VOGUING what?
Yes, the subculture dance moves that showcase the geometric and stylized acts of the marginalized performers or artists, or anyone interested in the craze, done in any space available but mostly, ballrooms.
This is the doc “10s Across the Borders” all about and more.
The term is a derivative for mimicking if not parodying Vogue professional mannequins not necessarily by gays and other members of the LGBTQIA+ but the hetero population as well.
Voguing, as the documentary directed by Chan Sze-Wei illustrates, originated from New York City created and spearheaded by pop ghetto junkies who defied social norms and traditions and came up with their own brand of dance forms distinctly Afro-American.
No wonder hip-hops and raps are primarily the dance and music influences of the blacks to humankind.
Voguing catches attention through its struts or sudden dips and other muscle flexing choreographies.
Folk songs and dances from all corners of the world are also tweaked, recreated and rearranged like a scene in a social club where “Leron, Leron Sinta” was the highlighted sound of the voguers.
It can also showcase catwalks ala-Pia Wurtzbach or Catrioba Gray in the Miss Universes’ universe or duckwalks and other animal traversing acts.
It is calisthenics of the body and soul that are more experimental in grooves like grotesque ballet or street dance including hybrid zumba and aerobics.
The Philippines, as a matter of fact, is already behind the craze as it had found its way into the world of artistic or simply commonplace performances in the 70s and 80s.
In the film, three Asian proponents and exponents of the movement are presented, namely Filipina Xyza Pinklady Mizrahi, Malaysian Teddy Oricci and Thai Aurora Sun Labeija.
Yes, Xyza Mizrahi is a straight woman who is considered by the underground voguers as their Mother Hen.
The Pinklady says, tearfully, that she isn’t beautiful but it doesn’t show as she has the prettiest soul among many.
Xyza is a middle-class Pinay who prefers and dominates domestication in the family affairs but she conquers as well the outside world of the rebellious underground terpsichorean moves.
Very unassuming and casual but her mien, Zyza is a heroine, a class by herself who could male any beauty pageant contestants a run for their money.
Teddy, the Malaysian, talks about the beauty and freedom he enjoys in voguing while Thai Sun speaks of the underground dancesport as a panacea to all negative thoughts and emotions including bodily sufferings as a physical and mortal avenue for change for the better.
Although the doc centers on Asians, a Norwegian resource person is definitely a refreshing multiracial and multiracial rep to catholicize the whole discussion of a universal meaning of love, family, acceptance, understanding, empowerment and belongingness.
Xyza is a Filipina, a representative of a conservative society cradled in Christian traditions while Teddy is a Muslim and Sun is a Buddhist but through voguing, the demarcation line is blurred among religions of same purposes of enlightenment, liberation and brotherhood which, they claim, are achieved through voguing.
According to Xyza, Teddy and Sun, religion isn’t a stumbling block to possess a positive attitude in love of fellowmen.
For them, voguing is a “House,” a family to turn on to when conflicts arise among members in and outside of it.
While the doc presents predominantly gay characters, the gender bias is reduced to LGBTQIA+ inclusive pursuits.
Idealism is the main core of the movement but it knows how to bend its courses for equality and protection.
Of course, in this globalized world, it is easier said than done but the voguers don’t lose energy and hope for a better life in various parts of the planet.
“10s Across the Borders” is rated R-16 by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB).