inKLine Media

By Sachiko Cheng

Senior Editor

Sachi: What did you have in mind when you started Orchid? Was it born from seeing other standard SL venues that were lacking? Or was it just a vision of yours that you had a chance to do?

Ɗϊνα ﾚﾑʍσυ 尺 (diva.lilliehook): It was my own vision, I danced for a couple of other places prior to me opening Orchids, and decided to bring something a bit different to the world of dance. I like to call us performance artists since I consider this a performing art.

Sachi: Very much so. My mom Nikki said that everyone has to make their own original set, is that right?

Ɗϊνα ﾚﾑʍσυ 尺: That’s right. I usually come up with themes for most of the shows so the dancers can then build sets and choose music that fits the theme.   But everyone does decide on what they want their set to be and then build it.

Sachi: Do you find that one is easier than the other (performing vs set design), or does it get easier once you build your set?

Ɗϊνα ﾚﾑʍσυ 尺 (diva.lilliehook): It’s all a part of the entire routine.  Some may build a set then choose music for ex. Others choose the song then build.  Also we have to consider and select costumes.

Sachi: What about your hiring process? Your performers are much more involved than the avg SL dancer. Do you look for creativity the most when you hire? Someone that has the ability to think beyond a pixel on a pole so to speak?

Ɗϊνα ﾚﾑʍσυ 尺 (diva.lilliehook): Absolutely! You have to have a real passion from RL in order to become a great cabaret/burlesque dancer in here.  It’s really easy to pick out who will be dedicated from those who think: “oooh this is an easy way to make money.” Alot of ppl sadly do get turned down.

Sachi: Unfortunately. But you do have to hire who will work best in this environment.

Ɗϊνα ﾚﾑʍσυ 尺 (diva.lilliehook): But I have to say: I’m very fortunate that practically every Orchids dancer has alot of experience behind them.  BTW, I do consider all of us to be a family.

Sachi: Those are usually the best work environments.
Ɗϊνα ﾚﾑʍσυ 尺 (diva.lilliehook): I don’t like nor need the title “boss.” We all make Orchids a success. One person can’t do it.  I want this to be–and it is–a very fun enviornment with shared ideas, and alot of interaction with everyone.

Sachi: Aside from your business standards, you seem to be very wise and gracious. Do you find that helps more in SL when dealing with different personalities among patrons and staff?

Ɗϊνα ﾚﾑʍσυ 尺 (diva.lilliehook): I think it helps all around. Your performers feel more at ease and want to give their best, which in turn is clearly felt by the audience. Our idea is to capture the audience with the way we interpret a song from the set to the choreography, to even our emotes.

Sachi: Thats very easy to see. I really was very impressed when I came the other night. I’ve seen other “cabarets” in SL but yours shocked me out of my jaded SL.

Ɗϊνα ﾚﾑʍσυ 尺 (diva.lilliehook): That’s what we want–to make the audience feel good about what we bring to them for entertainment.  The idea is so they say: “what are they going to do next” and “I have to come and see.”  You never know.  People may not have an idea in RL what cabaret or burlesque dancing is, so this is a way we introduce people to this world as well as providing a different style of entertainment.

Sachi: Right. I’ve met several people who confuse burlesque with regular stripping thinking it’s just a fancy word for it. And it’s very much not.  Not that what dancers do is any worse. There just seem to be many places in SL who think that performing is the same as planting your avi on a pole and using a HUD to spit out preplanned emotes.

Ɗϊνα ﾚﾑʍσυ 尺 (diva.lilliehook): No not at all! Sadly there are places in SL that call themselves burlesque but they really don’t do burlesque.  Burlesque is all about tempt and tease, nothing at all to do with stripping.

Sachi: Exactly.

Ɗϊνα ﾚﾑʍσυ 尺 (diva.lilliehook): Burlesque has been around in rl for decades and is quickly coming back.  It’s huge in Europe.  But mention a name and most people would ask: “who?”

Now with what we do here as cabaret performers expands from just burlesque.  So you may find anything from a belly dancing scene to modern as well as burlesque. Although I will say our style is more neo than traditional.  But expect to see some traditional acts as well.

Sachi:  Do you have any advice for someone looking to get into cabaret or burlesque and maybe doesn’t know what to look for?

Ɗϊνα ﾚﾑʍσυ 尺 (diva.lilliehook):  First of all: research it. Go to YouTube, for example, and look up burlesque dances.  Take a good look at what it is.  Second, take some time and go to shows on SL and watch.  Third, you have to have at least basic building skills and be prepared to spend alot of Lindens. As I said, at first it really helps to have a passion for this before trying it.  Then finding and choreographing a good routine to it takes alot of time. No one wants to see the same dances over and over.  Also there’s some secrets to what we do to help make our dance routines more than simply loading a HUD and clicking a button.

Sachi: Trade secrets? *winks*

Ɗϊνα ﾚﾑʍσυ 尺 (diva.lilliehook): Thats right.  I really want to see more people come and give this a chance.  Some people just have no idea what this is all about and think: “I’ve seen dancers so why should I bother?” What they are missing is that this is a true show, not just people dancing around a stage.  There’s some huge things coming up soon for us at Orchids that’s going to change the game to performing arts on SL.  Let me add that we are the only Cabaret theatre who has a live MC, that adds a great element to the whole routines.

Vist the Orchids Theatre in Sin City by clicking the SLURL here.