Friday, August 30, 2024
Debauche
Thursday, August 29, 2024
WoF: Burlesque Dolls
Dance Queens
Walk of Fame
Presents: Burlesque Dolls
Please join us for a very special event! Burlesque Dolls will be dancing their way into history by earning their tile in the Dance Queens Walk of Fame! They will present a show of their favorite acts for our enjoyment. Please come support them as they dance into posterity!
Tuesday, September 3rd at 5pm SLT
At the Zhaza Zerbino Stage
On the Dance Queens sim
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Dance%20Queens/229/156/2002
Tuesday, August 27, 2024
Sarabande Theater
Monday, August 26, 2024
The Gorean Repertoire Joins The Walk of Fame!
What a wonderful performance this past Saturday, on the Dance Queens ZhaZa Zerbino Stage as the creative hearts of The Gorean Repertoire danced their Walk of Fame. They not only shared their dance style but their Second Life roleplay culture as well. It was a passionate look at dance and feelings united as these talented ensemble presented their devoted best. Here is a closer look at The Gorean Repertoire, have a read and get to know these multi-faceted people better.
The Show
Gor is a fictional world created by author John Norman for
his series of science fiction novels known as the Chronicles of Gor. Gor is
depicted as a harsh and primitive world, with a society resembling that of
ancient civilizations like Rome and Greece. It is characterized by its
hierarchical structure; caste system.
Gorean Dance has its roots in the early days of text-based chat rooms. Today, when you watch a Gorean dance performance, you not only experience the music and the dancer's movements but also receive text emotes that immerse you into the story being portrayed. This unique blend of visual, auditory, and textual elements creates a deeper, more immersive emotional experience for the audience.
The Gorean Repertoire: Sometimes I think people are confused by who we are and what we do! In essence we wanted to create a place where dancers can showcase their passion for Gorean dance in a more contemporary show format. We wanted to combine the show format, large sets, and special effects with the choreography, emotes, and spirit of traditional Gorean dance.
With a rich and diverse repertoire of dances, each
performance transports the audience into the heart of Gorean traditions in a 60
minute event.
Our first act today is a group that have supported us from day 1 and have become an integral part of The Gorean Repertoire family: Gorean Brazil Dance - A small group of dancing girls from various Portuguese-speaking islands, each unique in their physical characteristics, in the individuality that comes from the region where each body was trained, they respond in mysteries of synchronized movements in a single line, forming this imaginary chain, which fuses them by their slave essence and passion to serve. This is Gorean Brazil Dance, or simply GBD!
Loba is the group's choreographer, and joining her today are
Paola, Leena, Esther, Cally, Inaê, Vanilla Cookie, and Eshe. They will perform
a Rence Girls dance inspired by the lives of the enslaved Rence girls, who
bravely navigate the dangerous waters of the Vosk in search of fish and the
precious Rence harvest. Despite their grueling work, these girls never lose
their charm or the sweetness in their smiles. At night, they eagerly gather
around the fire, dancing to celebrate life and serve their Masters with
devotion, expressing gratitude and love through every graceful movement.
Imagine the swamp sounds, their laughter, and rhythmic paddling as you’re
carried to the heart of their world.
Our second act comes from Maia, a founder of the Gorean
Repertoire. Maia has been involved in Gorean dance since 2007, back when
animations were limited and had to be lined up along the top of the screen.
Currently an instructor at The Academy of Gorean Dance, she originally created
this dance in 2014 for a music challenge where dancers crafted performances to
the same piece of music. It was voted one of the most memorable dances that
year. While the choreography has stayed the same, the emotes have evolved as
Maia has grown more confident in expressing emotion through her writing. Maia refuses to give any information away but
has said to make sure you have some tissues to hand as you might need them!
Our next performer is Ayita Maestra, who has been involved
in Gorean Dance since 2013, transitioning from dancer to teacher and judge.
Renowned for her expertise in choreography, set design, and Spot On tools, she
supports both mainstream and Gorean dancers. Ayita has also served as a DJ for
groups like Queens of Burlesque and Moonshadow Dancers and co-founded The
Gorean Repertoire. Today's dance, from
the perspective of a Free Woman, draws parallels to medieval women, respected
and clothed in robes of concealment, unlike kajirae. Inspired by a 2014 set, it
marks Ayita's early work with particles and backdrops. We won’t spoil the
story—enjoy the journey!
"Ladies and Gentlemen, tonight we want to share with you a bit of culture and fun. We will perform a Gorean 'Net Dance' for you. This is a dance in which a group of girls capture another girl, in this case from the sea, and somewhat tame her in her new position as captive. This dance uses 57 different animations. It is a sensuous, lively dance wrought with meaning, and we hope you will find it interesting. Please set to midnight to see it as it was intended."
Our fifth act is created by Lojal. (she has been offline dealing with RL)
In the marketplace of the Village of Nordlys, a man rolled out an empty, old paga barrel and set a stringed puppet on top of it. "Masters! Mistresses! Children!" he called out. "For your entertainment and delight come and behold the smallest kajira in Gor perform a beauty dance. A dance to enchant you all...and if a few copper coins find their way in to my pocket I will be most grateful."
Our grand finale today is a heartfelt collaboration between
Ayita and Maia. In bringing this performance to life, we wanted to include as
many of our talented choreographers and dancers as possible. After exploring
several ideas, we hope this final piece reflects the unity and passion of
everyone involved. We hope you feel the joy and love that went into creating
this dance!
Joining them on stage for this special moment are: Babypea, Cally, Cilla, Eshe, Esther, Ilaria, Inae, Kaeli, Kariss, Kira, Leena, Loba, Lojal, Maddy, Nadi, Paola, Ramius, Rana, Ruby, Safira, Shanni, Vala, Vanilla Cookie, and Wild.
We hope you feel the joy and love that went into creating this performance!
The Interview
1. How and when did your troupe form?
We came for our first pilot show in March 2024, and well,
technically we are not so much a troupe as a venue open to all Gorean dancers.
Initially, we were a bit skeptical about the idea’s potential success. However,
to our amazement, the response was overwhelmingly positive. This support
confirmed that there was a genuine interest in what we wanted to create. Since
then, we’ve been hosting monthly shows, with new dancers joining us on stage
every month.
2. Where do you usually perform, what is your usual venue?
We realized early on that we needed a dedicated venue where we could have complete control over our events. Having organized numerous Gorean Dance Contests and Exhibitions in various cities, we were well aware of the limitations and restrictions that would come with using a shared space. Currently, our theatre is situated on a quarter-sim, giving us a permanent location where dancers can rehearse in advance without any constraints. You can find The Gorean Repertoire at: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Gazing%20Stars/66/38/1508
3. What is your troupe's primary goal in dance?
To create a place where dancers can showcase their passion
for Gorean dance in a more contemporary show format. We wanted to combine the
show format, large sets, and special effects with the choreography, emotes, and
spirit of traditional Gorean dance. With rich and diverse repertoire of dances,
each performance transports the audience into the heart of Gorean traditions in
a 60 minute event.
4. What can an audience member expect to see at one of your shows?
Gorean Dance has its roots in the early days of text-based
chat rooms. Today, when you watch a Gorean dance performance, you not only
experience the music and the dancer's movements but also receive text emotes
that immerse you into the story being portrayed. This unique blend of visual,
auditory, and textual elements creates a deeper, more immersive emotional
experience for the audience.
5. Who owns the troupe and who directs or manages it?
Ayita (naybabe) and Maia (fionna Carter) are the co-founders
and active managers of The Gorean Repertoire, with Ramius (ramiusmarco) serving
as host.
6. As a Director or Manager, what is your favorite thing about having a troupe?
Creating a professional environment where dancers can showcase their talents.
Nurturing the growth of emerging dancers and guiding them on
their artistic journey.
Offering dancers the opportunity to develop elaborate sets
if they wish that enhance the stories they wish to tell.
Providing a space for both Ayita and myself (Maia) to perform on
our terms, without relying on rare external opportunities.
7. As a Director or Manager, what is your least favorite thing about having a troupe?
Drama!
8. What directive would you give to someone who wants to join your troupe?
We would encourage those wanting to join Gorean Repertoire to come with an open mind, a strong work ethic, and a passion for collaboration. In our troupe, we believe in supporting one another and pushing each other to grow, both as performers and as people. We would also advise them to be ready to embrace challenges and learn from every experience, as growth often comes from stepping out of their comfort zone.
9. What is your favorite food, favorite drink, and please tell us about any pets that you have.
Ayita has one cat and Maia has 4 cats that are chipped in her name plus 6 others that have adopted her! We are officially cat ladies.
Ayita: Iced mocha, frozen margarita, and chocolate!
Maia: A good red wine (with ice) or a good sparkling white
wine Sangria, and a good Thai curry.
The Ceremony
Sunday, August 25, 2024
Ballet Pixelle Auditions
Friday, August 23, 2024
An Extra Special Walk of Fame!
This past Wednesday saw an extra space Walk of Fame ceremony. At this ceremony, we honoured Those Who Serve... the people who volunteer their time to manage Dance Queens and do numerous tasks to help keep the dance community informed and bonded. Not all could be here this day and they will be honoured with a ceremony at another time.
THE CEREMONY
Here are the words that were given for the ceremony.
Ladies and Gentlemen, we are here today for a very special Walk of Fame paver placing. Today, we honor Those Who Serve. These are very special people who generously give life's most precious commodity to the dance community: Time. These people have given countless hours, day after week after month after year, helping people in Second Life's dance community in numerous ways.
They manage the Dance Queens group, which is the hub for all things dance-related in our virtual world. They contribute to the blog, calendar, Info Center, assisting people that call out for help in group chat, and keeping the group informed as to upcoming events. These people keep Dance Queens alive, functioning and productive. And they do not get paid for their service. They are, at times, even abused by some people. But they are bonded with one another in service to this essential group.
Dance Queens is the go-to for people needing to communicate across the grid about dance-related issues, and Those Who Serve are the people who make that possible. We thank you for your service and for caring about Dance Queens and the dance community... our extended dance family. These STARS in the Dance Queens Walk of Fame will now be placed. Also, you will receive a STAR to hang on the wall in your home or at your home venue.
We appreciate your hard work, skills and dedication. IT IS NOTICED! We see you. We thank you for your contributions to virtual dance in Second Life and wish you many years of dance fulfillment. We also hope that all you sow in giving will come back to you as a harvest of appreciation from those who benefit from your loving work.
Babypea kneels down and places the heavy tiles into the sand, wriggling them into place and sweeping off the sand spilling over them with a tiny brush, calling out each name as she goes.
Nottoo Wise
Ame Thomas
Vienna James
A very special person who can only be with us in spirit, our beloved Web Sass
Another very special person who can only be with us in spirit, our beloved Zhaza Zerbino
Standing, she holds out her arms, "And there they are! To remain for as long as we can keep this sim, which hopefully will be a long time. Thank you for taking the time to participate in preserving the historical significance of those who dedicate themselves to sharing virtual dance in Second Life."
Thank you so much everyone for coming out to this most special and important Dance Queens Walk of Fame ceremony! We hope you appreciate the passion and service of these dedicated people, leaders in our dance community. Thank you, Those Who Serve... our Dance Queen Leaders... for serving and helping to keep the dance community informed! Congratulations! Wishing you all appreciation and fulfillment!
The Interviews
Through these interviews, we may get to know each of these inspiring people a bit better!
Nottoo Wise
The FOUNDER of Dance Queens! What a thrill it was to have her at the ceremony. I admit, I was fan girling :D Read her interview and learn more about her and about the beginning of Dance Queens!
1. How and when did you find Second Life?
In late 2006 I was on the RL elevator in my condo building and talked with the guy who lived on the floor below me. He was all excited about SL. So, after the holidays I checked it out and joined on 15 January 2007. Addiction started immediately.
2. How and when did you discover virtual dance?
Of course I gravitated to clubs and music and dance. About my second week I saw something that stunned me ... two girls dancing in sync. WOW! how cool I thought. BUT, how did they do it? That was the start of my dancing journey ... Dance HUDs, dances, sequences, shows ....
3. Please tell us your history of serving the dance community. When did you start, how did you come to do it, and what are your current service activities?
In 2007 dance quality was not too good. Dances were made using software only programs and the quality varied from awful to okay. I quickly realized that some dancing had the potential to be really sensual and realistic, but it was a challenge to find them. Then, Easy Babcock opened Sine Wave selling MOCAP dances. The quality of dancing jumped several levels. I opened my pocketbook and bought so many dances. I shouldn't tell you, but I now have probably 12,000 to 15,000 separate animations/dances. Addiction has no boundaries hahaha.
MOCAP dancing took me to new heights of dancing. I learned the technology every way I could ... how dances are made, sequencing, organization of HUDs, matching dance and song, and more. I experimented every way I could. In early 2008 I started a Blues Club called Nottoo Hot with my then partner, Riddlebox Ribble. There I learned about couples dancing and how to enhance it. I also formed a dance group to put on shows at my club. One of my oldest friends and a great dancer, Diddy Hyun, was a part of the group. The dance group led to me learning about putting on shows. At that time there were almost no tools other than the Huddles HUD for putting on shows, so I started inventing things. I invented lots of dumb things and a few interesting things and that led me to the idea of opening a store to sell my stuff. So, I made a store on my sim and named the store "Dance Queens."
A few weeks after opening in walked a group of ladies. It was Zhaza Zerbino and her dance group. For the first time I realized that there were other people forming dance groups and they were on the same learning curve I was on. I decided to form a group called "Dance Queens" and send out information about dancing. I put tips for dancing, explanations for how to manage a HUD, dance sequences ... anything I thought would be helpful for people. Cheryl Nitely, who was a Nottoo Hot club member suggested a blog and with her help we made one. Other club members listened to my desires for dance systems ... Galilla Sinatra and Rug Halberd ... and I think that was part of the inspiration they had for starting the very useful Spot On dance tools. Dance Queens grew rapidly. We had dance festivals and so much interest. It was so much fun. The rest is history ...
4. What do you most enjoy about serving the dance community?
My RL has taken me to a place without an internet and I rarely get to be in SL, so I am pretty much removed from dancing.
5. What advice would you give to someone who would like to promote the dance community?
Watch what others do and learn. Experiment, experiment, experiment. Help others ... it pays dividends. Do not compete ... share. No one is the best dancer. Remember, it is for fun.
6. If you have your own dance troupe, please tell a little bit about it, and its history.
I have had two dance groups long, long ago.
7. What is your favorite food, favorite drink, and please tell us about any pets that you have.
Hahahaha ... malbec wine from argentina and chile.
8. What activities other than dance do you enjoy?
In SL I like playing with clothes and looks, and I enjoy people.
9. Is there anything else you'd like to add?
Thank you for doing this. I am honored.
Ame Thomas
Ame has served Dance Queens for many years as a Manager. She is also Dance Queens' go-to DJ for the special shows and events that Dance Queens hosts.
Vienna James
Vienna has served Dance Queens in Management and also promotes Dance Queens events in her own performance group Keep Performance Alive (KPA).
Club Image
IMAGE 14th Anniversary Dance Show
✧˖°*☆ Theme -Again- ☆*°˖✧
Sunday, August 25 and September 8, 2024
START 7:00 AM SLT / 開幕 23:00 JST
............. Program .............
1. Yuko Pinklady "A Thousand Miles"
2. Nyoko "Retrospect"
3. Layra Bulmer "prayer「祈り」"
4. Raldcat "花の匂い The smell of flowers"
5. SakuraSakuJP "人魚姫の心 The Mermaid’s Heart"
6. Misse Tigerpaw "Hurricane"
7. Setsuna Hirano "Cocoon Moon"
Ending: Setsuna Hirano "Again"
★ DJ: Fairytale Stoop
★ Staff: Sakuya Lazuli, Xia Xute, Oto, Cocoa, and Sunset Quinnell
★ Music: Ending composer by Shusaku Rhode
............. ............. ............. ............. .............
IMAGE BLOG: http://image.slmame.com/
IMAGE THEATER:
Thursday, August 22, 2024
Show & Lounge cossette'
26.Aug 2024 (Mon) 7:00 am SLT
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Laem%20Singh/170/188/706
Please come down to the show and enjoy our expressive performance on stage!
1. Rachael
2. Sarah
3. Starlet
4. Yougao
5. Clau
6. Kazusaf
MC: Sarah
Debauche
Put on your swimwear and come and enjoy Debauche as we dance at the gorgeous Surfers Point
Dancing under the twilight twinkling stars once again. Really is a magical sight. So come and enjoy a truly magnificent show and after party with a host Deejay
Stars, moon, sand, sea and Debauche, What a fantastic sight
Sunday 25th August at 1pm SLT Debauche at Surfers Point
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Rich%20Coast/168/179/23
Debauche
Please come and join Debauche as we visit one of our favourite venues. The Trophy Room is the location and we are so looking forward to dancing here
Spectacular new routine as well
Sexy, Little bit naughty but always classy, that's Debauche
After party also, please come formal wear but low scripts as possible
Saturday 24th August, 1pm SLT The Trophy Room
Wednesday, August 21, 2024
Elysium Cabaret Dances into History!
This past Tuesday, Elysium Cabaret brought some of their favourite acts to the Zhaza Zerbino stage on the Dance Queens sim, as they danced their show to earn their STAR in the Dance Queens Walk of Fame. It was a fantastic show, filled with a variety of stellar acts. It was a joy to come out and support this project! Below, find pictures from the show plus an interview that offers some insight into Elysium. What a heart-warming, special event this was!
THE SHOW
Tuesday, August 20, 2024
DQ WoF - The Gorean Repertoire
Fifth Ave Guys & Dolls
Monday, August 19, 2024
Sarabande Theater
Crystal Edge Dancers
Sunday, August 18, 2024
Men in Motion Dance into History!
It was very exciting to sit down to a show of all-male choreographers. Not too often you get to see that! And, this was a most special occasion as Men in Motion danced their Walk of Fame, earning their place in Second Life dance history! They presented an incredible show on the Zhaza Zerbino stage at the Dance Queens sim that featured mind-blowing acts of creative brilliance. Check out pictures from the show and read the interview that lets us get to know this fabulous dance troupe better!
The Show
The STAR Ceremony
What a team of sharp dressed men! Congratulations Men in Motion! Here is hoping you stay in motion for many years to come and that your STAR continues to give light and warmth to the dance universe of Second Life! Congratulations on earing your STAR in the Walk of Fame and thank you for participating in this project!