sensuality as performance art
The Skin Deep Collective
The Skin Deep Collective (SDC) is a female-led performance arts company dedicated to positioning sensuality as a dramaturgical tool. By providing a platform for performers such as pole dancers, shibari artists, and showgirls, SDC seeks to legitimize these art forms by integrating them into contemporary theater through thoughtfully directed, regulated, and fairly compensated opportunities. The collective also strives to educate the public on the rich history and craftsmanship of these performances, reshaping perceptions of female sensuality. Founded by performance artist Anna-Liisa and creative cultural producer Heta, the Skin Deep Collective has experienced rapid growth since its inception in 2023. It has connected over 20 performers across various sensual arts through live and online networks, and its most recent production drew an audience of over 450. Their performances are not only an aesthetic universe but also delve into deeper emotional realms, offering audiences an immersive journey across the senses.
WHO WE ARE
The Skin Deep Collective is run by Anna-Liisa and Heta. The core artist group is comprised of 6 artists: Anna-Liisa and Heta themselves, Noana, Eden, Mary Hoochie and Zoe. For shows that include a larger group of performers and crafts, such as the Sensual Circus, SDC invites Eleonore and Qiqi in the lineup. Every artist in the collective has their own, unique artistic depth, and their performance arts is predominantly a solo act, meaning that the individuality of the artist is at the forefront. The connecting factor between them is the dedication to sensuality as an artistic communication tool, and the commitment to authentic feminine expression.
OUR MISSION
SDC’s mission is to design emotionally and aesthetically impactful performances through raw authentic sensuality. Challenging norms and perception of the female body, especially in interaction with others, SDC researches its forms in sensual movement and how this has the power to change the state of its audience members. SDC is dedicated to creating well directed, produced and compensated opportunities for performance artists whose craft is often overlooked or marginalised due to the sensual dimension of it and being inclusive of sensual artists and queer communities. SDC aims at creating a standard for these artists in the theater, dance and cultural industry, and improve the artistic and working expectations for them. Our belief is that female sensuality is a powerful vessel for altering the emotional, mental and spiritual state of an audience, beyond the patriarchal perceptions of it.
SDC PRODUCTIONS
IMMERSION
IMMERSION (19th, 20th, 21st September 2024): Immersive dance show at DOOR OPEN SPACE
with IMMERSION, SDC established its artistic vision beyond acrobatics, dance and cabaret. Pouring meticulous attention to detail in its movement research, aesthetic exploration, conceptual context and guidance of the audience and branding as a company. Imagining EROTICA as a guiding spiritual force of empowerment and connection, SDC embodied sensuality and the female body in a form transcending shame, fear and individualism. Attracting over 450 audience members and managing a team of 12 people, SDC proved the standard of their work to the general public and industry collaborators. The collaboration with Sara Europaeus as movement director, and Clara Cozzolino as sound designer elevated the show into a contemporary arts installation. IMMERSION was supported by Amsterdam Funds for the Arts (AFK).
SENSUAL CIRCUS
SENSUAL CIRCUS (16th June 2024): cabaret, circus, dance at De Sloot Theater
with this show, SDC established themselves as collective capable of professional production and artistic vision. The driver for this show was to focus on sensual performance artistry that has a well thought visual identity, styling, soundscape, story and fair compensation of the artists. Putting at the forefront artists with unique depth and understanding of the female body as a communication and aesthetic tool, highlighting their unique flavours and textures of movement and storytelling. Blending acrobatics and sensual movement qualities, the CIRCUS takes the audience on an emotional rollercoaster of self exploration and empowerment. A focus of the CIRCUS is that of community fostering, encouraging audience members to react and even participate on stage. The show was sold at 150 tickets for a sold out theater.
ARTISTIC COLLABORATIONS
MUSEUMNACHT - Van Gogh Museum
MUSEUMNACHT (1st November 2024): performance installation at Van Gogh Museum
for Amsterdam’s nation wide event of Museumnacht, the Skin Deep Collective was invited by Bar Bario to perform at the historical Van Gogh museum. The premise was to show that just like Van Gogh during his time, our art is still widely misunderstood in the mainstream cultural sphere. Performing sensuality as individuals and as a collective of women was a revolutionary act, which was perceived by the wide variety of reactions by the audience and the unwavering support of Van Gogh museum itself. For the occasion, we choreographed a 40min show alternating between pole dancing, shibari and stripping.
HXSSY CABARET
QUEER SEX WORKER CABARET (16th November 2024): collaborative cabaret at Casa Rosso
SDC was invited by activism organisation HXSSY to perform four cabaret acts in their Queer Matinee series at the popular erotic theater Casa Rosso in the red light district. The premise of HXSSY’s cabaret series is to advocate for queer sex working individuals through performance artistry. SDC was honoured to part take in the collaboration to show support to this minority group that is at the core of their artistic inspiration. With two pole dance acts, a shibari act and a fire burlesque act, SDC showcased the power of their individual crafts while reinforcing the uniting factor that connects them as a collective.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Erotic Arts Weekend - Senses & Movement
WORKSHOP WEEKEND (18th&19th January 2025): workshop weekend in Utrecht
SDC invites participants to an intimate weekend of erotic exploration. This unique experience encourages individuals to discover the language of their own sensuality while indulging in the arts of pole dance, shibari, and lap dance, all within a supportive community immersed in raw feminine energy.
Over the course of two days, attendees will take part in six carefully curated workshops, complemented by sharing circles, evening exploration sessions, an intimate studio showcase, and curated products from partners such as SPNKD, Kinky Shoes, Mavelle, and Latex Peach. Event fully sold out.
https://www.skindeepcollective.com/
Skin Deep Academy: Workshop Weekend
WORKSHOP WEEKEND (13th & 14th April 2024): workshop weekend at Bar Bario
during this educational weekend, our professionals of seduction will teach our community their skills and secret in their respective sensual art. from lap dance, sensuality coaching, self-tie shibari, initiation to domination our audience gets a personal glimpse into our crafts. on top of the workshops we will also have lectures and performances. the weekend is entirely soldout, with 20 attendees per workshops and more than 60 tickets sold.
Skin Deep Collective: The Launch Party
THE SKIN DEEP LAUNCH PARTY (7th December 2023): launch party at Bar Bario
celebrating authentic expression through the art of pole, neo-burlesque, belly dancing, strip tease and show. With a night full of sapphic performance, we fostered authentic and intimate exchange and community, prioritising queer and feminine identities. We designed and hand made every performer’s outfit, and together with Bario designed s drinks menu and connection cards. The event was sold out at full capacity with over 100 tickets sold.
Sponsored by: JUST PLEASURE, KINKY SHOES, HER (APP), STRIPTOPIA
Skin Deep After Hours
AFTER HOURS (26th October 2023): intimate showcase and community evening
join us for an intimate pole dance showcase at our studio in Amsterdam. expect authentic energy, tricks, and delicious freeestyle. we are going back to the roots of pole dance with hot and spontaneous performances. we are welcoming anyone who wants to come watch our lineup of sensual dancers while having a causal drink and chatting with fellow pole and sensual enthusiasts.
Skin Deep Content Room
CONTENT ROOM WEEKEND (12th&13th August 2023): content room // community dinner // private photo&video shoot with Julia Svart
the 1st edition of content room brought together performers & content creators alike. the participants created various content in our spacious sun-lit private studio equipped with poles, hoop, chains, ropes and more. additionally, those who desired had the possibility to book a private shoot with photographer Julia Svart and participate in our community dinner.
Skin Deep Cruise - Soft Launch Party
POLE & CRUISE (10th June 2023): splashy, sexy, soft launch party
in this exclusive pop up cruise the audience enjoyed the canal views of Amsterdam while being tantalised by some splashy&delicious pole performances. also, in between acts they could experiment with shibari hand ties