Brandi Rei, a North Philly native and owner and founder of Brown Suga Burlesque, hosts dance classes, photo shoots and community events to bring Black women together in a sexually liberating method. Burlesque is a performance-focused, narrative-building show where dancers taunt and tease the audience, slowly guiding the crowd through an experience as entertaining as it is sensual. While nudity can be an element of burlesque, Gigi Penn, a dancer at BSB, emphasizes this is not the sole factor contributing to their success. “It's really about making everybody in this space feel like there is no shame to be had,” Penn said. “Because at the same time, we're exhibiting something sexual for people to watch. People also feel a way when they watch something sexual happening, or even not sexual. [The performances] don't have to be explicitly sexual, and [the audience] still discover things about themselves.” Read more at the link in our bio. 📝: @baylehalexander 📸: @oliverloisphoto_