What a spectacular Walk of Fame we saw today! It was one act right after another of high-end creativity that graced the ZhaZa Zerbino Stage on the Dance Queens sim. Hestia Namaar and Yvette LaBrune danced their way into history, earning their stars as they shared some of their most metaphoric and provocative dances one could ever hope to see in our virtual world. Every set was fascinating, the choreo was intricate and detailed, the costumes were mesmerising. Below find pictures from the show followed by interviews with each of these imaginative, hard-working performers and finally pictures from their STAR ceremony.
THE SHOW
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Yvette - HANDS Dance with Hestia, Pea, Anya, Kely This dance represents the choices we make as we learn and
grow. We are influenced from many directions and there can be a struggle for
individual decisions, morals, and lifestyles. We can be molded by beliefs,
parental influence and education. In the
end we find ourselves and make our own final choice. |
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Hestia - Dare with Kely, Dee, Sultry This performance was and still s dedicated to and inspired
by Yvette. One of the first numbers i ever saw was one done by Yvette, and i
was transfixed by how far outside the box she went and how she stretched her
imagination. She inspires me constantly
to think beyond, and embrace all the abilities that the world of SL gives us.
Not limited by the forces of gravity and physiological boundaries. She
encourages me, supports me, and helps me when i rant, rave and rage about some
little thing i cannot get to work! Yvette...this is outside my box and it is
because of you i am able to do this. Thankyou |
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Yvette - ENYA with Yvette and Kely I chose this song because of my love for my grandmother, who loved me unconditionally. She raised me to be creative and gave me the gift of love for nature. We would spend hours outside, sitting by a Maple tree. I would practice my ballet moves in the grass and have wonderful stories shared with me. This dance is dedicated to her memory. Enjoy |
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Hestia – MANDINKA with Kely, Dee, Sultry I first saw this extraordinary artist when she sang on the
Grammy's. She walked out, alone, with a mic, and sang like nothing i have ever
heard before. That performance and song stuck with me thro the years, as did
her turbulent life, always played out on the cruel stage of a judgmental world.
Her passing, was a huge loss to the world, her talent and her ethereal beauty
were...as one song she sang said "Nothing compares to U". I decided
to take the original song i heard her sing, and take it...to the modern world.
Please enjoy my version of Mandinka by Sinead O'connor. |
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Yvette – ROSETTA with Alsedel, Cael, Jojo, Pea,
Anya I came across this song and immediately thought of this story. Long kept in their resting place together, embraced in solitude. The lovers awake to music from up above. Their spirits rejoice and seek out the magical gypsies. They rise with the music and dance together one last time. Enjoy |
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Hestia – Jealousy I am not one given to Solo's. I tend to shy away from the
spotlight. However years ago, my partner challenged me to make dances for each
of the 7 deadly Sins. This was, one of my favourites that I created. |
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Yvette – TROLLS with Alsedel, Jojo, Hestia, Cael The mischievous Goblins that live in the forest like to
have a good time. When there are no humans around to pester, they really
get into some wiggling fun. Enjoy. |
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Hestia – RAMMSTEIN with Kely, Yvette, Dee, Sultry, Pea, Divalin, Melli,
Ethan and Mavrick Rammstein is not everyone's cup of tea. Its not even my cup
of tea, but in a journey down the youtube rabbit hole, the video for this song
caught my attention. I was mesmerized by the cinematography, and the dark tale
it wove of the history of Germany, and how it survived thro so much darkness,
and frankly, evil. An epic battle of Chess, was what instantly formed in my
mind. For 9 months this languished on my build platform as I struggled to
create even a modicum of the vision I had in mind. |
THE INTERVIEWS
1. How and when did you find Second Life?
I found it purely
by accident in 2017. I saw a link to the "Gorean Zoo"...so came to
see the Zoo, and I just never left.
2. How and when did you discover virtual dance?
I never heard of it until the Gorean Sim i was in, was
having an OOC Dance night. Now at that time I could not listen to the music,
but I thought it was wonderful!
3. I know picking is hard, but name a few of your favorite dances that you have ever created:
Altho
it was only performed one time, Rammstein - Deutschland is my favourite purely
because I was so entertained by how much the dancers were engaged in their
roles and clearly having fun with it.
4. Did you have any mentors when you were learning to dance that you'd like to wave to?
I have to
wave to Debbie, the Gorean Slave that threw me under the Choreo bus initially,
but at this point the people that started me ..are Kely and Yvette, Whom
patiently explained and helped with all my myriad silly questions.
5. What is your favorite thing about virtual dance creation?
That I can do things that
cannot be done in RL. I am still in a box, where i limit myself to a stage
form, but I recognize we can go so far beyond it. otherwise, it still
remains...that my favourite aspect is when people, audience, and dancers,
engage in routines.
6. What is your least favorite thing about virtual dance creation?
MATH!!!!!!!!
7. What advice would you give to someone who is new to virtual dance?
Don't try to be someone else, and do not tackle more than you
are capable of. Do it slowly, add one new aspect each time.
8. If you have your own dance troupe, please tell a little bit about it, and its history.
No....are
you nuts??? thats way too much work!
9. What is your favorite food, favorite drink, and please tell us about any pets that you have.
PIZZA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ...and WINE! Pets, I showed dogs for decades,
always Italian Greyhounds. I still have 3 altho at times we had up to 18 and
were on the road every weekend it seemed! We retired from the Circle game
now....and I get my weekends to myself now. Oh...and I have one other
pet..called a Husband. HE IS A HOTTIE!
10. What activities other than dance do you enjoy?
I like to make bread!!!!! and I hate housework
11. Is there anything else you'd like to add?
Only one thing
about me comes to mind...I am just a sweet innocent little old grey haired
lady!
YVETTE
1. How and when did you find Second Life?
After I got injured at work a friend suggested I try this
magical place she found with purple Deer flying by in a park.
That was early 2010.
I was intrigued!
2. How and when did you discover virtual dance?
I watched a Dance in 2020 and wondered how it was all
created. I was fascinated and determined
to learn. The creative stories I enjoy
so much.
3. I know picking is hard, but name a few of your favorite
dances that you have ever created:
Hands is one, it is
very personal for me. My struggle to be
me with all the influences around growing up.
Enya is dedicated to my Grandmother that loved me
unconditionally and was such a wonderful influence in my life.
In The Mind is one that allowed me to step out of my box and
just do something wild.
It was too hard to pick my dances today for the show, so I
had Hestia pick them for me. Each one I
have done is special and has meaning.
4. Did you have any
mentors when you were learning to dance that you'd like to wave to?
Laycie, I met and
danced with her and she mentored me from start to finish. She got me into
Virtuoso where I learned strict rules for the dance set up. That experience
helped me with the tools. I kept being
me and MY creative mind with support of friends and fellow Choreographers. Watching others grow and develop in the in
the Dance Community has been fun and Paying It Forward is such a good thing.
5. What is your favorite thing about virtual dance creation?
The creativity, the
story in the work. Letting the music talk to me and see where it goes.
6. What is your least favorite thing about virtual dance
creation?
That moment right before you press play and your finger is
twitching.
7. What advice would you give to someone who is new to
virtual dance?
Learn the tools,
listen and watch others. Tell a
story and make it personal, your best
work comes from inside.
8. If you have your own dance troupe, please tell a little
bit about it, and its history.
N/A
9. What is your favorite food, favorite drink, and please
tell us about any pets that you have.
Mexican Food and Seafood are a tie. Coffee is my pleasure.
I work with rescues so I end up with quirky animals at
times. 4 cats right now (a neurotic
one, one eye, Very small with Large complex, and one demanding Black Cat with a voice.)
10. What activities other than dance do you enjoy?
Virtual Photography
11. Is there anything else you'd like to add?
The dance community is wonderful and I enjoy all the shows
and I am constantly amazed by the creativity.
It has been a wonderful adventure for me.
THE CEREMONY
A huge CONGRATULATIONS to Hestia and Yvette on earning their stars in the Dance Queens Walk of Fame! It is our hope that this Walk will remain for a very long time as a historical tribute to those to put in an enormous amount of time, money and dedication to create virtual dance in Second Life and share it with the world. This takes bravery, passion and love, a genorosity of spirit and a willingness to be vulnerable. Thank you both for sharing! Thank you for participating in this project and supporting Dance Queens. We wish you joy and creative fulfillment in your future creative endeavors!