Melanated - Intro to Rope Series [BIPOC Exclusive]

Melanated | Introduction to Rope Series

This introductory 2-part rope bondage series is created for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, focusing on the foundational components of rope safety, intentionality, and technique. Each part will introduce participants to new exercises and opportunities for practice and discussion, with the goal of developing a nuanced familiarity with each component of rope bondage basics. At the end of the series participants will be able to identify their own risk profile, negotiate intent and expectations, and navigate beginner-level rope harnesses and techniques.

Each session is 2 hours from 6-8 PM.

Part I - April 18th

Part I will focus on grounding participants within a deeper understanding of what bondage is, where it originates, and how to handle rope safely and consensually. Participants will be introduced to foundational rope techniques including knots, hitches, as well as single and double-column ties. In addition, participants will learn and practice safety negotiation and scene planning with an emphasis on cultural awareness and self-advocacy.

We will cover:

1. Safety and negotiation
2. Risk profiling
3. Cultural and historical context
4. Scene and safety planning
5. Foundational techniques:
6. Knots and hitches
7. Single and double-column ties

Part II - April 19th

Part II will focus primarily on rope technique and harness structure. Participants will learn exercises for enhancing rope connectivity and practicing rope tension and handling. Bringing together the foundational techniques from Part I, we will cover basic chest, hip, and leg harnesses.

We will cover:

1. Rope and rope care
2. Rope tension and handling
3. Connectivity
4. Harness structure
5. Free form
6. Basic chest, hip, and leg harnesses