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Inside the London Dominatrix School
Are you fed up with your 9-to-5? How about learning to be a Domme? We visited the London Dominatrix School and sat down with Madame Kitty to chat about what it takes to rule the room.
The London Dominatrix School at Studio X
London Liverpool Street. Central Line. Short walk. Easy. If you thought Sex Dungeons had to be down a dingy alley in Soho, you’re very much mistaken. Studio X, home to the London Dominatrix School (LDS), sits at the end of a row of terraced townhouses next to a fancy café.
There are no signs for a dungeon, no tell-tale blacked-out windows; only a ventilation pipe suggests that the cellar is being used for more than just storage. Which is to say it’s discreet. You wouldn’t have a clue what was going on below street level, and no one’s going to be suspicious if you’re carrying a duffel bag secretly full of bondage gear or sex toys.
Studio X
As you descend the stairs, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’ve walked into an upmarket spa or salon.
The reception room is spacious and unintimidating, perfect if you’re nervous about your first lesson or want to hire it out for a photoshoot. It also doubles as an elegant boudoir for more sensual play scenes.
We were greeted by the manager of the LDS, who gave us a tour of the facilities.
In addition to the reception, there are two well-equipped play spaces. There’s also a kitchenette and a very clean bathroom – complete with a walk-in shower. Perfect if you’ve gotten hot and sweaty during a session or involved any thing messy!
The main dungeon boasts a dramatic set up of BDSM gear, like a sex bench, surrounded by red velvet and mirrors. Instruments of torture and delight are showcased in pristine glass cabinets, and a large backlit St Andrew’s Cross puts the X in Studio X.
Then there was the bunker room. Someone’s wine might have chilled down here once upon a time. Add a sturdy desk, old-school vaulting horse (for spanking), and vintage décor; it’s a room reeking of role-play potential. Oh, and don’t forget the restrictive corner cage!
A sadistic Mother Superior, a military interrogation full of impact play, or taboo torture scenes, you can just imagine. It was perfect, and the manager was eager to tell us about Agent Ida. One of LDS’ former students, she gets regular requests to play the role of authoritarian headmistress as one of Studio X’s resident Dommes.
Although we didn’t get the chance to meet her, we got to see some pictures of her in ‘Mistress mode’.
The London Dominatrix School
The London Dominatrix School specialises in teaching Female Domination and BDSM, and has been showing individuals and couples the proverbial and literal ropes for over 10 years. Bondara has been partnered with the LDS since 2018, and all students will receive an exclusive code after they’ve ‘graduated’ for 10% off Bondara purchases. Just in case you needed another reason to book a session!
It all started when one of the founders was encouraged to become a Dominatrix but found nothing to help her find her feet. As Jonas told us,
There was nowhere to train to be a Domme. One dominatrix let [the founder] sit in one of her sessions but after that she was basically told “there you go, go off and be a Domme”. We both thought surely there must be somewhere you can train to do this? Then, when we didn’t find anything we set up a basic website to test the water. The response was overwhelming.
Since opening its doors in 2015, the LDS has taught hundreds of students from across the UK and internationally, including from the US and New Zealand. Plus, the lessons aren’t just for aspiring Professional Dominatrixes and kinky couples. For a hen-do with a difference, the LDS are opening up bookings to parties if you want to learn to tie a rope corset.
Chat with Madame Kitty
The school’s headteacher (or should that be headmistress) Madame Kitty is an elite London-based American mistress with over twenty years of experience perfecting the art of domination. We were grateful that she could make time to talk to us about her work at the LDS.
What drew you to the LDS and to sharing your skills? I imagine being a ProDomme is pretty competitive.
I started Domme-ing when I was about 22 years old, someone I was dating at the time kind of ‘showed me the ropes’ but their tutoring left a lot to be desired. So when I heard about the school, I thought “gosh, I wish I’d had this resource in my twenties instead of trying to figure it out.”
I don’t come from a place of competitiveness. Learning things like health and safety, safety of yourself such as how to screen clients, I think as a Pro these are invaluable recourses we should be sharing. Then for couples and individuals that come here to learn, how wonderful it is to share skills that I’ve used in the ‘real’ world of BDSM that they can take into the bedroom safely.
I’m delighted to share my skills with people and to learn from people – kink is super creative. We always repeat here that we’re teaching you a way of doing something, not the only way.
What do you think are important qualities a good Domme-in-training should possess?
As far as personality, I would say that the biggest thing you need is to have empathy and a desire to care for others. This is a very vulnerable space that people are coming into so you need to have a good duty of care and want them, and encourage them, to enjoy the experience.
After that it’s patience, especially if you want to become a Pro. Being a pro-dominatrix is absolutely sex work, it’s a job and it’s hard work. You’re going to have to build it up like any other business. I think there are plenty of people who think they’re just going to suddenly make loads of money, but it takes time.
The LDS caters to various levels of experience. Do you often find newcomers have misconceptions about submission and dominance?
The most common misconception, when you’re coming into a Pro- space, is that you’re just going to be shouting at someone. Sometimes people don’t totally understand how sensual [kink] normally is, and how emotional it can be. It’s really about your mind, and connecting with your mind. Often Dommes are some of the loveliest and nicest people you can meet.
You don’t need to shout at someone to be a strong dominant. A general misconception, however, is that submissives are weak people. I always say subs are incredibly strong. It’s pretty amazing to me that you can go in to a space with a stranger and say “do this to me!”
What are the key differences between workding with a couple versus an individual?
As a Pro and as a teacher you’re trying to work out the dynamic between the couple – are they both comfortable being here? Are they both aligned with their desires? How are they communicating with each other, what are they hoping is going to happen? All of these things are important and get heightened if you’re in a session space. Whereas with individuals you can really hone in on what their desires are.
Obviously if you see me as Pro I want it to be as erotic as possible. However, when we’re learning it’s a sexy but academic space. I’m not here to ‘get you off’, I’m happy if you find it erotic but here you’re learning. It’s exciting to have a strange woman dressed in leather show you what to do together!
I imagine if someone didn’t know they had a cuckold or hotwife fantasy, they quickly figure it out!
Absolutely. I think somebody outside of your dynamic asking you questions as a couple or questions of yourself, it gets people’s minds running. I get a lot of suggestions from couples as well like “how do you communicate your fantasies, how do you talk to each other about this.”
Everything we do here is very bespoke, there’s plenty of places you can go for group lessons and resources online, but (…) just by coming here you’ve having a conversation about your sexuality, your desires, your fantasies.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of teaching at the LDS?
What I love about training women is the confidence they gain from it and seeing people bloom. If you push yourself outside of your comfort zone that’s always going to be great—if you can feel comfortable knowing how to pet a stranger, you can do anything!
When women complete a course here, they have my phone number, and I say, “When you get your first client, send me over your consultation form, and I’ll give you feedback.” I think [the school] is a lovely way that people can still feel supported rather than just diving in at the deep end.
Couples being able to communicate and have better sex, and you know, desiring each other – whether it’s a new relationship or they’ve been together for 25 years – I love being able to add an extra dimension to that. Just call in your little sexy fairy godmother!
What’s On Offer?
Whether you’re signing up to learn how to be a professional dominatrix or are a couple curious about kink, you can expect a one-to-one lesson with experienced ProDomme teachers, such as Madame Kitty, with assistance from the school model. You’ll learn all you need to play safely within a BDSM session, from practical techniques such as spanking to communicating desires with partners.
In addition to courses, there are also one-day training plans. These allow you to train with up to two friends, which is perfect for travelling or on a budget. I can certainly think of a small bridal group who would love this! Each one-day crash course is bespoke based on request. Their unique hands-on approach ensures that you’ll have lasting skills – whether you are looking to take your first steps into the world of Professional Female Domination or add some spice to your sex life.
If that’s still not enough, online training options exist for those who can’t make it to London!
I thoroughly enjoyed everything that I learned during the professional Dominatrix course. It was honestly the most fun and interesting learning that I have ever undertaken. Kitty was an excellent teacher and shared her vast knowledge and experience of the industry. She was very approachable and patient, and I was able to gain lots of practical experience in a wide variety of skills.
What’s Next for the LDS?
It’s all a little hush-hush while our MD makes some decisions. So, watch this space for exciting new developments from Bondara and the LDS.
Presents for Madame Kitty
