Shibari – Kinbaku
The art of binding the body with ropes is a fascinating practice. Shibari or Kinbaku—as rope bondage is known in Japanese—shares many similarities with dance, yoga, and meditation, and offers a wide range of intense physical, mental, and emotional experiences. Shibari is arguably one of the most diverse practices in the BDSM sphere and, given its performative and aesthetic dimensions, also one of the most visually appealing. Increasingly, Shibari is being recognized beyond the erotic scene as a distinct art and performance form.
The workshop series
The five parts of the SHIBARI BASICS series—the INTRO DAY, theFLOORWORK I & II workshops, and the PARTIAL SUSPENSION I & II workshops— complement one another, and it makes perfect sense to attend them in this order. However, this isn’t required. Even as a beginner, you’re welcome to start with FLOORWORK II or PARTIAL SUSPENSION I if you attend the INTRO DAY the previous Friday. You can still catch up on the other workshops later. The only exception is PARTIAL SUSPENSION II, for which either attendance at PARTIAL SUSPENSION I ( or comparable knowledge) or a combination of foundational knowledge gained through attending an INTRO DAY or FLOORWORK course and the CHEST HARNESS & SUSPENSION LINES – PREPARATION & REPETITION workshop is a prerequisite.
Floorwork I & II
These workshops focus on the basics of Japanese-style rope bondage. In addition to basic and improvisational techniques, classic patterns, and various safety considerations, we also explore body awareness and posture, as well as interaction and communication between partners. In doing so, we discover how the binder and the bound can shape their encounter in diverse ways—through a trusting interplay of power and submission, empathetic communication and mutual devotion, and deep connection and intensity.
SHIBARI BASICS – FLOORWORK I & II are both beginners for beginners when combined with the introductory session on Friday— INTRO DAY. It is also possible to attend only Friday as a trial session. Those who already know the basics can start on Saturday instead.
SCHEDULE
Fri, May 12, 2023 - 5:00 PM–10:30 PM
Sat, May 13, 2023 - 10:30 AM–9:00 PM
Sun, May 14, 2023 - 10:00 AM–1:00 PM
+ Bondage Jam
LANGUAGES
German, English
COSTS
Registration fee per person
Fri – CHF 44 + XXX
Sat & Sun – CHF 66 + XXX
Fri, Sat & Sun – CHF 110 + XXX
The remaining balance of the workshop fee, based on the sliding scale, can be paid on-site in cash or via TWINT.
Average price:
Fri – CHF 165
Sat & Sun – CHF 330
Choose your own price based on your financial situation. The main thing is that you join in!
We warmly invite people with high incomes who can afford it to pay significantly more than the standard price, so that we can continue to offer this service to people with little or no income. We thank you in advance for your solidarity!
Workshop participants are warmly invited to attend the Bondage Jam in the afternoon following the Sunday morning session and put what they’ve learned into practice.
Please also read all further info below, too.
FURTHER INFORMATION
NOTES ON THE EVENT
Singles, couples, and people in all other types of relationships are welcome to sign up.
We will switch roles, meaning the exercises will be repeated so that all participants get to experience both tying and being tied up. Couples who do not wish to switch roles may remain in their assigned roles. Please let us know when you register if this applies to you.
The goals of our events are collaborative learning within the group, supporting shared processes, and personal development. Couples and all other types of partnerships or group dynamics are welcome, but you should be aware and open to the fact that the courses are not designed as partnership experiences and that we address each person as an individual. For example: To involve all participants equally, we usually work with random partner combinations during the exercises. This means that both same-sex and opposite-sex combinations will occur. Participants should generally be open to working with every person and every body. Exceptions can be discussed on a case-by-case basis.
Gender identity, sexual orientation, age or membership of often marginalized groups such as BBIPoC, migrants, refugees, LGBTQIA*, disabled people, etc. are not criteria when registering and selecting participants. This means that, in principle, everyone is equally welcome and we endeavor to do justice to the respective constellation and different needs, but our resources are limited. If you have any questions in this regard, please contact us.
We expect you to act with care, be communicative, prioritize consent, and be mindful, and we encourage you to respect your own boundaries and take personal responsibility.
Hate speech will not be tolerated. Please bring "Candy Speech."
We reserve the right to ask participants to leave the workshop if their behavior is hurtful or problematic, and we reserve the right to do so without explanation—though we will likely try to explain. Workshop fees would then be refunded in full. Any further claims are excluded.
You can read more about this topic here.
PRICES AND IF SOLD OUT
This event is being held under special conditions; we want to make it as inclusive as possible. Therefore, there is no set price for the workshop that must be paid in addition to the registration fee.
We’ll let you decide how much you can and would like to contribute toward your participation—taking your financial situation into account—in addition to the registration fee.
We would like to point out that the regular price for such a workshop, if one wishes to make a living from it—as we certainly strive to do—must be at the level mentioned above.
We warmly invite everyone who can afford it to pay significantly more so that we can offer a reduced price to people with little or no income.
Payment options—cash or via TWINT—will be available on-site.
Is the event sold out on the ticketing platform? Contact us! There may be a waiting list or another way for you to attend after all.
CANCELLATION POLICY
Cancellations are free of charge up to eight weeks before the course begins; a cancellation fee of 20% of the course fee applies up to four weeks before the course begins, and a cancellation fee of 50% applies up to two weeks before the course begins. Later cancellations and refunds of course fees are not possible. However, participants may find replacement participants to take their reserved spots. If the organizer cancels the course, the full course fee will be refunded. No further claims are permitted.