It’s time to highlight another week of storytelling in Voice by the staff and volunteers at the Seanchai Library. As always, all times SLT, and events are held at the Library’s home at Holly Kai Park, unless otherwise indicated.
Sunday, March 4th, 13:30: Tea-Time Mysteries: Nero Wolfe
Rex Stout’s corpulent, fastidious, eccentric, prescriptivist, sedentary – yet gifted with a razor-sharp mind – armchair detective, Nero Wolfe, is the focus of a new Tea-Time series for Sundays.
The subject of 33 novels and 39 novellas and short stories written by Stout between 1934 and 1975, Wolfe is for many, as familiar a character as Sherlock Holmes, not just because of Stout’s original writings, but because of the numerous film, TV and radio spin-offs they encouraged, together with the lesser writings of others focusing on Wolfe and his confidante / leg-man / secretary / chauffeur Archie Goodwin.
This week, Seanchai present In Bad Taste.
Monday, March 5th 19:00: Sentenced to Prism
Prism is a planet with a uniquely crystalline environment and which supports both silicon and carbon-based life forms. It is a planet where even the tiniest creatures are living jewels.
For some time, the Company has been illegally exploiting Prism, but now all contact has been lost with the research team there, leaving the Company with a problem. Any attempt to launch a rescue mission will draw unwanted attention both to Prism and to the Company’s activities. Something else must done; so they call on the talents of Evan Orgell.
A smart, self-confident and successful problem-solver, Orgell has access to the best equipment available within the Commonwealth. Unfortunately, and as Orgell discovers, Prism is a harsh and hard place – a lot harder than his state-of-the-art environment suit. When that succumbs to the local flora/fauna, Orgell finds himself exposed to the hostile environment and fighting for his survival without any protection, dependent upon little more than his wits.
Then help arrives from an unexpected quarter: a sentient life-form native to Prism calling itself A Surface of Fine Azure-Tinted Reflection With Pyroxin Dendritic Inclusions – which Orgell decides to call “Azure”.
Join Gyro Muggins as he reads a standalone story from Alan Dean Foster’s Humanx Commonwealth series.
Tuesday, March 6th 19:00: Irish Poets and Wonders
With Caledonia Skytower.
Wednesday, March 7th 19:00: Beyond the Veil
With Shandon Loring. Also presented in Kitely (hop://grid.kitely.com:8002/Seanchai/144/129/29).
Thursday, March 8th
19:00: Creatures of Mist
With Shandon Loring. Also presented in Kitely (hop://grid.kitely.com:8002/Seanchai/144/129/29).
21:00 Seanchai late Night
Contemporary sci-fi with Finn Zeddmore.
Please check with the Seanchai Library’s blog for updates and for additions or changes to the week’s schedule.
Hi there. R. Crap Mariner, your Dance Correspondent.
I’ll be posting dance performance schedules, similar to Inara’s posts about Seanchai Library readings. We’ll start with the weekend events for now.
Let’s get started, here’s the events that I had on the calendar as of press time…
(All times SLT)
FRIDAY MARCH 2
6:00PM – ELYSIUM CABARET
Elysium Cabaret – Welcome to the Weekend!
If it’s Friday, it’s Elysium Cabaret! Fancy some imagination? In The Empire Room at Copperhead Road, every Friday at 6pm SLT the dynamic performers of Elysium Cabaret take the stage to bring you a solid hour of entertainment! Featuring elaborate sets and choreography sequenced to an eclectic genre of music, Elysium Cabaret offers something for everyone. Grab your friends and get their early because the sim fills. Come celebrate Friday! Welcome to the weekend!
One sensational hour of fast-paced original, live dance entertainment, the best of its kind on the grid. Dancers Guerilla Burlesque develop fresh dance interpretations of hit songs, build stage sets, choreograph animations, and costume avatars to provide you with an innovated live performance experience.
Doors open at 9 pm for the 10 pm show! Arrive early and invite your friends!
Join us on Saturday, March 3, 2018, starting at 6 pm SLT, for Let’s Dance: Animals! I’ve got an animals-themed song set, I’ll make us a nice open playpen, and we’ll get all animalistic together! Come dressed in neko, furry, an animal avatar, or come as you are (bits and pieces covered, please!)…this animal show is all choreographed and designed with YOU in mind…’cause at the end of the day, we can’t do it without you!
For the Let’s Dance show, we trade in our sets for MORE dancing and LESS wait time between songs! There will be lots of wiggling, dancing, physics, and a little dazzle thrown in for good measure! Dance along with us or have a seat in our comfy chairs, we like it when you watch! No naked avatars, just dancing. Come to the show and see what all the fuss is about!
Spring Into March! Paramount Grand Theatre’s brand new show for March. Come join us for an evening of classy but sassy entertainment as we the Paramount Players dance for you, March 3rd & 10th at 7pm SLT.
The Players are bringing the Irish, the Scottish, the Leprechauns and the Celts to Paramount. Maybe even some American marching may make an appearance!
Once a year we encourage members of the company to stretch their wings and present a piece of their own work. Each entrant must choose their music, create the set, get it in a rezzer and on the stage. They either make or source their costumes for their dance. They run the dance HUD and often the mover as well, or if an operator is needed they must train the operator. In all cases they are encouraged and mentored by senior members of the company. This is not a competition but rather an opportunity to strive for personal excellence–to be the best that they can be.
We invite you to join this full cast presentation of 11 outstanding examples of choreographic skill and creative spirit.
We recommended that you arrive early to secure a seat and to cache the sets and the animations.
Desire Arts Dancers doing their “after hours” show, but today we do it for a Sunday matinée! We bring you the performance quality at our Saturday shows, with more skin… little less costume. Some acts do contain adult content.
Also, Presentations of a controversial nature (including those involving sex, politics and/or religion) will be presented separately from the Dance Program.
Debauche would like to invite you all to the Debauche home theatre to come and enjoy, to witness two of the very best dance troupes in Second Life sharing the stage in a combined show.
Last weekend both troupes shared the stage at the Oasis home theater. Had fantastic support and plaudits. Was truly a magnificent show.
Now its time of Debauche to return the favour, to extend our hospitality in what will surely be simply another wonderful show for everybody to enjoy.
Sunday 4th March, 12pm SLT, please come smart, smart casual with low scripts
The 2018 Virtual Worlds Best Practice in Education (VWBPE) conference will be taking place between Thursday, March 15th and Saturday March 17th, 2018 inclusive. A grass-roots community event focusing on education in immersive virtual environments, VWBPE attracts 2200-3500 educational professionals from around the world each year.
The theme for the 2018 conference is VRevolutions, with the organisers noting:
VWBPE is an ecosystem of digital spaces. While the conference is hosted in Second Life, our conference features a variety of virtual and digital spaces. To present at VRevolutions, think outside the virtual space and consider how multiple available technologies and devices redefine what it means to work, create, and learn “virtually”. The VRevolution is about doing what scares you, what excites you, breaking and creating new paradigms.
At VRevolutions, VWBPE welcomes the multifaceted communities that contribute to and expand best practices in digital and virtual spaces to support practice, creation, and learning. Regardless of the community you represent, your proposal should consider how it contributes and expands the knowledge base for innovative and revolutionary change through the increasingly complex landscape of digital technology.
The 2018 event calendar has now been published, outlining the full range of events, both at the conference itself and in the days leading up to it / following it. Displayed in posterboard format by default (shown below), the calendar view can be switched easily to agenda, month or stream via drop-down selection Individual events can also easily be added to a number of personal calendars – Google, Outlook, Apple, depending on personal preference – making it even easier for attendees to track the events and activities they particularly want to attend at this year’s conference.
Stay up-to-speed with VWBPE 2018 activities through the conference calendar & add events of interest to your own calendar with ease – click the image to visit the calendar
As with recent years, the conference will be primarily focus on the 8 core VWBPE regions in Second Life, although a number of related social events will also be taking place elsewhere – sett the VWBPE calendar for the specifics on individual event locations / URLs.
Keynote Speakers
The Keynote speakers for VWBPE 2018 are:
Dr. Mark Childs, TEL Designer, Open University, UK: his PhD was awarded in 2010 for his thesis Learners’ Experience of Presence in Virtual Worlds. Mark was the manager of the Theatron3 project from 2007 to 2009 which developed 20 ancient theatres in Second Life for performance and learning and has co-written and co-edited four books on learning in virtual worlds. He will be presenting Identity, literacy, immersion and presence; joining together the building blocks of virtual world learning on the morning of Thursday, March 15th, 2018.
Bryan Alexander, Education Futurist: a prolific speaker and consultant, Bryan publishes books, chapters, and articles. He created the Future of Education Observatory, including the monthly FTTE trends analysis, an on-line book club, and a weekly video-conference discussion. He has been teaching and exploring virtual worlds since the early 1990s. He will be presenting The VRevolution calls for a new digital literacy on the morning of Friday, March 16th, 2018.
Above The Book
VWBPE 2018 will again feature a special Above The Book event. Introduced in 2017, this is an invitation-only event limited to around 30 attendees who will have the opportunity to have their questions put directly to a special guest who “has been noteworthy and have, in one way or another, helped build a legacy in virtual environments: for educators, researchers, advocacy groups, communities of practice, content creators.“
The Above the Book guest for 2018 will be Linden Lab CEO Ebbe Altberg.
Those wishing to attend the event must complete and submit the Above the Bookapplication form, no later than Sunday, March 4th, 2018.
Volunteers Still Sought
There are still some volunteer slots left. If you would life to help run this year’s VWBPE, please consider hopping over to the volunteer sign-up page and completing the form there.
VWBPE is a global grass-roots community event focusing on education in immersive virtual environments which attracts over 2,000 educational professionals from around the world each year, who participate in 150-200 on-line presentations including theoretical research, application of best practices, virtual world tours, hands-on workshops, discussion panels, machinima presentations, and poster exhibits.
In the context of the conference, a “virtual world” is an on-line community through which users can interact with one another and use and create ideas irrespective of time and space. As such, typical examples include Second Life, OpenSimulator, Unity, World of Warcraft, Eve Online, and so on, as well as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Pinterest or any virtual environments characterised by an open social presence and in which the direction of the platform’s evolution is manifest in the community.
It’s time to highlight another week of storytelling in Voice by the staff and volunteers at the Seanchai Library. As always, all times SLT, and events are held at the Library’s home at Holly Kai Park, unless otherwise indicated.
Sunday, February 25th
13:30: Tea-Time Mysteries: Nero Wolfe
Rex Stout’s corpulent, fastidious, eccentric, prescriptivist, sedentary – yet gifted with a razor-sharp mind – armchair detective, Nero Wolfe, is the focus of a new Tea-Time series for Sundays.
The subject of 33 novels and 39 novellas and short stories written by Stout between 1934 and 1975, Wolfe is for many, as familiar a character as Sherlock Holmes, not just because of Stout’s original writings, but because of the numerous film, TV and radio spin-offs they encouraged, together with the lesser writings of others focusing on Wolfe and his confidante / leg-man / secretary / chauffeur Archie Goodwin.
This week, Seanchai present In Bad Taste.
18:00: The Not-Just-Anybody Family
When Junior Blossom wakes up in the hospital, his last memory is of crouching on the barn roof with cloth wings tied to his arms, and of Maggie and Vern in the yard below, urging him to fly. That had been just before Junior spotted a police car approaching the farm in a cloud of dust.
Meanwhile Pap, the children’s grandfather, sits in disgrace in the city jail. He was arrested for disturbing the peace after his pick-up truck accidentally dumped 2,147 beer and soda cans on Spring Street.
With their mother away on the rodeo circuit, it’s up to Maggie and Vern to find a way to rescue Pap and Junior. How will they solve their family problems?
Join Caledonia Skytower at the Golden Horsehoe for this Magicland Storytime reading of this Betsy Byars classic.
Monday, February 26th 19:00: Sentenced to Prism
Prism is a planet with a uniquely crystalline environment and which supports both silicon and carbon-based life forms. It is a planet where even the tiniest creatures are living jewels.
For some time, the Company has been illegally exploiting Prism, but now all contact has been lost with the research team there, leaving the Company with a problem. Any attempt to launch a rescue mission will draw unwanted attention both to Prism and to the Company’s activities. Something else must done; so they call on the talents of Evan Orgell.
A smart, self-confident and successful problem-solver, Orgell has access to the best equipment available within the Commonwealth. Unfortunately, and as Orgell discovers, Prism is a harsh and hard place – a lot harder than his state-of-the-art environment suit. When that succumbs to the local flora/fauna, Orgell finds himself exposed to the hostile environment and fighting for his survival without any protection, dependent upon little more than his wits.
Then help arrives from an unexpected quarter: a sentient life-form native to Prism calling itself A Surface of Fine Azure-Tinted Reflection With Pyroxin Dendritic Inclusions – which Orgell decides to call “Azure”.
Join Gyro Muggins as he reads a standalone story from Alan Dean Foster’s Humanx Commonwealth series.
Tuesday, February 27th 19:00: Merlin’s Dragon
Long ago, at the dawn of Merlin’s world, a strange little creature named Basil appeared. Part lizard, part bat, his eyes glow with a mysterious light.
When Basil discovers a threat to his world and to Merlin, he begins an epic journey that takes him from the Great Tree of Avalon to the outermost edges of the spirit realm. But his boldest journey will be to face his own deepest fears. And only if he survives can he save Merlin – and find his future.
So reads the cover description for The Dragon of Avalon, part of T.A. Barron’s Merlin Saga series, a trilogy of stories within the series charting Basil’s rise from humble beginnings to the greatest dragon of all time, loyal to Merlin and protector of Avalon.
Join Faerie Maven-Pralou as she delves in Barron’s magical realm.
Wednesday, February 28th 19:00: Poetry This Year
Caledonia Skytower, shares the poems students have chosen for recitation in the programme she coordinates in real life.
Thursday, March 1st, 19:00: Monsters and Myths: Sirens
With Shandon Loring. Also presented in Kitely (hop://grid.kitely.com:8002/Seanchai/144/129/29).
Please check with the Seanchai Library’s blog for updates and for additions or changes to the week’s schedule.
The featured charity for January / February 2018 is Reach Out and Read, giving young children a foundation for success by incorporating books into paediatric care and encouraging families to read aloud together.
Hi there. R. Crap Mariner, your Dance Correspondent.
I’ll be posting dance performance schedules, similar to Inara’s posts about Seanchai Library readings. We’ll start with the weekend events for now.
Let’s get started…
(All times SLT)
Friday February 23
3:00PM – Lady Garden Cabaret
Once again the Minxettes of The Lady Garden Cabaret bring you a show dedicated entirely to the theme of the wonderful “Enchanted” event! This round we pay homage to the love story of “Beauty and the Beast”… Prepare to ‘be our guest’ and wander this poor provincial town fraught with Handsome Gastons and swooning maidens until you are the guest of the Beasts castle!! His staff of wonderful characters will awaken and enlighten you! We have some of the very finest choreographers on the grid, so don’t miss this event Friday, February 23rd at 3PM SLT, a new time!
**First established in March 2011, LGC has been a permanent star on the sky of virtual entertainment and stands for burlesque, neo-burlesque and overall fantastic dance entertainment Vegas style. Get yourself comfortable in our charming little cabaret house, as The Minxettes take you through the night with their amazing set designs and fully choreographed numbers, all inspired and executed by our most talented dancers… You’ll encounter a wide array of musical styles and virtual flavours, in 3 words: “5 star entertainment!”
If it’s Friday, it’s Elysium Cabaret! Fancy some imagination? In The Empire Room at Copperhead Road, every Friday at 6pm SLT the dynamic performers of Elysium Cabaret take the stage to bring you a solid hour of entertainment! Featuring elaborate sets and choreography sequenced to an eclectic genre of music, Elysium Cabaret offers something for everyone. Grab your friends and get their early because the sim fills. Come celebrate Friday! Welcome to the weekend!
The Monarchs presents: Adventures from Lost Island
While we prepare our next sim wide experience we offer you a chance to see where the Monarchs began…
Almost 2 years ago we went on a journey, to a magical, mystical place on the verge of conflict, and now we venture back! And you’re invited to join us as we retrace our steps all the way back to LOST ISLAND.
Our special Pit shows in the round are fast becoming an audience favourite and are under the direction of Chrissy Rhiano! Join us because it’s fun, it’s clever, and it would look better with you being part of it! Can’t give away too much, but its exciting dancing and extraordinary concepts! Doors open at 9 pm and the show starts at 10 pm, seating is limited, please arrive early!
Elysium Cabaret is thrilled to present a matinée show for your entertainment pleasure, starting at 1pm! Featuring the very “Best Of” the past month’s shows plus special guests! We look forward to sharing our love of music and dance with you!
The Monarchs presents: Adventures from Lost Island
While we prepare our next sim wide experience we offer you a chance to see where the Monarchs began…
Almost 2 years ago we went on a journey, to a magical, mystical place on the verge of conflict, and now we venture back! And you’re invited to join us as we retrace our steps all the way back to LOST ISLAND.
For the Let’s Dance show, we trade in our sets for MORE dancing and LESS wait time between songs! There will be lots of wiggling, dancing, physics, and a little dazzle thrown in for good measure! Dance along with us or have a seat in our comfy chairs, we like it when you watch! No naked avatars, just dancing. Come to the show and see what all the fuss is about!
Take a trip back through all your favourite movies of the past as we present your favourite soundtracks set to dance. Our wonderful dancers and talented choreographers have come up with a new, original show that will delight and tantalize your senses and take you on a magical journey as if up on the big screen. Hope to see you there!
Semi-formal or formal is always acceptable or dress within theme of the show for the night. Thank you!
Desire Arts Dancers do a monthly “after hours” show. Starting at 7pm SLT. We bring you the performance quality at our Saturday shows, with more skin… little less costume. Some acts do contain adult content.
As an “Arts” theatre (and gallery) Desire Arts will be a venue perfectly suited for SL Performers wishing to express themselves through live performances, through Dance, Art Exhibits, Performance Art as well as Dramatic Presentations.
Also, Presentations of a controversial nature (including those involving sex, politics and/or religion) will be presented separately from the Dance Program.
Hi Fans! Welcome to our 2018 performing season! We’ve got some pretty awesome shows scheduled this year and we can’t wait to bring it to the stage for you!
We love starting off the year with our “After Hours” adult themed show. Held only twice a year, our directors tap into that steamy sensual side, and create some amazing performances. Some may be naughty, some may be nice but one thing is for sure, our show is a great way to say goodbye to February 2018, the month of love.
We are also happy to introduce the directing début of DX member Selene Dovahkin and performing débuts of Victory Mueller, & Everleigh Vollmar! Make us your date destination this weekend! Hosted by Ms. Aryanna Draken.
Rated: A for Adult. No children please. We hope to see you there!
We have beautiful dance shows on Sundays at 6 am SLT. Join us at Club IMAGE ! It’s worth getting up early! Grab your friends and morning coffee!
Enjoy one of the finest dance shows on Second Life.
Fiddler on the Roof returns to the Muse Theatre! This Tony-winning production, being presented by the | muse | dance company features stunning movements and dance by choreographer Anu Papp. Mark your calendars! You don’t want to this all time favourite show!
Once a year we encourage members of the company to stretch their wings and present a piece of their own work. Each entrant must choose their music, create the set, get it in a rezzer and on the stage. They either make or source their costumes for their dance. They run the dance HUD and often the mover as well, or if an operator is needed they must train the operator. In all cases they are encouraged and mentored by senior members of the company. This is not a competition but rather an opportunity to strive for personal excellence–to be the best that they can be.
We invite you to join this full cast presentation of 11 outstanding examples of choreographic skill and creative spirit. We recommended that you arrive early to secure a seat and to cache the sets and the animations. Please keep your scripts to 50 or below.
Inanna Burlesque provides a monthly show of sexy ladies that have intoxicating dance moves that will ensure an hour of entertainment. We show a variety of well-choreographed dance movements that will keep you enthralled and wanting more.
The Elysion region is a members-only region, so you’ll need to pay a fee to join the group. They have a variety of mixers, deejay events, parties… and when there’s not a show, the region itself is gorgeous and well worth visiting.
5:00PM – MISFIT FOLLIES
Misfit Dance & Performance Art presents: Misfit Follies – A showcase of Theatre Dance Art.
Each Sunday we have a shiny, new show at Winds of the Sahara Theatre. Our dances range from burlesque to performance art and you are sure to be amazed at all of the wonder that sets, costumes and music can create. We’ll put sparkles in your eyes and leave sequins on your shirt collars.
Treat yourself and your partner to a day out at our lavish playhouse. Beautiful, dancers swaying to a variety of tunes. Professionally choreographed dances and sets with a wide range of costumes. Entertainment, Topless, Adult, Shows, Cabaret
Hi Fans! Welcome to our 2018 performing season! We’ve got some pretty awesome shows scheduled this year and we can’t wait to bring it to the stage for you!
We love starting off the year with our “After Hours” adult themed show. Held only twice a year, our directors tap into that steamy sensual side, and create some amazing performances. Some may be naughty, some may be nice but one thing is for sure, our show is a great way to say goodbye to February 2018, the month of love.
We are also happy to introduce the directing début of DX member Selene Dovahkin and performing débuts of Victory Mueller, & Everleigh Vollmar! Make us your date destination this weekend! Hosted by Ms. Aryanna Draken.
Rated: A for Adult. No children please. We hope to see you there!
Please check with the Dance Queens event calendar for updates and additions to the weekend’s schedule, as well as the many events that happen during the week.
I’ve got interviews and drafts in progress for the following:
Coming up on Saturday March 3rd at 3:00PM SLT, the Gypsy Rose Lee Theatre has its grand opening.
Here’s the show announcement:
Burlesque Dolls of Gypsy Rose Burlesque Saturday March 3 – 3PM SLT
Welcome to the new Burlesque Dolls Gypsy Rose Burlesque Theatre, a tribute to the icon of classic burlesque: the legendary Gypsy Rose Lee, and carrying on the tradition of Lary Correia’s Burlesque Dolls.
We invite you to our grand opening on Saturday, March 3rd at 3:00PM SLT with a range of wonderful acts by Kyshra, Jilley, Queenie, Alexis, Josephine Jinx, Exhi, Corri, Lina and more! And who can resist the sultry tunes and announcements by the irresistible Diamonique Viper?
There will also be a raffle for a 1000L gift card for the excellent fashions of Devious Mind.
That’s the TL;DR, but who is Lina (Melina Aurotharius), and with all the venues and dance groups out there, why start a new one? What does it mean to start a new group, and what challenges do they face?
I know I want to know more. So, let’s go exploring, shall we?
Yes, let’s do that…
Lina invited me over to the new Gypsy Rose Burlesque theatre… it’s still under construction, but it’s impressive so far.
I asked her how she got her start in SL.
“I used to play for a long time in another avatar based client,” says Lina. “People there were telling me SL could be a great place for me to take my shop and my clothing creations and expand upon what I had already done there, plus it was a lot more technically advanced. So, literally 9 years ago today, I logged into Second Life and never went back to IMVU.”
In your face, IMVU! *cough, cough* (Okay, back to pretending to be a journalist. Think CNN… think CNN…) From a career in clothing, how did she get into dance?
“As far as my start in dance it hit me pretty quick. I was fairly bored in Second Life, and a friend of mine stumbled upon a show while he was out looking for strip clubs. He took me to a show for my birthday and I was hooked. I started going to a few shows a week and I was in awe. I watched dances like Baby and Jilly and Queenie (BabyPea Von Phoenix and Jilley of Empire, and Red Queen of… well, pretty much everywhere!), and thought I NEED to do that. Soon I signed up with Winds (of the Sahara) as an extra and made my debut Oct 2017. From that day I was so hooked I did whatever I could to get on stage and have not stopped.”
And nothing’s going to stop her… nothing going to stop her noooooooooooow!
(Okay, I just had to.)
“Dance for me is an outlet for my creativity in many ways like it is for a lot of us,” she says “For me, I use it almost as a kind of therapy. After the Las Vegas shooting, I did the song “Invincible” by Pat Benatar, for example. Most of my acts are inspired by things I have going on in my life and almost an expression of my emotion and stress I deal with in the outside world.”
Dance Therapy, folks. After years of seeing articles about virtual worlds therapies for PTSD pop up on the feeds, maybe it’s time to get the soldiers up on the movers and dancing? Put down the M-16, pick up the HetaHarper Tools, and feel the rhythm!
Let’s Learn With Lina!
Speaking of the tools of the trade, I then asked Lina if it was hard to learn dance?
“The tools, I am always learning,” she says. “I use the SpotOn tools and learned them pretty quick thanks to their YouTube videos. I will admit though I am still learning all the time, different tricks and methods that make things easier. As far as putting together an act, I listen to Pandora until something comes along that makes me want to move, or until I can “see” it in my mind. Some of my acts come to me in the most unsuspecting places, like while I am driving or in the shower, where I sing the most, so I try to keep a notepad in my phone to keep notes and ideas.”
(I’d just like to point out here that using a phone notepad application in the shower is not a good idea, even if it’s “water resistant.”)
What comes from her moments of Eureka?
“I usually do group acts, however for burlesque, which is my favorite I try to stick to being as traditional as possible. Lady Correia (of Main Event’s Burlesque Dolls) was one of my mentors. My burlesque acts are always solos, and a few times I have done couples acts. I really enjoy using a lot of people in my acts, however, and giving the audience a lot to look at.”
(Have you seen my jaw? I dropped it somewhere.)
I was curious about this… when you think burlesque, what do you think? And what’s the real definition of the art of burlesque?
In a world that the media portrays as a forest of dance poles and worse, how does dance performance and burlesque stand out and keep its standards?
Lina explained it for me: “Well anyone who knows me and has seen me on stage knows I am not shy and will do just about anything and… show just about anything if the dance calls for it. Burlesque however when it is performed traditionally is more about the tease than the please, I love the idea of leaving them wanting a little bit … more. I have seen acts that seem more about the dancer just showing off the goods than it is about the art. I have also seem some gorgeous acts that are full striptease. I support any dancer to express themselves as they can imagine, that is what is so beautiful about second life is that limitless boundary of expression.”
And the rewards can be great: “When an act goes great it is almost like a high, the dances don’t crash, your music hits the right spots and the particles rez it is a blast. I try not to take it too seriously. I have not literally cried over a bad night (yet) but when it happens, and it does happen to all of us, I try to take it as a challenge, learn from it and make it better next time. When things do go wrong, ask for help too. the dance community really is a huge family and there is always someone willing to help each other get past a block or a problem.”
To give thanks…
As we’ve seen with everything in Second Life, the groups aren’t just groups, And it isn’t just for dance, it’s more like a family…
“They really are and many of us dance at all different venues together. I have seen us support each other through things too in ways that really touch the heart outside of the dance world, family tragedies, illness, marriages and births, we really can be supportive towards each other in ways that go far beyond the keyboard.”
“I did want to be sure to thank everyone who has supported me and encouraged me along the way, especially people like the staff at Winds, A&M and Empire Room who have always made me feel at home and Antonio who has always pushed me to be my best in dance and give me a good kick in the butt when I needed it.
Speaking of Antonio, I asked him for his thoughts on the new place:
[17:44] R.: want to toss in a few quotes? [17:44] Antonio: who me? [17:45] Antonio: for her interview nah this is all her, I just support and encourage her, I stay in the background.
The longest journey begins not with a single step, but a kick in the butt.
Starve a cold, Antonio a… FEVER!
A kiss to build a dream on…
Which then leads us to why she is starting the new Gypsy Rose Burlesque Theatre:
“I love to watch just the huge variety in dance period. Some people make the creepiest things like tentacles and snakes, which terrify me look amazing and then the next act might me something so beautiful. I find for myself though that burlesque comes most naturally to me. I love the movement and the mood of the tease. I guess that I why I chose to open my own after Lady C closed the Main Event Showroom.”
Lady C’s burlesque was a very special place to many of us, it was a place that would bring you back in time. She made her dance into an art and taught us all to do the same. Feathers and sparkles and lushly textures stages all set to the music that could be anything from tongue in cheek suggestive to some that were cute, or downright sexy. She held her standards high and taught us all how beautiful it is, I felt there was a void left to be filled and jumped on it with the support of my friends encouraging me along the way I am making it happen.
From my early days in Second Life dance I have always kind of had the idea of running a show in the back of my mind.”
It isn’t just “I have a barn, let’s put on a show” for dance, because it takes a whole lot more to put together an event-friendly venue:
“I have picked up little things here and there from different venues I have danced at, I chose a building with simple textures and a design and color scheme that would leave the focus on the stage and hopefully be welcoming to everyone. My main goal is not to fill seats but to have everyone enjoy themselves and want to come back. I want a venue that runs smooth and is relaxed and a place that my dancers and audience wants to return to and looks forward to every month. A venue that does not belong to “me” per say but to all of us who enter those doors.”
So, why the name Gypsy Rose Lee?
“Well the name Burlesque Dolls of Gypsy Rose Theatre is a nod to Lady Corriea. She has been such a huge influence in my dance. When I took her burlesque class she spoke about Gypsy Rose Lee and her style and talents and her influence in the burlesque world. It is my way of thanking Lady C for all she has done for me with her teaching and encouragement.”
What have you got planned for the opening?
“Performances are already planned by Kyshra, Jilley, Queenie, Alexis, Lina, Exhi, Corri, and Josephine Jinx. And a few more that may join in. Diamonique Viper, with that sexy voice from Lady C’s, is the DJ.”
Ohhhhhhh myyyyyyy. Now Diamonique’s voice… yes, yes she is.
She is also planning a give away with a gift card to Devious Mind for L$1000. “Great place, too, I love her designs!”
Let’s wrap this up…
Thank you, Lina. It was wonderful to talk to you about your experiences in Second Life Dance, and I’m looking forward to the grand opening event. I’ll bring my camera along and maybe, you know, might take a few pictures here and there, you know?
You can see her perform at the new Gypsy Rose opening on March 3rd at 3PM. Also, she’s at A&M, Winds of the Sahara, Elysium, Virtuoso, and at the Dance Queens shows (I’ll be posting about the Dance Queens Showcase in the Weekend in Second Life Dance post because it’s a good introduction to the various performers and styles and acts.)
Prism is a planet with a uniquely crystalline environment and which supports both silicon and carbon-based life forms. It is a planet where even the tiniest creatures are living jewels.
Inara Pey: Living in a Modemworld 