Voguing and Clubbing Culture Invade Contemporary Dance
High art has been significantly shaped by street cultures, with contemporary dance embracing styles such as voguing, clubbing, and street dance. Michele Rizzo, an Italian-Dutch dancer born in 1984, gained recognition through his collaboration with Lorenzo Senni on the piece 'Higher.' The Israeli duo Sharon Eyal and Gai Behar fuse modern dance with club beats in their work 'OCD-Love,' which features DJ Ori Lichtik. Voguing, which has its origins in Harlem's African-American community, has become prominent in global theater, particularly highlighting LGBTQ+ themes. Artists like François Chaignaud, Kiddy Smile, and Cecilia Bengolea are inspired by ballroom culture. Kiddy Smile showcased his talent at the Short Theatre in Rome and Cannes, while Trajal Harrel, honored as Tanz Magazine's 2019 Dancer of the Year, explores the significance of dance in his solo performance 'Dancer of the Year.'
Key facts
- Michele Rizzo (b. 1984) is a leading Italian-Dutch contemporary dancer.
- Rizzo's 'Higher' uses trance music for a performative mind-body experience.
- Rizzo collaborated with composer Lorenzo Senni on 'Higher'.
- Sharon Eyal and Gai Behar performed at Romaeuropa Festival and Dior runways.
- Eyal and Behar's 'OCD-Love' features a DJ set by Ori Lichtik.
- Voguing originated in New York's Harlem African-American community.
- Voguing is inspired by French haute couture and Vogue magazine.
- Kiddy Smile performed at Short Theatre in Rome and Cannes.
- Kiddy Smile composed music for Gaspar Noé's film 'Climax'.
- Trajal Harrel was named Dancer of the Year 2019 by Tanz Magazine.
- Harrel's 'Dancer of the Year Shop' sells personal heirlooms, referencing Tatsumi Hijikata.
- Harrel's '(M)IMOSA' (2011) involved Chaignaud, Bengolea, and Monteiro Freitas.
Entities
Artists
- Michele Rizzo
- Lorenzo Senni
- Sharon Eyal
- Gai Behar
- Ori Lichtik
- François Chaignaud
- Trajal Harrel
- Kiddy Smile
- Cecilia Bengolea
- Marlene Monteiro Freitas
- Madonna
- Gaspar Noé
- Tatsumi Hijikata
Institutions
- Romaeuropa Festival
- Dior
- Short Theatre
- La Francia in Scena
- Cannes Festival
- Festival d'Automne
- Palais de Tokyo
- Kunstenfestivaldesarts
- Tanz Magazine
- Artribune
Locations
- New York
- Harlem
- Rome
- Paris
- Douglas
- Georgia
- Brussels