Costume Foundations: Built to Strip with Sherry Bomb & Dev Developpe

Burlesque Costume Foundations: Built to Strip is your backstage pass to building bold, stage-ready costumes from the inside out. This two-class package combines practical construction skills with creative design, giving you the tools to craft costumes that are both functional and unforgettable.

In Beautiful Bra Basics, you’ll learn how to turn an everyday bra into a glamorous, professional-looking showpiece without blowing your budget. From clean base coverage and custom strap construction to embellishment techniques and closure options, this class will elevate your costume game at any skill level. You'll also get an up-close look at real examples from Sherry Bomb’s personal collection for inspiration and insight.

Costumes and Props for the Strange and Unusual dives into the imaginative side of costume design, exploring unconventional materials, creative problem-solving, and prop construction through an engineering lens. With real-world examples, interactive discussion, and resource sharing, this class encourages you to think beyond rhinestones and fringe to build unique pieces that reflect your personal performance aesthetic.

Whether you’re building your first showgirl look or pushing the boundaries of burlesque costuming, this package will help you combine solid technique with fearless creativity—because every unforgettable strip starts with a strong foundation.

Each class will provide a digital instructional handout to all attendees.

Package Options:

This two-class course can be purchased as a package for $45, or classes can be purchased separately at $30/ea.

Students Should Bring:

Note taking devices, any any specific costuming ideas or questions

About the Austin Academy of Burlesque:

The Austin Academy of Burlesque is dedicated to the instruction of burlesque performance and history. We teach movement, character development, performance development and fitness in a positive, diverse, and welcoming environment. We resolve to build the local burlesque community by creating a safer, inclusive space, and uphold the values of a just, feminist, and humanist society.

About Your Instructor:

Sherry Bomb: Sherry Bomb, co-producer and performer with Austin's Bat City Bombshells since 2009, brings her unique blend of glamour and surprise to stages across Texas and beyond. Sherry has graced festivals nationwide and earned accolades, including Best Costume at the San Antonio Burlesque Festival, and the South Texas Burlesque Revival. As a costume designer, her creations have adorned stages nationally, including the prestigious Miss Exotic World at the Burlesque Hall of Fame in Las Vegas.Sherry Bomb is active in Austin's burlesque scene, producing quarterly shows and contributing to the Austin Burlesque Alliance. She shares her expertise and love for burlesque as the Executive Director for the Austin Academy of Burlesque and as a regular instructor and Chair of In-Person Programming for BurlyCon.She's the slow-burning fuse with a big bang! Stand back, for Sherry Bomb!

Dev Developpe: Devin Alfather is a multidisciplinary dancer currently specializing in theatrical Fusion Bellydance, Egyptian Bellydance (Raqs Sharqi), Burlesque, Circus, and other MENAHT and world Fusion dances. When not tearing up the stages in Texas and beyond, she can be found teaching out of a home studio in Austin and giving workshops to detail-hungry dancers. She seeks to keep one foot in either world, and is a continuous student of source materials and dancers.

Virtual Learning:

Our Virtual Class Pass gives you the flexibility to enjoy select workshops from anywhere, on your own schedule. This is not a live-stream; instead, you’ll receive a link to stream the class, and you’ll have a full month to watch and rewatch at your convenience, no downloads required. If you purchase an in-person pass, you’ll automatically receive this streaming link as well. Students in class may be recorded along with the instructor. Virtual access will only be available for purchase until the start of the class. Please note that all sales are final and non-refundable.

48-hour Class Cancellation Policy

You may cancel your registration and get a full refund when you contact the Academy more than 48 hours before the start of class. When you contact us with less than 48 hours notice, your fee is not refundable. You may however, transfer your spot to a friend or donate your spot.

A 3 student minimum will be required for a class to take place. In the event a class needs to be canceled due to low attendance, students and will be given 48 hrs notice and will be fully refunded.

Host or Publisher Austin Academy of Burlesque