About
Leif & Icky
- Lief Bound and Icky are queer and trans rope educators and performance artists currently residing in San Francisco, California. Lief Bound is a rope switch who found their love of bondage over a decade ago and believes that rope can be the most honest way to connect with each other. Icky is a switchy pain enthusiast who started their rope bottoming exploration over a decade ago and is most passionate about exploring intersectionality and positionality in consent. Their teaching styles bring the best of both worlds combining crucial perspectives of the top and the bottom. They value consent and safety in every topic they teach, bringing an inclusive and accessible approach to learning rope bondage. Lief and Icky are most passionate about using multi-media process art to share their vision with the world and push the boundaries of what defines rope.
Classes at FLARE 2026
Body bamboo
Would you like to feel... more stuck? Are you looking to add a layer of complexity to explore in your rope practice? Maybe you're interested in discovering new shapes and predicaments? Join Lief and Icky to learn about bamboo body ties! Attaching smaller pieces of bamboo to the body in rope can create complex shapes and new sensations - but it also creates additional considerations for rope technique and safety! In this class, Lief and Icky will cover the basics of bamboo lashings to the upper and lower body and the relevant safety and risk mitigation considerations for placement, body manipulation, and upline management. Demonstrations and class exercises will allow attendees to explore these concepts in partial and suspension. ## Prerequisites Prior hands-on suspension instruction and multiple successful previous suspensions. Experience tying suspension lines on a bamboo hardpoint successfully. A suspendable chest harness that is not an arms-behind box tie/TK in case it is not suitable for the class exercise. Prior experience tying with your class partner. ## What to Bring Rope - atleast 12 hanks of rope suited for suspension. Instructors will be using jute. Suspension equipment- ring, carabiners, climbing straps, cutting tool. Body bamboo WILL be provided by The Woodshed for this class
Ode to waist rope
Waist rope, crotch rope, torsions… If any of these things excite or interest you, you might love Lief and Icky’s new suspension sequence! Taught on a bamboo hardpoint, this delicious sequence utilizes a chest harness of your choice, crotch rope, and a minimalistic mermaid to create tough, torturous, and dynamic shapes. The goal of this sequence is meant to push the top’s and bottom’s skill set. However, there will be adaptations for folks to choose how far they want to push along the way. Lief and icky will teach considerations for different types of genitalia when applying crotch rope as well. In this class, Lief and icky will teach the steps of the sequence through a demo that will help the students understand the rough outline of the shapes that can be achieved. They will also teach insider info on upline management on a bamboo hardpoint and how to tie harnesses in the air. Then there will be plenty of time for students to try out this sequence on their own while getting one on one feedback from the instructors. At the end of class, you will have a new exciting sequence to try with any lover of waist rope. ## Prerequisites -A suspendable chest harness. Arms free, tengu, arms in front are all fine options. If you choose to tie a box tie, it will be inspected before students are allowed to suspend it. -Good upline management on bamboo is a plus. -Prior experience tying with your partner. -multiple prior successful suspensions. -Bottom is comfortable with rope applied to the crotch and having it loaded. ## What to Bring - Rope - 12 hanks of rope suited for suspension. instructors will be using Jute. Suspension equipment- including carabiners and a cutting tool.