VOGUING WITH BEETHOVEN

BY: Dante Fresse

“Voguing with Beethoven” is a short film to enjoy. It’s a powerful dance piece featuring the Oslo ballroom community, marking Beethoven’s 250th jubilee. Traditional culture meets street culture in this video by the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra about vogue performing. It is a story about self and where we fit in our communities. It illustrates how using an empty mirror,  we examine our inner lives to make sense of our outer ones.  The young protagonist, Karim Mahmoud, finds himself among a group of vogue dancers. He is shy but gifted and understands himself well. Mahmoud is a powerful performer who synchronizes beautifully with his team. Their shows are impressive, but he finds himself during his alone time.  It’s a story about exploration and its ties to a unique and incredible world.

The Norwegian Chamber Orchestra’s mellow segments blend in with the stillness. During the silence, characters think and act in their environments with personality. The objectives change for each person as the piece develops. It opens with Mahmoud at a psychological session, and he is questioning belonging and self-inquiry. Next, we follow him to a dance session, where we observe each performer’s identity. The dancers vogue together and feed off one another’s energy.  Mahmoud’s shyness evaporates in the final performance.

Emilie Norenberg directs the short that focuses on isolation and self-discovery. The crowd screams, “Let’s go Karim,” in support of individuals and the group. The emotional and entertaining project uses heart and critical analysis to examine the growing-up process and is shown so beautifully through Norenberg’s vision of “Voguing with Beethoven.”