Paris Chantilly The Heart of Burlesque With Paris
Welcome, I’m Paris Chantilly, founder of Burlesque With Paris, and I’m so excited to share a little about my burlesque journey and how this wonderful community has grown over the past nine years.
Burlesque With Paris is more than just a dance school. It is a welcoming space where confidence grows, friendships are formed, and people are encouraged to celebrate themselves through the joy of burlesque.
When I think about the world of burlesque, my heart still fills with excitement and wonder. Burlesque really is unlike anything else. It is full of beauty, creativity, empowerment, and freedom of expression, and it continues to inspire me every single day.
Over the years, I have been incredibly lucky to meet and dance alongside so many talented performers. Through burlesque, I have also made some truly wonderful friendships. One of the most special friendships this journey has brought into my life is with Khandie Khisses. She has become one of the best friends I could ever have wished for, and I honestly would not want to perform at a show without her by my side.
Becoming Paris Chantilly, stepping into my sparkly costumes, dancing with my fans, and sprinkling petals across the stage still feels just as magical now as it did when I first started. Performing burlesque is one of my proudest achievements and something I treasure deeply.
When I first started Burlesque With Paris nine years ago, I could never have imagined how much it would grow. Our classes began in small function rooms in local pubs, and as more people discovered the joy of burlesque we were able to move into welcoming community centres where our dancers now come together each week to learn, laugh, and build confidence.
Our shows have grown as well. For many years, we held our performances at Drax Sports and Social Club. So many wonderful memories were made there, and it was the place where many of our dancers stepped onto a stage for the very first time. Watching someone perform for the first time and seeing their confidence shine is always such a special moment.
As our community continued to grow, we were incredibly proud to bring our burlesque shows to the stage at Doncaster Little Theatre in 2024. Seeing our dancers perform in a theatre setting was a very proud moment for me and for everyone involved.
Along the way, I have also been lucky enough to build an amazing team of instructors. Together, we created our burlesque troupe, the Roulette Rogues, which is made up of all of our instructors. I absolutely love dancing alongside these talented ladies and creating performances together. Their support, friendship, and passion mean the world to me, and I truly could not do what I do without them.
Burlesque continues to inspire me to keep creating and challenging myself as a performer. This year, I am also preparing for a new adventure as I will be performing my very first double act with Bohemian Beauty at the Burlesque Ball 2026. We are currently planning our costumes, props, choreography, and choosing the name for our double act. It is such an exciting process, and I have a feeling this may be the first of many performances we will share together.
Being able to share the magic of burlesque with others and watch confidence grow both on and off the stage is something I treasure every single day.
How did Burlesque With Paris first begin?
Burlesque With Paris began on the 1st of March 2017. The very first class to open was Selby Starlets, and that is where the journey really started. I wanted to bring the joy of burlesque to Yorkshire and create a space where people could come together, dance, have fun, and build confidence.
At the time, I could never have imagined how much it would grow. What began as one class has turned into a wonderful community of dancers, performers, and instructors who all share the same love for burlesque.
How has Burlesque With Paris grown over the past nine years?
The growth has been incredible to watch. In the beginning, our classes were held in small function rooms in pubs, and now all of our classes take place in welcoming community centres where our dancers come together each week.
Our shows have grown too. For many years, we held our performances at Drax Sports and Social Club, which holds so many special memories for us. In 2024, we were incredibly proud to bring our burlesque show to the stage at Doncaster Little Theatre, which was a very special milestone.
We have also introduced graduation nights and our Girls on Film night, which have been fantastic for building confidence in our dancers. You can really see how much these events help our ladies grow and shine on stage.
What makes Burlesque With Paris different from other dance classes?
For me, Burlesque With Paris has never just been about teaching dance routines. It has always been about creating a welcoming space where people can come together, have fun, and grow in confidence.
Our classes are supportive, friendly, and full of laughter. Everyone is encouraged to go at their own pace, and there is never any pressure to be perfect. Burlesque truly is for everybody, no matter your age, shape, size, or dance experience.
Over the years, I have watched so many people walk into their first class feeling nervous and unsure of themselves, and then slowly grow into confident performers who shine on stage. Watching that journey happen is one of the most special parts of what we do.
Burlesque With Paris is about community, creativity, and celebrating who you are. It is not just about dancing. It is about feeling good, building friendships, and discovering confidence you may never have realised you had.
What has been your proudest moment as the founder?
There have been many proud moments over the years, but seeing our dancers step onto the stage for the first time is always incredibly special.
Another huge milestone was bringing our shows to Doncaster Little Theatre in 2024. Watching our dancers perform in a theatre setting and seeing how confident they have become is something I love.
What do you love most about teaching burlesque?
My favourite thing is watching confidence grow. Someone might arrive at their first class feeling shy or nervous, and over time, they begin to believe in themselves and discover a whole new side of their personality.
Seeing that change happen is the most rewarding part of what I do.
What is the most magical moment you see happen in your classes?
The most magical moments happen when someone realises they are capable of something they never thought they could do.
It might be performing on stage for the first time, trying a move they were nervous about, or simply smiling and enjoying themselves in class. Those moments of confidence and joy are what burlesque is all about.
What role do your instructors play in Burlesque With Paris?
My instructors are such an important part of Burlesque With Paris. They are incredibly supportive, talented, and passionate about helping others feel confident.
In 2025, we introduced something new where our stand-in instructors each take a week during the term to teach class. This gives me a well-deserved week off while also giving them the chance to lead the class. Before that, it was always me teaching every single week.
They also step in if I am on holiday, which means our classes can continue running smoothly. I am very grateful for their support and everything they bring to our burlesque family.
Tell us about the Roulette Rogues troupe and where the name came from?
The Roulette Rogues is our burlesque troupe made up of all of the instructors from Burlesque With Paris. As the business grew and I built such a wonderful team of instructors, it felt natural for us to come together not only as teachers but also as performers.
Creating the Roulette Rogues is honestly one of the best decisions I have ever made. I absolutely love dancing alongside these ladies. They are all incredibly talented, and each bring their own personality and style to the stage. Performing together allows us to support each other, share our creativity, and show our students that we are performers as well as instructors.
At our shows, we perform the final performance of the night together, which always feels really special. It is such a wonderful moment to share the stage as a team, and so many people say they look forward to seeing the Roulette Rogues perform together.
When it came to choosing the name, I wanted something that felt glamorous, exciting, and a little bit mischievous, just like burlesque itself. The name Roulette Rogues felt perfect because it captures that sparkle, showmanship, and playful energy that we bring to the stage.
Being part of the troupe and performing together has become one of my favourite parts of the burlesque journey.
What keeps burlesque exciting for you after all these years?
I honestly do not think I will ever get tired of burlesque. I love it.
It allows me to be creative in so many ways. I make all of my own costumes, I choreograph routines, and I love creating new ideas for performances. Burlesque is not just a business for me. It is also a hobby and a passion.
Right now I am also working on an exciting new project as I prepare to perform my first double act with Bohemian Beauty at the Burlesque Ball 2026. We are currently planning costumes, props, choreography, and even deciding what our double act name will be.
What advice would you give someone thinking about trying burlesque for the first time?
Just give it a go.
Burlesque really is for everyone. You do not need to be a dancer and you do not need to look a certain way. Our classes are welcoming, supportive, and full of laughter.
Once people come along and try it, they usually realise very quickly just how fun and empowering it can be.