The good old days had fabulous clubs with people of every class, cast, and culture. Many lament the loss of the great clubs of yesterday. I'm not one of them and I was really, really there...ask anyone. Today, there are an increasing number of fabulous people dressing up for fabulous parties. The dressing up club culture is not only not extinct or just surviving, but thriving. One of these distinctive individuals is Shien Lee who I bump into once in a while. We are both creatures that go bump in the night. I'm here to tell you she is fabulous by old, new - by any standards - and she is throwing a couple of events that I must attend. I chatted with her and here it is.

 

How did a nice girl like you end up doing this?

All nice girls dream about finding other nice girls and boys with which to do bad things. I started the Dances of Vice events in 2007 to meet other aesthetes and pleasure-seekers, and sure enough, here we are...

 

You are a striking individual... all done up.  Is this all you or does marketing your brand have something to do with the dress up? Also, if a FedEx guy delivers a package at 9am ...what will you be wearing?

I'm a romantic, and the way I dress has a lot to do with sharing a fantasy. Through costume, one can transcend the social and material boundaries of utilitarian life and elevate oneself from the mundane. I remember the days of being a poor student by day, but promenading as an Eastern deity dripping in pearls by night. That's what I mean about having the power to transcend social and material boundaries. Beauty and fantasy have the power to inspire awe, curiosity, romance, and cultivate a connection with other people. That's what I live for. That being said, I like to dress comfortably at home - if I were expecting a delivery at 9am, I'd try to put some pants on, at least.

 

What do you do? Tell me about your company.

I'm known for creating highly stylized anachronistic and new romantic events through my company, Dances of Vice. I wanted to create a venue where lovers of anachronism and surrealism could meet other like minds and celebrate art, beauty, and rebellion. I also provide event and entertainment services for clients ranging from Google to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. I'm a goth girl at heart, so I also have a monthly dance party called Disko Nouveaux on the second Saturdays of each month which celebrates New Romantic music and fashion. If you couldn't tell from my sense of style, I'm all about dark melodrama.

 

Tell me about the Moonlight Circus, the Grand Illusion, and previous events ... the growth of your brand.

I have two events planned to welcome the new year. The first, "The Moonlight Circus," is an opulent vintage circus-themed gala on December 30th at Riverside Church, an amazing Gothic cathedral located next to Columbia University. "The Grand Illusion" is a 1960s crime-noir-themed bash on New Year's Eve proper at the lavish Tribeca Grand Hotel, featuring all manner of cirque, burlesque, live music, and other enticing entertainments. Details on those events can be found at dancesofvice.com. Some of my favorite events in the past have been a Dada-themed event at Don Hill's, the annual Dances of Vice Spring Ball, and a "Glam Rococo" show featuring Prince Poppycock that called for a synthesis of 1770s decadence with 1970s glam rock.

 

I hear the old-schoolers lament that nightlife isn't what it once was, and I reply it just isnt true...that maybe there isn't one great club like back in the day, but there are great parties/events. What is the state of nightlife and can a club exist that people like you can go to every night... a cultural cauldron?

I moved to New York from abroad in 2007 not knowing a soul, but I was familiar with the great history of NYC nightlife, and I was active in reaching out to other innovators. There are many artists and newcomers who are making waves in nightlife that continue to astound and inspire. Times change, but if your mind is open to the new, you'll find there's a wealth of exciting parties and communities in today's scene. I think cultivating a creative community is what makes nightlife great, and it's daunting to hear people complain. Don't like what you see? Reach out and do something about it! I produce a wide range of events for all types of audiences, but I've been told that some of my events offer a taste of "Old New York," which is extremely flattering. I think that's because I try to welcome eccentrics from all subcultures and demographics who appreciate unconventional beauty and want to participate in that culture. I've also had the honor of  working with some extraordinary artists who fuel my inspiration and ideas behind the events. Art, beauty, and rebellion have the power to break down barriers and material boundaries and unite people in a shared passion for pleasure and fantasy. That power is what drives my work.

 

Some people just throw parties while some have led the way, broken down barriers...I'm talking nightlife here, not Gandhi or Abe Lincoln.  How ambitious are you?

You better believe...I'm hot to trot!