The ropeXchange is our small but nice bondage weekend, where you can experience workshops and labs from different educators, learn new things and develop your skills. We offer a safer space to have fun with and in ropes and to exchange ideas with like-minded people. This has been taking place under the name ropeXchange for over a year now and since then it has developed from a small event aimed primarily at newbies to a comprehensive workshop weekend for many different experience levels.
The whole thing is a big compliment, also to my growing team, who are helping me to further develop the event and make progress. So I would like to not only say a big thank you to all contributors and supporters, but also take a look at what has been happening in the last year!
Here you can find out about:
the new location: theKnast
From Zero to Hero - with courses that build on each other
Flexible course slots for more exchange
Focus on community
Awareness, consensus & safer spaces
Conclusion
This is new
A lot has changed since we started. Be it the improved acoustics in the rooms, a back-up system in case the heating fails, more professional course forms, signage, new selection procedures for educators and so on. The participants don't even notice a lot of this, but we work diligently on it in the background. True to the motto: "If you don't notice anything, we're doing everything right" ;)
But you may have already noticed some things, or you will notice them the next time you join us. I would like to introduce some of them to you here.
theKnast
The first major development took place last year when we moved to the mega exciting location “theKnast”. This former women's prison offers several rooms so that different workshops can take place at the same time. There is also a large common room where we can install several hanging points and also do larger group activities. Over the year, two small rooms with extra hanging points have been added, where you can also retreat as a small group or play privately. There is also the garden area when the weather is good, where you can retreat to socialize or to our lounge when it rains. Currently, up to 3 courses can take place there at the same time and our open Shibari evening is a very special highlight in this environment. The location is state-of-the-art and has high-quality equipment.
From Zero to Hero
At ropeXchange, we have always had the approach of offering several workshops on different topics and performance levels at the same time. This means that both newbies and experienced riggers and models can find something for themselves. However, especially in the higher experience level, the time slots were often too short to safely teach complex bondage. Therefore, since July '24, we have introduced courses that build on one another, where participants can learn more complex bondage and suspension over the weekend. In theory, this gives you the opportunity to learn everything from the essential basics to suspension in one weekend. Of course, this is not the right thing for every participant, which is why you can drop out at any time or join later, depending on how experienced you are and how confident you feel about the topic. We try to meet everyone at their level of knowledge and develop successfully together.
Flexible course slots
The ropeXchange was originally designed as an "unconference" - a concept that provides for you to decide what you want to learn on site in consultation with the other participants. Even though the concept is great for experienced riggers, some of the beginners had problems with it. We have therefore decided to offer fixed courses and topics and to offer free slots for those with more experience, where they can bring in their own questions and where a topic is discussed under a general heading. These labs are then brought to life by the participants and developed by the educators and the other participants in a joint exchange. We are currently working on other formats that are even more open.
Focus on community
No real surprise, but it has been confirmed again and again and is now being put into even greater focus is the community and togetherness. You have repeatedly confirmed to us that it is so great to be in such a community, even if it is your first time. To support this, we have not only introduced shared meals, but also targeted games with the rope or rooms and times for getting to know each other. This also enables models or riggingend without a partner, but also everyone else, to make new contacts and quickly feel comfortable, so that you can let yourself go completely in the courses and when practicing.
Awareness, consent & safer space
As queer, kinky organizers, safer space and awareness are important to us! We hope that you quickly feel safe and comfortable with us. Awareness has always been an important and central theme of our events and the ropeXchange has already benefited from very good and extensive foundations here. A working group of the team is currently dealing with the topics, we have thought up many new approaches and some have now already been implemented and many more will follow. A trained awareness team is always available for you.
Conclusion
The further development of the ropeXchange into a varied workshop weekend for all levels was important to us, even if at times we were not sure whether and how this would be received by you. We are pleased that you have given us the necessary feedback so that we can develop confidently and purposefully. We will definitely continue to work on this and are already working on new ideas and thoughts, such as courses specifically for subs, discussion formats or other exciting locations. What would your ideas be for the ropeXchange? Tell us your ideas and we look forward to having you at the next ropeXchange.
We look forward to seeing you!
Dan and the ropeXchange team
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