What is Erotic? Foreplay Soiree


Friday, August 2, 2019 at 6:30 PM – 10 PM

The 418 Project
418 Front St,
Santa Cruz, California


An interactive evening for you to explore "What Is Erotic?"!

Festivities include:
·         Live Body Painting Art
·         Saucy Games of Skill & Stamina
·         Tantra Community Ritual
·         Private Victorian Photo Booth
·         Sensual Self Touch Sojourn
·         Wine & Champagne bar

Performances by:
·         Steel & Grace
·         Hip Hop in Heels by Micha
·         Yesenia Gypsy

Body Art Model Prize includes: Private consultation with Body Artist, Brenda Leach. You will work together to create a personal design, which will be painted on you live at Foreplay Soiree!


Our Mission

In answer to a culture of objectification, What is Erotic? leads from the heart, breaking through stereotypes to spark a safer and more vibrant conversation around sexuality, sensuality and empowerment.

Once upon a time, long, long ago, back in 2005, there was a volunteer who had an idea.  The volunteer wanted to create a fundraiser for The 418 Project. So,  he suggested a show sourced from community, that donated all proceeds to the beloved community center—thus What Is Erotic? was born.

At first, the show was, well, a little uneven—but very magic.  It was not clear at first that the directors and the actors were playing with Fire, otherwise known as Sex.  Every year, folks appeared, not only to perform, but to volunteer and work as technicians, because they wanted to be involved in the project.  And each year, the show grew and changed, until people came from all over the Bay Area to see it and it became the biggest fundraiser for the non-profit.

Story Tellers, Burlesque Dancers, Playwrights and Comedians, Aerialists, Fire Dancers and Circus Artists, Ukulele players and Gamelan musicians, Opera singers and Magical Creatures of all kinds, some who had never before been seen on stage—they came forth to create the Magic that is WIE! We began to discover hidden themes inside each season.  We began to learn how to create safety by understanding boundaries, a secret part of mastering our own Erotic.

We began to learn that the One Provocative Question—what is erotic?—can never really be answered once and for all. But the question returns, renews, and reveals itself endlessly and uniquely to each of us.

People, performers, and audience members alike told us, “This show changed my life.”  And we began to realize that, while it takes guts and vulnerability to let ourselves be really seen. In this way, our commitment to creating a show that is so much more rings bells down to the bone, through the spirit and out of the, well, you know, the deepest parts of ourselves! It is an Honor, a Privilege, and even more, a Pleasure! to create this living artwork together. We invite you to ask, and discover for yourself—what is erotic?



Cost: $25