Shibari Sydney
A volunteer-run rope studio in a Marrickville warehouse that teaches a levelled curriculum (1A through 3) on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings plus monthly Saturday intensives, alongside focus workshops, private tuition and a weekly Thursday practice night.
Shibari Sydney was founded by a group of rope enthusiasts and is run by volunteers. Its director and founder is Sim, who has performed as a rope model for national and international audiences; its co-founder and instructor, listed only as M, has taught for four years and blends traditional and modern styles. Visiting teachers, presenters and performers are paid where possible, and other income covers rent and costs. The studio says it leans toward traditional shibari without insisting on it, treats safety as its one firm rule, and describes itself as an accessible, femme-positive space for anyone who loves rope.
Levels
Teaching follows a levelled path. Level 1A, the entry point, needs no partner: students tie on themselves, and rope is provided. Level 1B expects a partner and three or four of the student’s own ropes. Level 2 (intermediate) and Level 3 (advanced) require more rope plus safety shears, and Level 3 also suspension gear. The 1A and 1B courses run on weeknights and as three-hour weekend intensives; in November 2026 the weeknight courses were listed at AU$89 for 1A and AU$99 for 1B, the weekend intensives at AU$75 and AU$85, and a two-hour Level 2 weeknight class cost AU$25.
Practice and events
Focus Topic workshops go deep into a single technique, harness or concept, and guest-teacher and performance evenings bring in national and international educators. Weekly rope hangs (AU$10 for four hours, as listed in November 2026) and a lounge edition give practice time, alongside an evening for rope bottoms and an introduction to kink. Private lessons cost AU$85 for one hour. The studio sells rope and gear and hires out its single-level space, which has mats, showers, a kitchen and a courtyard, for lyra, yoga, embodiment and performance work.