top of page

Movement Rites
teaching you your right to move!

Led by dance educator Lea Afia, this space will motivate and empower you to move through your day inspired and bursting with creativity. Grounded in education, experience and intuition, Movement Rites is a self-love and liberation journey into creativity, expression, sensuality, healing and healthy living.

About The Artist.

Lea Afia a.k.a. Tutu Toussaint

Dancer. Burlesque Artist. Sensual Movement Educator.

The “Royal Rebel with a cause”, is a dancer, choreographer, burlesque artist, producer, instructor, and healer. Having earned a minor in Dance Theatre from Louisiana State University, she continued education through Alvin Ailey Extension, Joffrey Ballet, Broadway Dance Center and The Katherine Dunham Institute. She began studying burlesque at Brown Girls Burlesque’s Broad Squad Institute and trained by burlesque icon, Perle Noire, as well as a founding member of the award-winning House of Noire.

Known for her southern jazz, sultry and explosive style with a knack for musicality and transformative art, she has had the honor of being featured in numerous shows and festivals throughout New York City, the East coast, below the Mason-Dixon, the Midwest, Las Vegas, as well as Canada and China. 

Inspired by her art works on stage, Tutu also founded the holistic wellness company, Rites of Wellness, where she believes in intentional growth and healing, and celebrating the joy found within that journey. She creates an intersectional healing space that offers transformative herbal medicines and sensual movement grounded in both contemporary and ancestral folk traditions. Her Rites of Wellness healing spaces are led by intuition, grandmother wisdoms and our beloved plant elders.

Email:

Address:

Chicago, Il.

About The Artist.

Lea Afia a.k.a. Tutu Toussaint

Dancer. Burlesque Artist. Sensual Movement Educator.

The “Royal Rebel with a cause”, is a dancer, choreographer, burlesque artist, producer, instructor, and healer. Having earned a minor in Dance Theatre from Louisiana State University, she continued education through Alvin Ailey Extension, Joffrey Ballet, Broadway Dance Center and The Katherine Dunham Institute. She began studying burlesque at Brown Girls Burlesque’s Broad Squad Institute and trained by burlesque icon, Perle Noire, as well as a founding member of the award-winning House of Noire.

Known for her southern jazz, sultry and explosive style with a knack for musicality and transformative art, she has had the honor of being featured in numerous shows and festivals throughout New York City, the East coast, below the Mason-Dixon, the Midwest, Las Vegas, as well as Canada and China. 

Inspired by her art works on stage, Tutu also founded the holistic wellness company, Rites of Wellness, where she believes in intentional growth and healing, and celebrating the joy found within that journey. She creates an intersectional healing space that offers transformative herbal medicines and sensual movement grounded in both contemporary and ancestral folk traditions. Her Rites of Wellness healing spaces are led by intuition, grandmother wisdoms and our beloved plant elders.

Email:

Address:

Chicago, Il.

     As Seen                                                   Credentials

House of Noire, founding member / company officer 2016-2020

An Imitation of a Performance of Life (musical) 2015

New York Burlesque Festival 2016

Windy City Burelsque Festival 2016

Show Me Burlesque Festival 2016

Bagel Burlesque Expo 2016 (Canada)

Great Southern Burlesque Exposure 2015-2016
(Mama’s Choice award 2016)

New York Variety Show, resident performer
(2nd runner up, ​2016)

PA Burlesque Festival 2017

Burlesque Hall of Fame 2017 & 2018

​Brown Girls Burlesque Feature Performer 2013-2019

The Noire Pageant 2020 - Headliner

Brooklyn Follies (Macau, CN)
House of Yes
Shades of Burlesque
Chemistry
Safeword NYC
Untamed Afroburlesque Show
Burlesque at Bedford Manor
Nurse Bettie

White Elephant Burlesque
Switch N’ Play
Harvey's Comedy and Burlesque Revue
Sets in the City
The Slipper Room

Moxie
Monday Night Fever
Behind the Velvet Curtain
Babecraft Burlesque
Brick Nasty Burlesque
Beef
Sex-Mex Burlesque
Guadalupe Inn
Pearls & Bos
Color me Frech
Rabbit Hole Productions
Black Lives Matter Benefit
Gi Squared Productions
Timeless Tease Productions
Red Dress Cabaret
The  Roux: A Spicy Brown Burlesque​
​and MORE!

 

Studied dance at Stairway of the Stars Dance Studio age 3-17 

Minor in Dance Theatre at Louisiana State University

 

Continuing Education: 

Alvin Ailey Extension, Joffrey Ballet, Broadway Dance Center

 

Dance Coach:

Southern University " Look Dancers"

Proviso East High School

Morgan Park High School

 

Movement Instructor:

Stairway of the Stars (Illinois)

MOKA Dance School (Louisianna)

 

Burlesque Instructor/ Choreographer:

Hudson Valley Pole Arts

Brown Girls Burlesque

​Broad Squad Institute

GirlTrek

House of Noire

Burlesque Mentor:

Brown Girls Burlesque

Golden Legends Champion Challenge (GLCC)

Freelance

 

 

Professional Dancer and Choreographer since 1998

bottom of page