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
