Sunday, November 29, 2015

A Gift of Love ... for Yourself

Give yourself the gift 
of sloughing off last year 
with 6+ weeks of 
Loving Yourself Lovely 
at our New Year Booty Camp
Jan 3 - Feb 13, 2016
held via the internet, for your convenience

Online program includes:
  • THE VILLAGE SYSTEM—we'll all hold hands every step of the way to ensure you make consistent progress. We also recommend buddying up with another participant
  • SUPPORT—6 weeks of daily cheerleading via a closed group on Facebook
  • INSPIRATION—Weekly themes and daily tips to motivate you on to glory
  • PERSPIRATION—Free live video dance classes, a low-impact way to melt away what's weighing you down
  • PREPARATION—A week of prep to help you hit the ground running, or walking, or gardening ... you get the idea


Cost - $150

Thursday, October 8, 2015

On the wire

The deadline on our Run Away with the Circus for a Day event has been extended 36 hours ... hooray! 

Sign up by noon on Fri Oct 9 to take part on a day of circus arts classes, food, fun, and oh yeh, a performance of Cirque du Soleil's newest show, Kurios! 




Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Let's meet up in SoCal

Gonna be in SoCal any time in the next year? ... or perhaps, need an excuse to be?

Over the summer Siren School opened 2 new Meetup groups and has recently taken over another that was slated to close (... more on that last one later, when we have more to share)

For the serious siren or sailor, our Siren School SoCal group should fit the bill, with dozens of unusual outings and getaways planned over the course of the next year.



For those who can't get enough of all things tea, our Tea Travellers Societea group does more than just visit tearooms ... though we do that too! We also attend themed and specialty tea events with everything from Jane Austen to Minions to Doctor Who and even Willy Wonka ... and of course we host mystery teas ... lots of mystery teas.


Whether you're looking for an outrageous outing or a comfortable get-together, we do hope you'll meet up with us. Oh, and we've been told many of our meetup events make terrific gifts ... So there! 

Monday, October 5, 2015

The circus train is about to leave the depot

Last call for reservations at our Day at the Circus event. 
Sign-ups end this week!


SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2015
Costa Mesa, CA

10:30am-1:30pm - We'll start our circus day with Hoop followed by Trapeze or Tissu/Silks classes.

2pm - Thereafter we'll dine (*no-host) at colorful Ruby's Dinette

4pm - Finally, we'll cap off our big top experience at Cirque du Soleil's new show, Kurios (show starts at 4:30pm and ends around 6:40 including a half hour intermission); please note: *parking at the fairgrounds is not included  

Our time at the circus should end around 6:45pm, unless you decide to stow away in one of the Cirque caravans.

$225 includes circus art classes and Cirque du Soleil show. Participation spots are limited, based on availability. Reservations close Oct 7.

*indicates a cost not included


Please provide email for info
 

Wednesday, September 30, 2015

A taste of gentili-tea

Our Victorian GentiliTea Tour weekend to be held in April 2016 in Victoria, British Columbia went on sale last week and we already have 4 confirmed, 2 more in process and a few more pending. 13 more slots available. Hope you can join us! Below are some snapshots of what you can expect. Visit the Victorian GentiliTea site for details.








Monday, September 21, 2015

You + 2 enrollment special

Happy first day of Siren School 
2015-16!

To celebrate the new term, we're offering an enrollment special for you and two friends: 
Enroll 1 student ($25), 
get 2 more half off ($12.50) 
(That's $50 total or $16.66ish each!)

This not only entitles you all to participate in Siren School events, but registers you in our coveted PLUNDER rewards program! How many schools offer that?!

$50



A Bonnie Blue announcement

Siren School's Headmistress is thrilled to announce the first inductee into its Blue Stocking Society: 

Salonniere Bonnie Ramsburg of Akron, Ohio was voted siren of the year and it's no surprise. With a history of stepping out of her comfort zone to try her hand at new and often challenging siren endeavors, she is an inspiration to many and supportive of all. Congratulations, Bonnie lass!

A bit about the Blue Stockings, aka Bas-Bleu [courtesy of Wikipedia]

The Blue Stockings Society was an informal women's social and educational movement in England in the mid-18th century. The society emphasized education and mutual co-operation ... 
The Society was founded in the early 1750s by Elizabeth MontaguElizabeth Vesey and others as a women's literary discussion group, a revolutionary step away from traditional, non-intellectual, women's activities. They invited various people (both women and men) to attend, including botanist, translator and publisher Benjamin Stillingfleet. One story tells that Stillingfleet was not rich enough to have the proper formal dress, which included black silk stockings, so he attended in everyday blue worstedstockings. The term came to refer to the informal quality of the gatherings and the emphasis on conversation over fashion

Let the rest Fall Away

Shape up your Autumn with our Let it Fall Away shapeover challenge

6-week online program runs Mon Sept 21 - Sun Nov 8 
(+ a helpful prep week starting Mon Sept 21)
and includes:
  • Weekly themes to reshape the way you think, move, and behave
  • Daily focus topics with uplifting blogs posts and lots of links to more detailed inspiration
  • A partner participant, ensuring your accountability
  • A private Facebook group just for this activity
  • Recipes & workout tips


$42



Tuesday, September 15, 2015

A Cirque Perq

Siren School's Fall term commences Sept 21. 
Sign up for our Run Away with the Circus for a Day event by then and you'll receive complimentary enrollment in our wondrous PLUNDER Rewards program (a $25 value) 


Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Wild Dolphins & Mermaids Swim

Mermaid & Dolphin by Gabriella Lennep
Have you ever dreamed of being a mermaid and swimming with dolphins out in the deep blue sea? That lifelong dream can become a reality and lasting memory when you when you join our new wiki Wild Dolphins & Mermaids cruise. Departing Port Canaveral (Orland) Florida, we'll set sail for Freeport in the Bahamas where we'll spend a full day. While there, we'll take part in an Open Ocean Dolphin Swim booked through our Carnival Cruise ship. Excursion highlights include:

  • Enjoy a 20-minute boat ride through the beautiful canals of Grand Bahama Island or along the South Shore of the island (depending on weather).  
  • Arrive at Sanctuary Bay, where you will meet your dolphin trainer and listen to a brief orientation before heading out into the open ocean.  
  • Watch for dolphins jumping and playing in the boat’s wake as you ride out.  
  • Once the boat comes to a stop, you’ll enter the crystal clear water, approximately 20-25 feet deep, to swim with the beautiful Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins.  

This abbreviated cruise is all about the dolphins, and we will devote the bulk of our time to getting to know them. While on the ship we'll dive into the history and lore, the facts and fables of these beloved oceanic beauties. We'll even make an attempt to speak their language! Plus, we'll do our best to avail ourselves of as many of the ship's amenities as possible. After all, we're mermaids gone wild!

View the Wild Dolphins & Mermaids Swim site for full details.

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Adult Day Camps, satisfying the need for play

Re-blogged from the Grownup Day Camps site


"Play brings joy. And it’s vital for problem solving, creativity and relationships." So says Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S., Associate Editor at PsychCentral.com. "... play is just as pivotal for adults as it is for kids ... Play can even facilitate deep connections between strangers and cultivate healing."

It is in this same spirit of nurturing and needful play that Siren School offers a variety of playful experiences, ranging in duration from an hour to several days.  Play sparks the imagination, fosters teamwork, and gets participants out of their heads. Though fantasy and history are often involved, activities are a far cry from the escapism associated with interests and pastimes that lead to addiction.

"We're not trying to escape reality. Rather, we're immersing ourselves in the reality of beauty, creativity, freedom and fellowship," says Siren School Headmistress Joy Devivre. "Cultural customs, age-old crafts, fantasy personas, dance, international foods, outdoor activities—they all come together to expand participants' scope of thought and to interest them in new, decidedly exciting pursuits. Our adult day camps, along with all our events, are designed to put a spring in your step and a smile on your face, to improve your mood and make you more pleasant to be around."

See this site's Theme Camps page for everything from a Run Away with the Circus day to a Grimm Scavenger Hunt, and Mermaid Bootless Camp.  To share a day of fun with friends for a special occasion, consider hosting aSiren Soiree. If you need a quick dose of magic on an ongoing basis, Fantasy Fitness offers theme-immersion dance classes. If you're desperate for a more intense experience or exotic getaway, visit our Intensives page or our Mythic Adventures holidays site.

* * *

Tartakovsky and NPR both recommend Stuart Brown's explanation of play, which you can hear in his own words in his TED Talk Play is more than fun.

  

Monday, August 3, 2015

Folk Dance - the non-dancer's best friend

Re-blogged from Fantasy Fitness

Do you love to dance but don't exactly love having to stand up straight, point your toes, and wiggle your body in strange and impossible ways?  Fantasy Fitness' Gypsy Sojourn folk-style dance enables participants to move to the music without having to worry about perfect technique and form.

The majority of folk dance styles began as ways for people to get together and celebrate informally, not for professional performance. The moves are often boisterous, the apparel ample, and the opportunities to make noise and whoop it up, many. Nearly every culture has its own version of folk dance, frequently incorporating the clothing of its people to accent moves and gestures.

Like the colorful nomads of yore, our Gypsy genre traces its origins to India through Russia and on to Eastern Europe. We make use of percussive coin bracelets, anklets and tambourines, clapping and especially skirts. There is lots of skirt flipping and whishing which is just plain fun!

While you're welcome to wear boots when you dance, we advocate casting off your footwear and enjoying feeling the earth under your feet as you swirl and twirl in a wooded area or park as part of our fresh air Elementals program.

Being a social activity rooted in rich cultural traditions, a Gypsy Sojourn Dance Party is a natural addition to a Gypsy Jamboree Siren Soiree for a birthday party, bachelorette bash, or any girls' get-together. As with all Siren School experiences, participants have the unique opportunity to take a vacation from the ordinary and immerse themselves in their siren persona of choice for an hour, a half day, or multiple days.

Step into your skirt and gather around the campfire as we invoke our Bohemian sisters of days gone by.

If you're interested in obtaining certification in order to teach this happy-go-lucky dance form, join us on 17 October 2015 at 11:30am PST / 2:30pm EST for a 2-hour group videochat training session

Pre-requisites: 
Siren School 101 - 2 hour free group videochat
Salonniere training - 1 hour free group videochat
Fantasy Fitness Business Basics - 1 hour free group videochat

Sunday, August 2, 2015

Be a part of a party with purpose

Reblogged from Siren Soirees

Do you absolutely adore theme parties and love any excuse to throw them? Do you love seeing others light up when you entertain? Could you use a little mad money? Side employment as with Siren Soirees may be just the opportunity you've always dreamed of. We have oodles of genres from which to choose, along with detailed training to help you make your soiree extraordinary. Visit our Certification page to learn how you can be a part of parties with purpose.

Saturday, August 1, 2015

Birds of all feathers

Reblogged from the Siren School Salon site

The salons of yore were more than gatherings of gossipy gals from the leisure class. They were cauldrons of both education and entertainment where women, barred from higher learning, could expand their minds and try on new ideas as they hobnobbed with the great philosophers, social commentators and satirists of their day. Siren School salons encourage women to step out of their comfort zones and explore new terrain while surrounded by supportive like-minded women.

"I think what I enjoy most about the salons is how different from one another they all are. They don't just have names of their own, but complete personalities that make each salon distinct from the next," says Joy of the Tea Travellers Societea salon in Southern California. "While my salon uses tea as the tie that binds all of our events together, over in Georgia, Sanndi and the Bohemian Belles are off doing things that appeal to a free gypsy spirit. I love the variety! Especially because it enables us to delve into and appreciate other cultures and customs as well as ourselves, which is what Siren School is all about." 
Tea Traveller Carol says, "What I like most about these salons is that they pick up where the Red Hat Society left off. They encourage the upcoming generations to try new things and enjoy the company of women. Since each salon has a different theme or focus, you can find the perfect fit for you based on interests, not just geography; and you can participate in the events offered by more than one salon. After all, each of us has a variety of interests and each salon appeals to a different part of our personality."

Salon activities run the gamut from nature hikes to opera field trips, whodunit mystery tea parties to circus arts classes, with everything in between. Are you ready to spread your wings and find the siren within?

See our Regional Salons page to find an existing salon near you. Or, if you're feeling adventurous, consider starting up a salon of your own!

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Bright skies ahead

Big doings on the siren scene. As some may know, our headmistress has been out of commission for an extended time due to health issues. At present, her health is starting to normalize and she's preparing to take the siren realm by storm with a variety of wonderfully revamped events for 2016, including all of our weekend Mythic Adventures. Single-day Siren Soirees and Fantasy Fitness themed dance classes for the public are being added to the calendar as well. We're even planning a Mermaid Bootless Camp for adults ... but more on that later.  For now, just enjoy your summer as we tinker behind the curtain to make your siren dreams come true.

Monday, July 13, 2015

Summer Slacking

The upcoming issue of la Vie Sirene e-mag was 'supposed to' launch July 1 ... then August 1 ... then I realized our contributors were having way too much summer fun to even think about getting their submissions in on time. So now, they have the summer off; but we'd like to post something summery, so we're opening up the blog version of the magazine to random summer submissions from everyone and everyone. Got a favorite photo you'd like to share? Perhaps you've written a short story you're keen to give to the world?  Whatever it is, send it on in to cestlaviesirene@gmail.com and we'll get in as part of our Summer Slacking posts. 

Sunday, July 12, 2015

A true Victorian Tea

Join us for a weekend of elegance, gardens, and tea at our Victorian GentiliTea tour of British Columbia, April 2016.  

Highlights include:
Butchart Gardens - one of our tea destinations on our Victorian GentiliTea Tour

  • Your choice of 6 afternoon tea treks, including the world-famous The Empress Hotel, Butchart Gardens and the Gatsby Mansion
  • A visit to a castle!
  • A visit to Fisherman's Wharf by water taxi
  •  A walk through Chinatown by lantern
  • We even offer a tea hat tutorial and getting-to-know-you socializing opportunity prior to the trip

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

For those in SoCal who like their mystery served hot

The Tea Traveller's Societea's first Summer Sleuthing Series starts today!

Click on image to enlarge ... or just use your detective magnifying glass *wink*

In addition to the Cup of Mystery whodunits listed above, we're hosting a Sherlock in Paris meetup on Thurs, Aug 13 at 10am starting with a visit to the Sherlock exhibit at the Discovery Cube in Santa Ana followed by afternoon tea at Paris in a Cup, just a few miles from the museum.

Plus, Clotted CrimeSun, Aug 16 at 3pm at Tea & Teacups in Yorba Linda CA. "Murder is on the menu when a milk-curdling scream rings out at the live taping of the cable television show, A Matter of Manners, and what’s more, the killer is someone among us. Play detective, play a part, or even play dead!"

Monday, July 6, 2015

Treasure chest or tea chest ... or both?!

For those who are having a hard time deciding whether to enroll in PLUNDER ($25) or get a basic Tea Taster membership with the new Tea Travellers Societea ($25), we've made the decision irresistibly simple.

As a mid-summer special, we're offering both for one price.

Through 15 August 2015, $25 enrolls you in Siren School and makes you a member of the Societea.

Don't miss this chance to run amok with us this summer.


Make sure to mention this special offer when you sign up!

Sunday, July 5, 2015

The siren week in review - 5 July 2015

This week saw some festive activity in the Siren School realm. Here's what you may have missed.

Tea Travellers Societea:

La Vie Sirene magazine's TEA issue:

Blogs & whatnot:

Next week:
  • Our Cup of Mystery Summer Sleuthing Series begins!
  • Exciting updates on our Salonniere program
  • The Nightmare Before Christmas ... in July tea party


Saturday, July 4, 2015

Be free!

It's Independence Day!
What are you doing to liberate yourself
and set yourself free?!


Thursday, June 25, 2015

Because every day is Fairy Day at Siren School

I missed official fairy day yesterday as I was off flitting about. But here's proof (captured by Austrian artist Hans Zatzka, 1859-1945) that the fae were out in force and dancing to their hearts' content.

Fantasy Fitness is going green!

We've all heard the benefits of green-living shouted from the rooftops. From recycling to reducing our carbon footprints, there are innumerable ways we can lead a more organic lifestyle and improve the health of our planet. But did you know the same concept applies to your workout regimen?

In recent years, the practice of 'earthing' (walking barefoot in nature to soak in the soil's inherent energy) has attracted a following, and it's understandable. It's incredibly life-affirming and energizing to connect with the world around us by walking barefoot, breathing unprocessed air, inhaling the intoxicating scents of flora and fauna, basking in natural light, and getting lost in the music of birdsong.

At a time when many people (especially the young) often find their physical activity limited to thumb and finger movements while playing a video game in front of a TV in their living room, the benefits of outdoor exercise have become increasingly vital. Even those who go to the gym on a regular basis may find improved levels of fitness when they 'take it outside'.

Reuters Health writes, "Outdoor workouts left women in a better mood and kept them exercising longer than counterparts who exercised indoors, according to a small study from Canada."

Siren School's Headmistress Joy came to the same conclusion. "The other day I was sprawled out at the bay after the briefest of early summer swims. I closed my eyes as I felt the sand beneath my towel conform to the shape of my body, and I reveled in the warmth of the sun and the sound of the water lapping at the shore. I thought about how I needed to get back into Fantasy Fitness dancing, but nothing could compare to the enlivening experience of being outdoors, and then it hit me. I'd lost sight of what inspired Siren School and Fantasy Fitness in the first place.

It was during a swim at that very same bay, before the intense health challenges of the last few years, that I felt an overwhelming desire to cut loose from societal constraints, and to express myself in the most natural and beautiful ways imaginable. At the time, my initial inspiration included doing aquatic dance in a mermaid tail alongside all of the salt water denizens of that environment. 

Somehow I'd gotten away from that original concept and over time, when working on ideas for teaching Fantasy Fitness, my mind automatically slogged back to the gym and dance studio—not exactly the best environment for female archetype immersion that is such an integral part of the Siren School experience.

Clearly, it's time to get back to basics, which means getting back to nature."

Enter our budding Plein-Air ELEMENTALS series.  Over the next several months, we'll be restructuring select class offerings to adapt them to the great outdoors:

Air 
  • Genie Belly Bliss—These ethereal beings loathe being contained and need to be out in the open air with a view of the sky
Earth
  • Island Drums—Polynesian dance done barefoot, preferably near palms that sway in sync with your hips  
Fire
  • Gypsy folkdance—Barefoot in a park or grove, or better yet, around a campfire
Water
  • Fathoms Deep—Mermaid aquatic dance with tail
  • Blowing Bubbles—Naiad fresh water workout (with legs)

Dance magazine's Let's Take It Outside article by Camille LeFevre offers: "When you do site-specific dance ... you open yourself up to these fabulously serendipitous moments of incredible beauty that you simply can’t plan for.”

Our Plein-Air Elemental classes will be conducted in secluded areas of public spaces, enabling participants to connect with their natural surrounds away from crowds and noise. And class fees will be reduced thanks to the literal lack of overhead.  Contact us to see how you can get involved, either as a participant or instructor. All are welcome.

Fantasy Fitness Elementals - liberating body & soul

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Mid-Summer Shapeover camp 2015

Express your true loveliness, from the inside out!

Fantasy Fitness and the Love Yourself Lovely - Love Yourself Lean program in 2015 for a Mid-Summer Shapeover.

7-week online program runs Mon July 6 - Sun August 23
and includes:

  • Weekly themes to reshape the way you think, move, and behave
  • Daily focus topics with uplifting blogs posts and lots of links to more detailed inspiration
  • A partner participant, ensuring your accountability
  • A private Facebook group just for this activity
  • Recipes & workout tips
  • Interactive online dance classes (one per day; time will be determined by locations of participants) — Participate live via videochat or work out on your own with our private recorded instruction video 
Mondays - Genie Belly Bliss
Tuesdays - Bollywood Blast
Wednesdays - Charleston
Thursdays - Island Drums
Fridays - Salsa Picante

Sign up with friends at a discounted rate
$150 for 1
$225 for 2 (you save $25 each)
$375 for 3 (you save $41.67 each)
$325 for 4 (you save $56.25 each)
(Plunder points earned = #1000)

Participants
 
 




Thursday, May 21, 2015

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Tea, anyone?

Grab a cuppa and confab with us on Facebook & Google+ 
Announcing the new 
Tea Travellers Societea
launching May 21

Societea amenities include:

  • Local Tea Trek meetups
  • Visits to group only tea venues
  • Regional tearoom guidebooks in a variety of formats, each with its own distinctive content
  • Memberships galore
  • Snapshot Tearoom Treasure Hunt
  • Tea trips to exotic lands ... No snickering, British Columbia is pretty darn exotic to us
  • Annual Tea-themed magazine 
  • and oh so much more



Thursday, February 5, 2015

Thank you, Long Beach!

A heartfelt hug and oodles of thanks to whoever nominated us and voted for us for a 2014 Best of Long Beach award. Apparently, we won! ❤




Friday, January 23, 2015

Fantasy Fitness classes ONLINE!

INTERACTIVE online videochat classes for up to 9 students begin March 1, 2015! .Join us for our first series (March 1 - April 11) at a fraction of the cost.

INTRODUCTORY SPECIALS:
1 class/wk for 6 weeks = $25
2 class/wk for 6 weeks = $62
3 class/wk for 6 weeks = $93
4 class/wk for 6 weeks = $118
5 class/wk for 6 weeks = $137
6 class/wk for 6 weeks = $150
UNLIMITED monthly (up too 100 classes) = $75

GENIE Belly Bliss (6 classes per week):
Mon - 9am PDT / 12noon EDT & 4pm PDT / 7pm EDT
Tues - 9am PDT / 12noon EDT
Thurs - 9am PDT / 12noon EDT & 7pm PDT / 10pm EDT
Fri - 9am PDT / 12noon EDT

Class times listed in Pacific PDT zone
BOLLYWOOD Blast (6 classes per week):
Mon - 10am PDT / 1pm EDT & 7pm PDT / 10pm EDT
Tues - 10am PDT / 1pm EDT & 7pm PDT / 10pm EDT
Thurs - 10am PDT / 1pm EDT
Fri - 10am PDT / 1pm EDT

ISLAND Drums (6 classes per week):
Mon - 11am PDT / 2pm EDT
Tues - 11am PDT / 2pm EDT & 7pm PDT / 10pm EDT
Thurs - 11am PDT / 2pm EDT
Fri - 11am PDT / 2pm EDT & 4pm PDT / 7pm EDT

Introductory special (reduced fees) good for purchases made before March 1, 2015
GYPSY (2 classes per week):
Mon - 6pm PDT / 9pm EDT
Wed - 6pm PDT / 9pm EDT

CHARLESTON (2 classes per week):
Tues - 6pm PDT / 9pm EDT
Thurs - 6pm PDT / 9pm EDT

SOCIAL GRACES (1 class per week):
Fri - 6pm PDT / 9pm EDT
Learn how to move in day to day life & carry yourself with elegance and grace

CLASSIC STRIPTEASE... emphasis on tease (1 class per week)
Fri - 7pm PDT / 10pm EDT

WILD CARD - 1 class per week... be surprised!



GROUP 6 week session - Specials price
Enter name(s) of class(es)




1-on-1, 6 week session - Specials price
Enter name(s) of class(es)



If you wish to take a specific number of classes other than those included in our 'specials' price, simply email us at sirenschool@gmail.com to let us know what you have in mind
and we'll get you squared away!

Monday, January 19, 2015

Gypsy Jamboree Soiree Producers - first batch is certified fresh!

Congratulations to Bonnie Ramsburg and Sanndi Thompson — 
Siren Soirees first Gypsy Jamboree party presenters to complete 
training and certification!

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Galentine's Day

What’s Galentine’s Day?

Originator Leslie Knope explains it this way:
"Oh, it’s only the best day of the year. Every February 13th my lady friends and I leave our husbands and ourr boyfriends at home and just kick it breakfast style. Ladies celebrating ladies. It’s like Lilith Fair, minus the angst. Plus, frittatas!"

Whether or not you choose to make it a morning affair or girls night out, join us Feb 13 to celebrate love, siren sister style. Meet up with your local Siren School Salon, or if there's not one nearby, perhaps now's the time for you to start your own!

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

The Wonders & Blunders of Tea

$15 per participant
Sunday,  March 22 at 1pm - online via videochat

Demystifying this most civilized of pastimes. Learn the truth about:
  • Afternoon tea
  • High tea
  • 'Pinkies'
  • Tea terminology
  • How to eat tea foods
  • What to wear
  • What to do and how to do it
  • What not to do & why not