Continuing with the ‘Interview with a Dancer’ series – here is the latest installment:
You can find our next dancer all over the grid – she’s one of the most dedicated shoppers I know! In addition to shopping, she loves to dance. Please welcome SexyS Quintessa!
SL Name: SexyS Quintessa
Display Name: LOL I need no other name!
Rez Day: July 20, 2008
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Questions:
What led you to/How did you start dancing in SL?
SQ: Well, I was at a club one day and my friend invited me on her HUD. She had better dances in it than the club had. At that time I believe the club just had some of the freebie dances. Most clubs had those at that time! I asked her how can I dance like her? So she told me go and buy this HUD and go to this dance animation place and buy some dances to put in it. I went to the landmarks she gave me. I bought the HUD which was a HUDDLES. I went to the dance animation place and found a bunch of dances that I liked. I used it for club dancing mostly until Blue Moon Cabaret became a Burlesque Club!
How long have you been dancing?
SQ: I have been doing dance shows since 2009.
Where do you dance?
SQ: Blue Moon Cabaret is where I started and will also call home! Guerilla Burlesque, A&M MOCAP Maniacs, Elysium, Euphoria, and the newest one – The Partyculars!
How much time, on average, do you spend in SL each week?
SQ: Lol – too much time!!!
Of that time, how much (%) is spent working on dances/performances?
SQ: 95%. The other 5% is shopping or seeking out gacha machines!
How long does it take you to create a set (start to finish)?
SQ: It all depends. I recently finished an act that I did for the Le Cirque de Nuit production which took me 3 months. Some have taken just a week. With dance in SL these days, it’s taking much longer because of the movers and special effects.
Name your ‘go-to’ store for dance animations.
SQ: A&M MOCAP Danceworks.
Name your ‘go-to’ store for non-dance animations.
SQ: Oracul.
What dance HUD do you primarily use? Why?
SQ: Barre dance HUD because I like it best! Lol. If you want me to compare or tell why I like it best from all the dance HUDs that are out there would need a whole other blog post!
Do you use a movement system? Which one? Is there a reason you prefer one over the other?
SQ: Yes, I use a mover system. I have used DB Dance System and used that until all the other ones came out. I currently use 2 depending on the situation. I like SZI because it is easy and fast to work with. So when I need to create something quickly, I will use SZI. When I have lots of time and PATIENCE, I will use SpotOn. I like SpotOn as well because it moves so smoothly and is low in scripts.
Do you use other huds? What are they?
SQ: I have used the SpotOn Director’s HUD.
Do you build your own sets or work with a scripter/builder?
SQ: I’ve done both!!
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever gotten about dancing?
SQ: Well in RL, my first Bellydance teacher told me something that really also can pertain to SL. “Bellydance is a CUT THROAT business, so be careful out there and watch out!” lol.
Do you emote? Why or why not?
SQ: I used to at Blue Moon Cabaret because it was required! lol Now I don’t have to!! I’m a dancer not a writer!!
Where do you find your music?
SQ: Most of the time I hear it playing and think – oohh, this would be great for an act!
Do you make your own mixes? If yes, where do you find music and/or sound effects?
SQ: No, I haven’t ventured into this department. I have edited music so it’s cut down from 7 minutes to 4 or less. I had to do that many times with bellydance in RL. I was taught how to do that by one of my teachers.
What is your stance on the issue of music copyright in SL (and also in YouTube videos you might post)?
SQ: They made the music to share with us, so I don’t see any copyright issue unless someone was selling it in SL for profit.
What are your preferences when it comes to dance performances? (Large/small sets, particles/none, effects/none, lighting/none, faders/none, emotes/none, movers/none?)
SQ: All depends really on the song and what I feel should be present in the act. Also the song has a lot to do with what I put into the act. I want a visual of the song. One song may not require particles whereas another song would.
What’s your favorite store for costuming?
SQ: I have many!!! One of my favorites is !deviousBeauty by Chandra Meehan.
Is there a particular artist (in SL or RL) that inspires you?
SQ: In SL there are so many people who inspire me! Diawa Bellic, Misse Tigerpaw, and Setsuna Hirano are a few! There are many more.
What’s the most embarrassing or frustrating thing that has happened to you during a performance?
SQ: Lol embarrassing would be a RL performance when my bra strap came undone! Luckily, my straps were made so there is an “X” in the back. So it was just flapping around in the back. If I didn’t have that X in the back I dunno what might have happened! After that incident, I reinforced all my bra straps and hooks with velcro.
What is your greatest fear as a dancer?
SQ: In SL, I haven’t really had that emotion. In RL, that’s another story. Remembering choreography is a big fear! Especially when doing it with a group because that is always more noticeable. Also dancing for the general public is always easier than dancing before your peers.
What is your biggest complaint about dancing in SL?
SQ: The LAG that is often associated with performances in SL!
What’s the best comment/compliment you’ve ever received about your dancing?
SQ: I’m trying to remember now! I’ve had many. I should start saving them on a notecard!!!
Have you ever done a dance you look back on now and think was awful?
SQ: Yes, some of my earlier choreography. I’ve redone the choreography.
Do you have a favorite performance/routine? What is it and why is it your favorite?
SQ: I love all of mine! They are all my favorite!! Lol – Best Artsy fartsy would be my act with “The Cold Song” by Klaus Nomi. Best comedy – this is a tuff one cuz all of them are epic! My Jerry Springer act! ?? Best Fantasy would be my act I did to “Fantasy” by Aldo Nova which was also the set that I won best sets through Dance Queens Cutie awards.
Do you have a blog/website/flickr/facebook/other account you’d like to share?
SQ: Facebook – Sixys Quintessa
What’s the most helpful piece of advice you would give to someone new to dancing in SL?
SQ: Join Dance Queens group cuz there is a ton of information there!
How long do you think a show should be in SL? Is there an ‘optimum’ max length?
SQ: 1 hour tops – anything longer than that loses my attention.
Where is your favorite spot to spend time in SL if you are not dancing?
SQ: Any kind of gacha fair, lol.
What is one thing you’d like to see ‘arrive’ in SL dance? (Something that is not currently possible.)
SQ: I know this is not possible because of the SL limitations but I’d like to be able to start an animation in the middle of it instead of from the beginning cuz there’s always an animation I’d like to use just the middle of or just the end of it! I’d also like a larger amount of group space please!
Any other thoughts/ideas/comments you’d like to share?
SQ: Naiki is a fleabag! He was my pimp before I got into performance dancing!!
And there you have it, folks – our eighth installment of ‘Interview with a Dancer’! Thank you so much to SexyS for taking time out of her busy shopping schedule to be interviewed. 🙂
A Kat and A Mouse 
Muah! I am not a fleabag! I was your pimp though…. ^^