Beginner’s Class: Rope 101
Days & Times: Tuesday November 17, 24, December 1, 8, 7:30 – 9:30 PM
Cost: $150 / person for the series ($37.50 per class)
Description:
This 4-class series will start you on your journey with the tools to explore rope confidently and safely. Learn the basic building blocks of ties as self-ties, no partner required (though generally encouraged). Rope, safety scissors are required and are sold during class.
Prerequisites:
No previous experience required.
Class Topics:
- Safe Single and Double Column Ties
- Futomomo (leg tie) of various types and how to choose
- Shin Lacing
- Agura (crosslegged) Harness
- Consent and Negotiation
- Safety and Communication
Floor Work: Rope 102 with Mr.R and Arby
Days & Times: Wednesdays 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Joy Street Studios: September 9, 23, October 7, 21
Cost: $150 / person ($300 per pair)
Description:
Rope 102 is the next step for those who have taken Rope 101. This 4-class series will expand your tools to explore rope confidently and safely. Learn the basic building blocks of harnesses, partner required. Each class will pair a soft skill with a technical skill. Rope and safety scissors are required and are sold during class.
If you attend without a partner, you will be assigned a random partner each class and each person will be expected to switch (both tie and get tied).
Class Topics:
- Body Manipulation
- Body Warm-Ups for Tops and Bottoms
- Scene Structure
- Upper Body Nerve Pathways, Safety, and Rope Placement
- Classic Positions and Terminology
- Rope Handling Skills
- Improvisation with Basics
- Creating Non-Classic Positions
Prerequisites:
Top-Only or Switch: Rope 101 OR previous rope experience including everything from Rope 101
Bottom-Only: Consent and Negotiation Skills
Somerville SkillShare
Days & Times: Last Thursdays 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM (Doors close at 7:15p)
Thursdays: 07/30, 08/27, 09/24, 10/29, 12/10
Cost: $15-$40
Description:
Join us for an open-format skill sharing session, where all experience levels are welcome! Whether you want to tie, be tied, watch, share techniques, or simply socialize with the community, this is a space for exploration and learning. There’s no formal instruction—just an opportunity to exchange knowledge, practice, and connect in a relaxed, respectful environment. Bring your rope, a yoga mat, curiosity, and enthusiasm! (and a snack if you want)
For those who are brand new to BnB, we will run a short Crash Course for the first hour, 7:45 PM – 8:45 PM.
CoLaboratory
Days & Times: Thursday, August 13, 7:30 PM – 10 PM
Continuing second Thursdays of the month (08/13, 09/10, 10/08?, 11/12)
Cost: $20 / person (partnered and self-tying)
Join us for an evening of exploration and discussion. CoLaboratory is a semi-structured forum built on discussion, collaboration, and exploration of a theme.
August’s forum will be lead by Mr. R, centered on the theme “Floating, Falling, Flying. Mr. R’s background in music composition and creative critique will shape the discussion and invite involvement from everyone. This month’s theme will be centered on “Floating.”
Prerequisites: Experience tying / being tied in suspension, improvising with advanced skills, a desire to examine your own practice and establish your own goals. (advanced)
Additional Topics:
Prism Boxtie: Mr.R’s Chest-Loading Boxtie
Days & Times: Wednesday, September 2, 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Minimum Level: Intermediate+
Cost: $30/person
The Prism Boxtie was developed by Mr.R in collaboration with Arby to build a boxtie that had many of the attractive and motivating features of a traditional boxtie, but without loading the arms in suspension. Structurally, the Prism is a stemmed variation of the popular Spellbound Harness.
This class is for you if you are looking for a boxtie that can be sustainable for floor and suspension play. This harness has been developed specifically for chests without chest tissue and can be used on many/most bodies.
Class Topics:
- Risks and safety for arms in boxties
- Body manipulation and shoulder setting
- Placement, structure of pattern elements as related to your person in rope
- Manage internal tension to translate into comfortable load distribution
Pre-requisites
- If tying…comfort learning multi-step patterns
- …comfort with single column ties, inline cuffs, x-frictions, rope extension, hitches
- …Rope 102 or similar level of skill
- …Uplines, if seeking to suspend (we will not teach uplines; uplines must pass a simple check)
- If being tied…body awareness and the ability to communicate concerns about nerve impingement or circulation loss
- …a desire to be tied with arms at the back
- …a risk profile that includes boxties
Boundary Conditions in Partial Suspension
Days & Times: Wednesday, September 30, 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Minimum Level: Beginning suspension
Cost: $30/person
When does support from the floor stop being meaningful?
Working at the boundary between grounded and suspended states, we’ll explore how to build ties that progressively remove the body’s ability to exert force downward. shifting weight, limiting push, and refining control. The focus is not on fixed patterns, but on understanding the mechanics that define an effective partial.
Working at the boundary between grounded and suspended states, we’ll explore how to build ties that progressively remove the body’s ability to exert force downward. shifting weight, limiting push, and refining control. The focus is not on fixed patterns, but on understanding the mechanics that define an effective partial.
Structured as a guided exploration, this class invites improvisation within clear constraints. We’ll work toward a shared goal: creating partial suspensions where contact with the floor no longer offers stability, leverage, or relief.
Along the way, we’ll look at how small adjustments change the experience, and how to read those changes in real time. This is a class for those who want to move beyond “some weight off the ground” and into something more deliberate.
Class Topics:
- How to create partial suspensions
- Dynamic interplay available in partial suspension
- Hands-on time to explore and discuss the topic
- Integration of play modalities
- Safety and Communication
Pre-requisites
- If tying…front-, and rear-loading chest harness
- …upline management in static suspension
- If being tied…body awareness in rope and practiced communication skills about circulation and nerve concerns
Self-Suspension Salon
Days & Times: Sunday, September 20, 1 PM – 5 PM
Minimum Level: Must be able to tie a Somerville Bowline with grace and ease
Cost: $15-$40 Pay What You Can
Lead By: Beyonder, Apterous, and Nyx
Welcome to the Self-Suspension Salon! Join us for a casual part-class, part-open-space self-suspension skillshare environment. This is a space for both experienced self-suspenders to practice and share ideas, and people interested in learning how to fly.
For those who want to learn self-suspension, you need to be able to do a Somerville bowline while carrying on a conversation with another person, with just a few glances at the knot. We will cover equipment, hard points, uplines, harnesses, suspension techniques, and how to manage the physical and mental challenges of self-suspension. Please bring, if you can, the following:
- a ring, rigging plate, or other device that allows multiple lines to be tied to it, and a climbing loop/strap to attach it to the hard point
- 3+ locking carabiners (rounded shapes are better than D-shapes)
- 3-4 30′ ropes and one 15′ for harnesses, any fiber type
- 4+ 30′ ropes for uplines, rated lines preferred (a synthetic or natural fiber + synthetic mix)
- snacks and/or anything else you will want for doing your own aftercare
- strongly suggested: lycra/spandex leggings or bike shorts that will cover your hips and upper thighs, and a tight fitting top of similar material if desired
A limited amount of equipment will be available to share, or to try out different kinds of hardware or rope. We look forward to seeing you there!
About the Leaders
Apterous has been in the Boston-area scene since 2012 and doing rope nearly as long, focusing on flyer-centric, circus-influenced rope. She will be glad to induct you into the Cult of the Reverse Somerville Bowline anytime!
Beyonder: A rope nerd in an age where nerds are sexy. Beyonder has been tying and teaching in the Boston scene for over 15 years with an emphasis on sustainable, modular, and functional rope technique.
Nyx is a rope switch for over 10 years, turning silly ideas into fun flights. She focuses on combining simpler components and weaves into a tie that is purpose built for the occasion; whether that is a comfy float, the perfect photo or to just get some uppies in!