One of the Services that the Editor in Chief at the SL
Enquirer has arranged is to give back to the community through monthly drawings
for a Free Spotlight Feature - our Deluxe Advertising Package. This month’s winner was Divalin and the
Kinetics Dancers. I was not sure what to
expect on this assignment, since the word “Kinetics” can have several
meanings. In the Military, or the world
of politics, the phrase “Kinetic Solution” usually means blowing something up,
as opposed to just talking through an issue.
But in this case, it meant I would probably be watching scantily clad
women bounding around a stage. “Oh
well”, I told myself. “SOMEBODY has to do it.”
I set out on my quest to locate the illusive Miss Divalin
Magic, the Grand Poobah of the Kinetics Dancers, and found her on a Sky
Platform, busily preparing for their next production that would make Busby
Berkley proud. She graciously consented to collect her Chief Herder of Cats,
Olivia Wonder, and together they accompanied me to the SL Enquirer Business
office where we could chat comfortably, away from the “roar of the greasepaint
and the smell of the crowd” as it were.
Josh (Thomas1 Bellic) (JB): So tell me, Ladies. How did you two meet? And how did you decide on a partnership in
the performing arts?
Divalin Magic (DM): We met years ago on another virtual
platform, called "InWorldz". I
had not done any type of performance art up to that point, but after meeting O,
and our Kinetics DJ Chopper, they convinced me to give it a try. I was hooked!
After InWorldz folded, I came back to SL and started exploring the dance
community. Several years later, O
expressed her desire to have her own theatre, and now here we are.
Olivia Wonder (OW): Actually we met in open sim in 2012
helping a friend (who is now our DJ) open up a burlesque club. It was a big success as far as open sim's
go. We worked well together, we both
balance each other’s weakness and strong points. So while dancing together at another theater
we decided we might give it a try, and began brain storming.
JB: How long has your dance troupe, Kinetics
Dance Team, been together?
DM: Kinetics Dance
was founded in 2021, with our grand opening in November of that year. We took about six months to develop our
vision on how we wanted the troupe to grow and a huge aspect of that was to
make sure this was fun and "home."
OW:
It’s been like the rapids of a river, always changing but thrilling
at the same time.
JB: Just who
makes up Kinetics Dance Team?
DM: We have a very
robust group of choreographers, backup dancers, DJ's, hosts and
photographers. We have a small
management team which includes our sponsor, MrRoarke. Everyone steps up and helps us whatever way
they can. For example, we have a troupe
member who tackles the poster creation and another who takes on advertising.
OW: We are a huge
mix of SL talent, each with their special skill. We have amazing
choreographers, builders, photographers, videographers, scrip-tors, & DJ's,
the Kinetics Team reeks with talents to be sure. But.....
MstrRoark has to be our biggest contributor to the club, he keeps the
lights on and is there for every show, encouraging every step.
JB: It must take
quite a staff to run an operation like this.
How big is your staff, and who are some of the key players here?
DM: Our staff is
small - but as mentioned earlier, our team helps us as much as they can. The primary running of the troupe is between
O and Divalin.
OW: Everyone on our
team will help at any moment, from updating the spreadsheet, to creating
monthly posters, and I do appreciate that so much, but the majority, of the
hands on is done by myself and Divalin Magic.
JB: Are you
looking for new Dancers? And how would
they find out? Do you host “Dance Job
Fairs”…or “Dance Marathons”, where the last Avi standing gets to join up?
DM: Generally, new
dancers come find us. I think word is
out that we are a fun bunch!! We do have
one feature, and that is we personally invite choreographers from the dance
community to do a set of their choice each month. And that has led to a few staying, and
becoming a Kineticsan!
OW: We have been so
blessed that the best talents in SL have searched us out. What a Blessing. Just ask anyone on staff.. we all chat and
communicate so everyone knows.
JB: A quick
search turns up dozens and dozens of Dance Troupes in SecondLife, involving
hundreds, if not thousands of dancers.
What is it that makes up the “Kinetics Dance Team” difference?
OW: First and
Foremost.... it's got to be fun. All the
members of the staff are volunteer, so if it's not a rewarding way to spend
your SL, they will soon move on. We try
really hard to give each member of our staff a place to express their
creativity and skills.
DM: What makes us
different? I fondly say "we are all
crazy here!" And we are - being
serious during rehearsal just doesn't happen.
Showtime, we all step up - but before that, if we aren't laughing, then
we are doing something wrong.
JB: How many
people do you draw to a performance, on average, and how do people find out
about your productions?
DM: Our average is
about 50 to 60 people at a show. That's
a comfortable number that helps to keep the lag down for our
choreographers. As we all have
experienced in SL - big crowds equal major lag events. We'd rather do extra shows, and make the
experience better for our guests.
OW: We offer 3 shows
a month, all different, so if you can't make it one night, there will always be
another show.
JB: Who do you
hope to attract to your shows? What special group of people might find Kinetics
Dance Team especially appealing?
DM: Everyone! You don't need to be a dancer or actor to
appreciate the arts. All dance
performances are about artistic vision.
OW: Everyone and
Anyone...... the only ones we won't allow on the sim are the babes. This is an adult event ONLY. We offer some
amazing effects, lighting, and choreographing.
If you've never seen a SL stage performance before, start with Kinetics,
we promise you'll be back.
JB: I understand
you also own or are involved with a couple of other businesses. Would you care to comment briefly on those
other enterprises?
DM: Almost all our
troupe members are involved with other theatres in the dance community. And we try to get to as many of their shows
as possible. There are many, many people
in this community who have taken me personally under their wing, and helped me
gain confidence. It remains a privilege
to share my work in their troupes as well.
OW: We focus on
making this a sister/brother hood, not a competition. If one of our friends in another troupe sends
out an SOS for help we try and step up if possible. We help by preforming in their shows,
advertise for their shows in our groups, and any other way they might need
us. I want to reach across SL to make a
friend, not start a competition.
JB: Is there
anything else you want to share with our readers today?
DM: Kinetics Dance
was once just an idea, and now we are entering our 3rd year. How long will it endure? For as long as it is meant to. And the focus will remain on having fun. Isn't that what SL is for?
OW: I can sit here
all day and talk about how amazing our club is, but what I'd really like to
happen is: For your reader to take a
chance, come to our show, and let them tell all their friends what a good time
they had. I want others to speak for Kinetics
Dance, so I can smile and not have to say a word.
SURL: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Fantasies%20Island/88/59/1001
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100074370574171
FLICKR: https://www.flickr.com/groups/Kinetics/
So there you have it, folks. If you are looking for something different in
the world of show dance-teams, look no farther than The Kinetics Dancers,
headed up by Divalin and Olivia. Go
early to get a good seat in their intimate and cozy theater. Tell ‘em “Josh sent me”. You’ll be glad you did.
Be there! Aloha!
JB
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