LGBTQ+

The Umbrae Noctis Festival is elated to announce 3 different movement workshops with the illustrious headliners and feature performers. Take class with local sensation Asteria Atombomb, Burlesque Hall of Fame title holder Moscato Sky, and/or Dragula season 4 runner-up Throb Zombie.

November 14: Are you stuck doing the same repetitive movements onstage? Trying to tell a story but can't find the actions to fit the narrative? Then this workshop is for you! Asteria will use her decades of experience in dance, theater, and artistic direction to help you create a compelling act. Through a series of dance and improvisational exercises, attendees will explore various ways to incorporate movement into a compelling storyline. Walk away feeling confident in getting your point across on the stage and leaving audiences wowed. Bring a journal and writing utensils. Clothes that are easy to move in.

November 14: Take your chair work to the next level with the them fatale of burlesque, Moscato Sky. This class will begin with a warm-up to prepare students to learn innovative ways to use this classic prop, how to maneuver on and off the chair with ease and grace, and exciting tricks that will stun any audience. In this workshop-style class, students will be challenged to create new movement pathways, explore obscure approaches to chair work, and walk away with tools to generate chair choreography.

This class is designed for students with a movement background or previous chair and floor work experience and may not be appropriate for people with serious knee and back injuries. However, all levels are welcome as this class acts as a lab and encourages exploration. Wear yoga or dance clothes you can move freely in. Knee pads are encouraged but not required.

November 15: Hump and Grind: Masc Movement and Choreography with Throb Zombie. Hump and Grind is an energetic and sexy dance class for kings or anyone who is ready to move. Taught by one of the most prolific, current dancing drag kings in the industry and iconic himbo, Throb Zombie.

Class will entail:

• A stretch/warmup
• Introduction to posture/masculine body movement
• Transitions/specific moves that can work for all dance levels from beginner to advanced
• Commanding space with presence
• A short choreography sequence
• Don’t be scared! While this class dares to challenge you, all levels are welcome. Come gyrate, grow, and get ready to sweat with the boys.
• Students must bring clothes they are comfortable moving in and are strongly encouraged to bring a water bottle and knee pads.

Explore green tea as a pathway to clarity in a guided tasting class centered on presence, flavor, and mindful attention. Participants will engage with the leaf’s story through taste, reflection, and conversation, discovering how each infusion can foster serenity and a felt connection to nature’s wisdom. A sliding scale contribution supports access and sustainability, with $35 suggested and the option to offer $25, $35, or more as means allow. A $15 option is available for BIPOC participants to honor equity and reduce barriers. If pricing remains a concern, arrangements can be made to keep this experience within reach. All are welcome in a space grounded in care, openness, and community, where every person is valued. To support those with sensory sensitivities, participants are asked to avoid strong fragrances. Respect for personal boundaries helps nurture a setting where meditation, tea, and queer belonging can flourish. Five dollars from each participant will be donated to Q Center, supporting LGBTQ2SIA+ communities through advocacy, resources, and safe spaces. The gathering is guided by D’Guar (They/Them), a trans person of color, tea guide, and community weaver rooted in Portland, Oregon, whose practice with Camellia sinensis blends learning with reverence through ritual and story. Through Water Fairy Tea, they cultivate spaces where tea becomes a companion in personal discovery, collective care, and relationship with the natural world. This work honors the traditional lands of the Multnomah, Clackamas, Chinook, Kathlamet, Tualatin, Kalapuya, Molalla, and many other Indigenous peoples, with gratitude for their enduring presence, care, and wisdom.

Join us in an Analog-Style listening space, where Adult patrons and Teens (16+) who identify as Two-Spirit/LGBTQ+, and allies, can enjoy culturally relevant and identity-supporting media and learn more about local Two-Spirit resources. As part of this series, we will explore analog media and hand-made projects.

Contra Remix: gender-free queer-friendly DJ‘d contra dancing. Also keep spreading the good word to continue filling up the hall with even more of our friends and new friends we haven‘t met yet! Contra Remix is back, with caller and DJ Noah Grunzweig. This is a queer loving space that supports the expression, exploration, and rejection of gender & sex identities. The terms used to identify partnered positioning in our dance are Larks and Robins. Community welcome and newcomers‘ lesson at 6:30 pm; dance 7-10 Admission: $6-$20 sliding scale New Location! Norse Hall, upstairs - 111 NE 11th Ave, Portland Mask Policy All regular Contra and English dances will be mask-optional. Vaccination Policy PCDC no longer requires proof of vaccination, but we continue to encourage everyone to be vaccinated. While currently available COVID-19 vaccines no longer do much to prevent transmission, they continue to be effective for protecting oneself from more serious illness.

Learn to box in a class built for you. Coach Chris Liles (USA Boxing certified) teaches fundamentals of footwork, form, and hitting things really hard in a supportive space for queer, trans, BIPOC, and fat folks. Beginner-friendly, zero experience needed. Just wear something you can move in and bring water. Gloves and all loaner equipment provided.