WESTBROOK – Abandoned, brightly colored feathers, specks of glitter and high heels litter the Avant Dance and Event Center floor after its newest class lets out on Tuesday night.

Burlesque, or the art of the subtle tease, is being taught at the Westbrook studio. Its aim is less about sex and more about helping women be more confident in all aspects of their life.

The class isn’t a striptease workout. There are no pasties, and while costumes are encouraged, most of the women wear standard workout gear – with one exception.

“We do ask everyone to bring their own heels,” said Kristin Sutton, who is a Zumba instructor at the dance center.

“A lot of what is talked about in class is about attitude and not about steps. It’s an art form, really,” said Sutton. “We’ll start class and have everyone walk across the floor pretending they’re the head of the company. It’s very empowering. At the end off class everyone’s walking with their hands on their hips, with lots of attitude and confidence.”

Sutton was one of the 20 women of all ages who took the first intermediate burlesque class at Avant on April 23. Many of the women who showed up take another class offered at the studio and some were first-timers, feeling a little shy about taking the class but open to the possibilities.

Before class began, women milled around the room, putting on glitter distributed by Sutton and class instructor Margaret Irving – better known as Ginger Rita, her stage name – and drinking a few cocktails to loosen up for the class.

“I want to learn how to be sexy. I’ve never been to a class before, but I figured it would be fun to try it,” said Westbrook resident Missy Mckenney.

Other women came because they wanted to learn new dance moves and check out the new class offering. All of them came to have fun.

Sutton said burlesque moves are diverse. Depending on the size of the class and the attitude of the women, classes range from a subtle tease with a warm-up to the old “Pink Panther” movie theme song and moves like seductive shoulder rolls and showing off a bit of the ankle, to very sexy, with lots of popular upbeat music, like Beyonce and dance moves that involve chairs and seductive poses.

“It’s empowering,” Rita said. “I enjoy sharing what I love with other people and helping them feel sexy. It’s about having fun, de-stressing and socializing. I want to create a burlesque community and get more people involved.”

Rita began her career as a burlesque performer in 2007 when she started dancing with a Boston burlesque troupe. She’s also performed in groups with names such as Dirty Dishes Revue, Atomic Trash, Red Hot & Ladylike and Vivid Motion, and performs around the greater Portland area.

“I like the costumes. Definitely, dressing up and creating the different characters is my favorite part,” said Rita.

While most of the women during the burlesque class, besides Sutton, Rita and a few other Zumba instructors and regulars, did not wear any costume, the glitter and the props – feather boas, fedoras, chairs and oversized white button-down shirts – help the women feel a little like they’re playing dress-up.

Christina Harris, 28, and her mother, Debbie Harris, 53, didn’t bring any costumes.

“I’m pretty shy, she’s not, but I felt very comfortable the whole time,” Debbie Harris said.

“It’s fun. I made mistakes but you can laugh at yourself. It’s all funny,” Christina Harris said.

Before showing the women how to walk confidently in heels and a few choreographed, yet simple dances, Rita reminded the women that the class was more about having fun and being sassy.

“I want people to feel confident. A lot of people get scared, but ask me if you have any questions or if you need to stop. Talk to people around you. Part of burlesque class is getting to know each other,” Rita said.

Burlesque classes have been offered at Avant for a few months, and the new intermediate class was added because of the growing popularity of Rita’s lessons.

Many will recognize the name of the studio because of a marketing tactic Sutton used for Zumba classes last year during the height of the prostitution investigation into Kennebunk Zumba instructor Alexis Wright.

“I got a lot of ridicule from a lot of people when the Zumba thing hit,” said Sutton, who was trained in the same studio where Wright once worked.

In response, Sutton used humor. Underneath the studio’s portable sign, which at the time read “Zumba $5,” Sutton added: “No really, it’s just Zumba.”

Immediately, the phones were ringing with new clients and even the building owner called to inform the studio at least six cars had stopped to take pictures on the first day.

Rachel Carlson, left, of South Portland, strikes a pose during the burlesque class at Avant Dance and Event Center on Spring Street in Westbrook. Photos by Rich Obrey

Burlesque instructor Ginger Rita guides a through a few moves at Avant Dance and Event Center on Spring Street in Westbrook.