Ballet – Classic versus Contemporary

Eclipse Magazine, August 2020: https://issuu.com/eclipsemagazinesl/docs/eclipse_magazine_august_2020

For this issue of the Eclipse Magazine I was thinking a long time what I could do. I wanted a challenge for myself and I wanted to show that I can do different genres, not just the scary and crazy stuff πŸ˜‰

When I thought about what would be the most opposite thing for me to do, I came across ballet. Something graceful and beautiful. While I was doing some research about it, I came across contemporary ballet as well. That really caught my attention, because I found some very impressing as well as emotional pictures and videos. That formed an idea of having 2 different pictures for the magazine – classic and contemporary. In the classic ballet I found very strict rules for the look and even for the hairstyles, while contemporary ballet gives you more freedom in that.

I felt like I was entering a new world, even if ballet wasn’t completely new for me – as a kid I had to go through that kids ballet classes like so many of us. It didn’t last long as I had more fun with gymnastics, riding, swimming and playing volleyball and so those ballet classes stopped after at most a year I think. Being a punk and later a gothic girl in my teens and twens, ballet wasn’t a thing or an option at all *giggles*

Seeing all those pictures and videos, inspired me a lot and the idea for this month genre was made. While I was thinking, where I could find the clothing and accessories for my new idea, Salt & Pepper must have read my mind. She released a huge set of ballet collection at Equal 10 with her “Ballet Dancer Set”. That was the perfect outfit for my classic ballet dancer. I couldn’t even use all parts for my first picture, that means I will have to do another post to show the whole beauty and contents of that set.

For my second picture, I did remember a set, which I already showcased on my blog in the light version. Since I wanted the classic ballet to be in a light muted color, the contemporary ballet was meant to be darker and more ‘me’ and my personal thought of it and so the “Skye Dancer” gacha in black was the perfect choice for what I had in mind. I am really a lover of mix and match but sometimes, if you go for a certain look or genre, mixing too many things and overload the avatar can be contra-productive. That is why I nearly have no accessories or anything that could disturb from the essence of the picture, the emotions and the mood.

A huge thank you goes out to my sister Daffodil Crimson, who helped me with the amazing description for the magazine. English is not my native language, so I often hit her IM box, if it comes to “official” texts for magazines and such. Usually I do collect facts and free sources or try toΒ  write somethings on my own, if I am familiar with the theme. For the ballet one I only had a brief idea what I wanted to be written and that time Daffi jumped in and wrote everything on her own. When she came it to me to read it, I just was blown away! It was so very well written and had exactly in it what I was desiring for, but in words that described it so much better than anything I could have come up with. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for again saving my SL life like so often sis!!!

I hope you enjoyed my little ballet adventure – for the next issue of Eclipse Magazine I will have another “unusual” genre for me, which gives me quite a challenge but I am looking forward to the final frames πŸ˜‰

Eclipse Magazine, August 2020: https://issuu.com/eclipsemagazinesl/docs/eclipse_magazine_august_2020

Style 1 (classic)

Clothing

Outfit & Shoes: Salt & Pepper (S&P) – “Ballet Dancer” (Maitreya)

Hair & Makeup

Hair: Ade – “Beatrix”

Head, Body & Tattoo

Face Skin: [Glam Affair] – “Ryn Layer [LeLutka] 002 D” (BoM)

Body: Maitreya – “Lara 5.2”

Body Skin: [Glam Affair] – “Body – Normal [ Maitreya ] 002” (BoM)

Poses, Props & Tools

Pose: Poseidon – “Ballet 6” (Bento)

Piano: Alouette – “Evelyn Piano – Word White Wood”

Backdrop: Foxcity – “Dance Hall”

Posetool: Anypose – “BVH HUD v1.82”

Face Expression Tool: LELUTKA – “Axis HUD Face 1.1”

Model & Stylist

Wicca Merlin

Style 2 (contemporary)

Clothing

Outfit & Shoes: Enfant Terrible (.ET.) – “Skye Dancer” (Maitreya)

Hair & Makeup

Hair: .Shi – “Gavri’ela”

Head, Body & Tattoo

Head: LeLUTKA – “Erin 2.0”

Ears: [CX] – “Ostium Impaler Ears”

Body: Maitreya – “Lara v5.2”

Poses, Props & Tools

Pose: Seline Fleury – “Ballet Trunk Pose” (Bento)

Petals 1: Foxcity – “Diagonal Flutter Petals (Black)” (from the Sweet Bento Pose Set)

Petals 2: Foxcity – “Trail Flutter Petals (Black)” (from the Sweet Bento Pose Set)

Backdrop: Foxcity – “Flutter (B&W)”

Posetool: Anypose – “BVH HUD v1.82”

Face Expression Tool: LELUTKA – “Axis HUD Face 1.1”

Model & Stylist

Wicca Merlin

“Am I Beautiful Yet?”

“Am I Beautiful Yet?”
I’ve blinded my eyes with ornament. Replaced my limbs with ornament. Cut out my organs for ornament. Am I beautiful yet? I can dance for you. Watch me. I will never stop dancing. Never stop watching. Never. Stop. Or else.

For the the theme of ‘Freak Show’, I’ve put together this circus ballerina. Her limbs are wrapped in gold with pink accents, as well as barbs, some tinted with blood. Ballet is known for being brutal in its precision, and this type of decoration carries the metaphor visually.

Her face is obscured by a mask of similar style. Floral designs, especially that of the thorny rose, are prominently featured here almost like a religious icon. It is perhaps one of the most eye catching pieces of the style, in part representing her inability to see the world for what it is. She is blinded by her preconception of what beauty is, and is unable to appreciate the world around her.

Finally to pull it all together, the most unsettling piece is her torso body mod. Many strive for an hourglass shape, but the tragic ballerina has assumed a literal hourglass, complete with animated sands. Yet another clever visual metaphor representing the years of life she’s shaved off by taking her pursuit of the beauty ideal to unhealthy lengths and destroying parts of herself in the process.

The entire style combines fragility, obsession, suffering, and horror into a form of visual storytelling, in order to tell a very tragic story.

As stated above, the look was made for a special show hosted by Madd Modelz on the amazing “Uri Jefferson’s Freakshow” sim (SURL). We all had to write our own descriptions for our styles and presentation and I had in mind what I wanted to say but since I am not a native English speaker, it mostly doesn’t sound as I want it to be. This time I had great help from a dear friend – Tour Blanche, the partner of my sweet sister Consuela Blanche. He is a god with words and made my idea sound so amazing, that I could not just have it for the show. I wanted them to be visible for longer than the few minutes of the show and he allowed me to post them here on my blog. Thank you for that Tour β™₯

Clothing

Outfit: Moon Amore – “Etheral Time / Hourglass Body” (Gacha, Rare)

Shoes: N-Core – “Ballet” (Maitreya)

Accessories

Collar: aisling – “Nura”

Headpiece: Moon Amore – “Etheral Time / Decima Mask – Gold” (Gacha, Common)

Arm/Hand Wraps & Nails: Moon Amore – “Etheral Time / Chronos Arms” (Gacha, Rare)

Leg Wraps: Moon Amore – “Etheral Time / Chronos Legs” (Gacha, Common)

Hair & Makeup

Hair: KoKoLoReS – “Runa”

Makeup: .::Nanika::. – “Gold Eyeshadow” (LeLutka Applier)

Makeup 2: CURELESS[+] – “Noel Set” (Omega Applier)

Eyelashes: alaskametro<3 – “Slay” (LeLutka Applier)

Lipstick: alaskametro<3 – “Impressionist” (Omega Applier)

Body & Tattoo

Head: LeLutka – “Aida 3.4”

Eyes: -SU!– – “Aure Eyes” (Group Gift)

Body: Maitreya – “Lara 4.1”

Neck: CURELESS[+] – “Dog Bites” (Omega Applier)

Knees: Izzie’s – “Knee Wounds” (Maitreya Applier)

Skin: CURELESS[+] – “Morphine” (Omega Applier)

Poses & Props

Poses: Poseidon

Set:

Backdrop: Chaotic Creative – “Center Stage Scenebox” (not anymore available)

Circus Ring: Chaotic Creative – “Aerial Dolls Trapeze” (not anymore available)

Model & Photographer

Wicca Merlin

Fairytale

TUNES

A few days ago I was very happy as Kristine Lowey, owner and designer of Chrysalis, was in my IMs telling me, she send me her latest release for blogging. I was following Chrysalis for a while and they released many interesting and high quality outfits. The ideas sometimes where very innovative and new and sometimes very cute and sweet like the “Rosalina” dress that I am going to showcase today.

The dress itself consists in the corset, a wonderful aerial tutu with a skirt under it that reminded me on the old petticoat or underskirt skelet of the past times that made all the skirt so puffy and big :p. To make it easier, to wear the corset and as well move with it, you have an alpha layer that hides the parts that would stick through. “Rosalinda” is available in different amazing summer colors. The textures of the layers and prims show the fantastic skills of Kristine Lowey and all the wonderful little decorations show the love for the detail she puts in her creations. The sweet little roses not only made of one single color, all the beautiful set shadows and lights that let this wonderful dress come to live… simply stunning.

The sweet ballet shoes are as well part of this wonderful outfit. To see all the amazing colors and more of the incredible designs of Kristine Lowey, you better make your way to the Chrysalis Mainstore and take a look by yourself πŸ˜‰

Details

Dress (incl. shoes) Chrysalis – “Rosalina” – NEW

Hair: [e] – “Over” (mesh)

Model & Photographer: Wicca Merlin

Miamai – A special dress for a special cause!!!

Monica Outlander:

“What happens when you ask a five year old self ordained Princess “What’s your dream gown, Raven?” Well of course you get the response of “PINK AND SPARKLY AND HEARTS AND PINK AND BUTTERFLIES AND MORE PINK AND BALLERINNAAAAAA!”
Luckily I’m *also* deep down a five year old self ordained Princess really, and my favourite things also happen to be pinksparklyheartybutterflyeyballerina stuff too. And so Raven Sparklefairy ordained that this gown be created, and who am I to argue with royalty? I hope that the little girl inside you gets as big a thrill out of this dress as we both did.

The Raven Sparklefairy gown was also made as a special 100% fundraising item to the Extend A Helping Hand charity now happening; this wonderful event run by Sanura Sakai is providing immediate disaster relief to the victims of the floods that are currently devastating Queensland in Australia.

Why am I involved? There is a family in Australia that have adopted me through Second Life, through a beloved friend of mine and although they aren’t anywhere near the affected state, they are still saddened by the news. And there isn’t a better way to cheer up a little girl than to make her dreams come to life, especially when those dreams result in one of the cheeriest things I’ve ever made.
At the moment Raven Sparklefairy – named after the little girl and her title – is only available at the EAHH location, but afterwards will be added to the permanent Black Label designs at Miamai.
Because the Princess demands it.”

Details

Outfit: Miamai – “[BlackLabel] Raven SparkleFairy” – (not available anymore)

Hair: Miamai – “Chloe” /black

Skin: Glam Affair – “Gio” – NEW

Jewelry & Nails: Finesmith Design – “Noir”

Balletshoes: Slink

Model & Photographer: Wicca Merlin

SL Art Couture – The Fashion Teller presents: The Nutcracker