Cabaret Fur Le Dance
From WikiFur, the furry encyclopedia.
The Cabaret Fur Le Dance was a variety show that raised money for various charities that was a part of the programming at ConFurence from CF3 (1992) to the final ConFurence (2003). The show included many erotic/modern dance numbers with single female or male dancers, couples or small groups. The style of the dances included Flash-Dance style stripping, belly dancing, sword dancing, and modern ballet. In addition to the dancing, there were musical acts and comedy sketches. Typically the shows were for adults only, but some of the shows were split into two halves, the first being for all audiences.
The first cabaret was a one-woman show at ConFurence 3 (1992) that starred Omaha Sternberg, an erotic dancer who based her look and performance on the main character from the Omaha the Cat Dancer comic, created by Reed Waller. The show was a benefit for Mr. Waller, who had undergone treatment for cancer and needed financial assitance. The show became an annual event at ConFurence conventions, becoming the Cabaret Fur Le Dance at ConFurence 4 (1993).
The name Fur Le Dance was the creation of Rod O'Riley, and was based on a story idea that revolved around a night club where a group of recoms, created by a secret military project and eventually relased after a media scandal, performed artistic nude and erotic dances as entertainment for a human audience (much like the Inkpot Club in Who Framed Roger Rabbit). Fur le Dance (a pun on 'fer de lance', a type of spearhead and also a species of snake) is the name for both the nightclub and the troup that performed there. The troup consisted of Foster T. Reynard (fox), Rollo and Shayla Deluta (a mated pair of river otters), Morocco Jihad (calico cat), and Arthur Lotus (raccoon), who is Foster's lover.
The cabaret was one of the signature events of ConFurence, and though other furry conventions have variety shows, the cabaret remains a ConFurence "original". The new southern California furry convention Califur is continuing the tradition.
The Cabaret Fur Le Dance also exists in the virtual world of FurryMUCK, where Rodney and other players "perform" dance numbers and other act for players that come to the show, often on Wednesday nights.
