Date Night is a monthly immersive couples experience designed to deepen connection, keep your relationship feeling alive, and discover new ways to meet, play and experience each other.
Date Night: Play
When did you last play with your partner, just for the joy of it?
Play is a two-hour evening designed to help you loosen your grip on the serious stuff and rediscover the pleasure of being a little silly, spontaneous & alive together.
Because long-term relationships can be wonderful! But they can also get very good at becoming practical. The routines, the logistics, the work, the dishes, the “what do you want for dinner?” conversations.
Play invites you to step outside of all that for a while.
Through a series of guided practices, you'll explore movement, sensation, imagination, laughter, creativity & connection with plenty of room to surprise each other along the way.
No performing. No being “good” at anything. No pressure to be playful in a particular way.
This isn't a sexual experience. There may be moments of flirtation, sensuality or a little spice, but only where it's a genuine, enthusiastic yes for both of you. The Connection School is a consent-centred space, so you'll have the tools to communicate, change direction, pause or say no at any point.
A brief overview of the evening:
Arrive, settle in, & take a moment to name what you both want to experience tonight
A gentle warm-up to help you shed the day, get into your bodies & land together
Playful guided practices designed to get you out of your usual patterns & into something a little more spontaneous
Opportunities to laugh, experiment, surprise each other & experience your partner in a new way
We close by slowing down, savouring what you discovered, & taking that feeling of playfulness with you back into your life together
Details:
Date: Thursday 29 October 2026
Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: Johnny Mitchell Hall, Ponsonby Community Center, 20 Ponsonby Terrace
Plenty of parking!
Cost: $150 per couple (incl. GST)
Suitable for couples of all orientations. Best suited for established couples (not first dates).
Spaces are limited to 8 couples.
“Thank you so much Michelle! You’ve left us with a huge toolbox of skills and exercises to keep us on the right track. And I can say that, thanks to your help, our relationship is the best it’s ever been. Your involvement has been transformative for us. ”
Who is your facilitator?
Michelle Kasey is an award-winning sex & relationships therapist (“best sex therapist 2023 & 2024”) burlesque artist (“burlesque performer of the year 2026”), and co-owner of ‘The Velvet Haven’ Burlesque Schools in Auckland and Wellington.
Her journey into this work began in a pole dancing studio & has developed over more than 14 years as a cabaret performer and teacher, giving her a perspective that few practitioners can offer.
She brings together embodied experience as a dancer & performer with therapeutic expertise, working in a somatic, trauma-informed, & playful way.
Since 2018, she has worked with thousands of clients through private sessions, group courses, and workshops, supporting people of all genders to develop a more alive, honest, and nourishing relationship with themselves.
She has written for The Spinoff, The Herald and performed on stages from intimate venues to crowds of 40,000.
Photo by David Kang
What to bring?
Comfortable clothing you can move in. Nothing restrictive, layers are good (temperature can shift through the night).
A blanket or two to make your nest cozy. We will supply mats and cushions.
An open mind and a willingness to be curious! But no experience or "skill" is required.
Water bottle
Anything that helps you feel present. I ask that all phones are left in cars or bags. Everything else will be provided.
“Working with Michelle has brought my partner & I so much joy, better language, and better communication! The rituals that we’ve built through this work have become so special to us, so meaningful and impactful for our relationship. ”
Frequently asked questions
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Yes. Each couple has their own designated space, with couples intentionally spaced throughout the room so you can focus on each other. While you’ll be sharing the experience with other couples, you won’t be asked to perform or share intimate details with the group. What you choose to explore, discuss or experience together remains yours.
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Perfectly normal. In fact, most couples arrive with some degree of nervousness! Makes sense when you’re trying something new together. We create a warm, low-pressure environment where you can take things at your own pace. You’re never put on the spot, and you’re in control of your experience the whole way.
Coming up next
Date Night: Melt
A softer kind of intimacy. Explore the power of touch, tenderness and slowing down together in this truly delicious couples experience.
Thursday 26 November | 7:00pm - 9:00pm | Ponsonby