Our mission at Virago Alley is to provide an accessible and inclusive platform for the exploration, education and preservation of historical martial arts and artisan trades.

Virago Alley is a 501(c)3 non profit organization that serves as a hub for knowledge exchange, skill development and community building, uniting individuals as well as existing groups who share a passion for these timeless disciplines.

We are in the process of preserving an 100+ year old building to serve as both a headquarters and a community space for historical classes, workshops & demonstrations as well as practice & studio space. We also look forward to coordinating mission-driven special events & off-site annual festivals in the coming years. Virago Alley is the proud creator and founder of The Richmond Renaissance Faire.

WHY “VIRAGO” ALLEY?

Searching for a space in this world where the characteristics of my being fit nice & daintily has always been an impossible feat. The forms we take in this life aren’t one size fits all. I tend to be “a little too much” when reflecting on the societal scale of femininity and the roles deemed appropriate. When thinking up a business name for this ever-evolving creative gauntlet that would feel inclusive to the bustling collaborations I knew would always exist in my life, the concept of “Alley” seemed like a good fit. (Perhaps it was also inspired by the Harry Potter nerd in me).

However, it was quite a feat searching for that one word with a meaning that describes someone who finds comfort on the edges of normalcy, who finds strength in living as their true selves and who feels emboldened to test infinite boundaries. That was until I discovered the word Virago.

“Virago” embodies so many of the inspiring folks I click with. “Virago Alley” is the collective for all of us misfits to fight, play, create and belong.

“A virago is a woman who demonstrates abundant masculine virtues. The word comes from the Latin word virāgō meaning “vigorous maiden”. Historically, the concept of a virago reaches back into antiquity where Hellenistic philosophy asserted that elite and exceptionally heroic men had virtus. Virtus defined the traits of excellence for a man in ancient Rome (and Greece), including valor and heroism, but also morality and physical strength. Women and non-elite or unheroic men (slaves, servants, craftsmen, merchants) were considered a lesser category, and believed to be less excellent in Roman morality. A woman, however, if exceptional enough could earn the title virago. In doing so, she surpassed the expectations for what was believed possible for her gender, and embodied masculine-like aggression and/or excellence. Standard modern dictionaries define virago as either, a “loud overbearing woman”; or a woman of “great stature, strength, and courage”.

Virago has risen above cultural and gender stereotypes to embody a virile heroism.

- Amanda Robinson
Founder, Virago Alley
Founder, Richmond Renaissance Faire
Founder & Creative Director, Gallery5