilitators here

See the full time table here

Details:

– 5 days of virtual workshops, performances, demonstrations, discussions etc.

– 5 x 2 hour slots per day

– language: English

– conference aims to be held from 2pm Berlin (5am San Francisco / 8am New York / 9pm Tokyo / 10pm Melbourne) to  8pm Berlin (11am San Francisco / 2pm New York / 03am Tokyo / 4am Melbourne) time

– all classes exept two (“guided bondage jam” & “shape, torsioned side suspension”) will be recorded and will be available for one 30 days after the conference for all attendees to watch/re-watch. The daily warm-up sessions will not be recorded.

Costs:

Conference tickets are valid for one person for the entire conference and include access to the recordings of all classes for 30 days after the event. We have different kinds of conference tickets:

Full Pass

Regular ticket: 150 Euros

Supporter ticket: 200 Euros (The 50 Euros added onto your ticket will subsidize our solidarity tickets with 50 Euros. For each sold supporter ticket we will add a solidarity ticket to the pot).

Solidarity ticket: 100 Euros

Pay-it-Forward-Ticket: 150 Euros – You pay this ticket forward and a person that cannot afford a ticket will benefit from it and get access to the conference and the recordings on your behalf.

Day Pass

Get a ticket for a single day of the conference for 50 Euros – To see which classes on are on what day, go to the Schedule on http://www.queerope.com

Single Class Tickets

Single classes are available for purchase, too. Singular classes will cost 20 Euros per person and give access to the recording of that class for 30 days after the event.

For single class tickets go to the schedule on http://www.queerope.com and buy it there.

FAQ:

How do you define “LGBTQIA+” & “womên”?

LGBTQIA+ describes the full spectrum of non-mainstream sexual orientation and/or gender identity meaning: lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, transgender, non-binary, genderqueer/fluid, queer, intersex, asexual, aromantic, agender.

Womên describes people who are identifying themselves as female in their gender identity. People that fit this category can be part of the LGBTQIA+ spectrum or not. We created this category specifically indicate that we also invite cisgender, heterosexual womên.

The word is our own creation and serves as a replacement for the word “womxn” which is now being (ab)used for transmisogynist statements. The ^ in womên represents a marker (similar to the “x” in womxn) that wishes to give emphasis to the fact that womênhood is an intersectional umbrella term that holds many different people and experiences and is not biologically predetermined.

I am not LGBTQIA+ and not a womên, can I still attend?

No, please respect that this particular event is not for you. There are lots of other events you can attend. But Queerope one is solely for people of the LGBTQIA+ spectrum & womên.

I cannot afford the ticket but would love to join. What do I do?

Send us a message via info@karada-house.de. If we have pay-it-forward-tickets available we will make it available to you. If we don’t we will put you in a waiting list or see what else we can do. Either way, we will find a way.

What platform do you use for the virtual conference?

We need to use Zoom as it is the only platform available that is affordable and stable enough for bigger groups. Please make sure you can fulfill the requirements for Zoom from your side to have a satisfactory experience.  We will do our best to make the zoom calls safe by engaging all possible security features. You do not have to turn your camera on and you can use any name you like.

The times don’t always work for me / I cannot attend everything I want…

That is why we will make recordings available to you, so you can watch & re-watch

If I share my computer with a person, is buying one ticket enough?

No. You are not paying for the computer access but for the knowledge that the facilitators and artists are distributing. Please respect that knowledge has a worth and should be compensated.

I am all alone at the moment and have no partner. Does it still make sense to participate?

Absolutely. There will be a variety of topics and skills and not all of them require a partner. You can learn a lot even just by listening and watching or trying things on yourself. We will also provide knowledge and possibilities for self-tying & suspension and other solo practices.