On April 16, 2008 I attended a performance of a work entitled "Olmannen" by Second Life Ballet.  "Olmannen" is the story of two lovers separated by evil forces who eventually find their way back together.  The story and choreography were created by the founder, director and artistic director of the company Inarra Saarinen, with original music written by Alazarin Mondrian.  This ballet was first performed on February 7, 2007, when Second Life Ballet made its debut.  Since that time they have performed two other ballets, "Windows" and "The Nut", (described as a "slightly abridged version of The Nutcracker"), as well as bringing back "Olmannen".  On April 22 they premiered another original ballet "Phylogeny", which was presented in collaboration with Indianan University/Purdue University, Indianapolis.

The dancing performed by the artists of the company is not like the dancing you would typically do in Second Life by using pose balls. Instead, Inarra Saarinen creates animations, about 75 original ones for "Olmannen", which are used by the dancers themselves during the live performance. The dancers must rehearse, just as they do in rl, and all the hazards of a live performance exist in sl, too, along with all the rewards and excitement.  There is nothing like the adrenalin of a live performance.

Saarinen also uses the technology of Second Life to do things not possible in real life. The two lovers in "Olmannen", Seraphette and Namon, are able to soar and spiral together, during the early stages of their love. When Namon is forced to become an evil Derang in order to protect Seraphette, Seraphette ages in front of our eyes and dies as a broken hearted old woman. The dancers are able to change shape and defy gravity in ways that are impossible in rl.

The music created especially for the ballet by Alazarin Mondrian is beautiful and deserves special mention.  The striking sets and lighting were done by Inarra Saarinen and Alazarin Mondrian.

It is exciting to see how sl and rl can be creatively merged in the work of Second Life Ballet and it will be interesting to see what will come in the future. Join the Second Life Ballet group to receive updates and announcements, and see the performances at the Second Life Ballet Theater in IBM 10,  12, 191,21.