We have had the most amazing, bondage, weekend in Norway and I have been dying to write about it; but the organization beat me to it and I can not do a better job at blowing my horn as their review 🙂
It´s Friday. The sun is shining (does not happen too often here), we´re at this really nice location, weekend coming up…what could possibly make it better?? Well, add Bob from RopeMarks, beautiful Dutch Dame and a bunch of very excited riggers and bunnies from all over Norway and it´s just perfect.
The workshop
Bob is a fantastic teacher. We already knew that, but every time we meet him he takes it up another notch. This time he had quite a challenging task: Two days of workshops, no suspension points for the participants and a group of riggers and bunnies with various degree of experience.
Using both his historical and cultural knowledge, his vast experience and his creativity Bob centered the teachings around the timeline of the gote. He used variations of the gote as a starting points for full body ties and for layering tie upon tie. As soon as he was sure the riggers had gotten the basics, Bob encouraged everyone to play around and to be creative, and to work towards developing their own style instead of simply copying someone else’s work.
This way, the participants not only gained technical knowledge, but also a deeper understanding of the concept of kinbaku and more confidence in doing their own thing. This is so important in todays rope community where so many proclaimed «experts» are simply copying other riggers work (up to copying their exact workshops!), and also being very dogmatic about their style being «the one true way» and that there are exact ways you have to follow in order to be connective with rope. In Norway we have this saying «A little knowledge can be dangerous», meaning if you don´t know how much there is to learn about something, it´s easy to be dogmatic. As a teacher, Bob is the opposite of dogmatic, and his enthusiasm for the other riggers ideas and styles at the workshop showed a confidence and humbleness lacking in many other riggers.
Bob would not be Bob without DD, and having her around for a whole weekend is just really a treat. She provided lots of great tips and hints for the bunnies, and having such an experienced model around to ask questions is very helpful.
The show
On our two last events we have hosted large parties. That is A LOT of work. So this time, we decided to just do a small party with the workshop participants and a few extra ropey people who couldn´t make it to the workshop. The highlight of the evening was, of course, the show.
The party started with a light meal, and then everyone gathered in the largest room of the location, excited to see the show. As always, it was fantastic. It´s impossible not to be impressed by Bob´s amazing technical skills, his speed, his sense of humour and stage presence.
As a bunny, I´m always equally impressed by DDs fantastic strength and flexibility, she is one tough and talented bunny! The things that girl can do and still be smiling…there are not many bunnies in the world that can match her skills and grace. And together, the two of them are just dynamite. It´s so obvious that they enjoy both each other and what they do, and Bobs evil ideas and wicked grins contrasts DDs calm beauty perfectly.
The party
The fact that everyone had been truly inspired by the show and workshops became apparent very soon – just minutes after the show people were tying each other everywhere. The evening was very cozy and intimate, and so successful that we will probably repeat the «small-party-formula» for our next event.
The surprise
Master hurt his hand a few days before the workshop, and while he was able to follow the teachings at the workshop he had to take it easy at the party. Which gave yours truly a chance to be rigged by DD. Yes, you read that right…surprise, the multi-talented DD can also do rope! With a very elegant and considerate approach to it. It was really fun to be her first bunny. Watch out, you other riggers out there…
From Bergen Kink&Kinbaku, a very big thank you to both Bob and Dutch-Dame for making yet another trip to Norway. Getting a chance to learn from you means so much to the Norwegian rope scene. We are already getting e-mails asking when you will be back!
For BK&K,
cilie
Photos by Anshargal, cilie, Theeye | The original post is here.
Update: For us this weekend ended showered with unexpected gifts!
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