TikTok and Instagram phenomenon Mimi Devine made a big success during the pandemic. She has 80,000 followers on TikTok and 15,000 on Instagram – and her own show which is shown at Dansens hus in Oslo and in Studio Bergen now in December. The presentation “All about Mimi” is of course a drag, but it gives the audience an interesting insight into the ballroom culture that flourishes in the cities of Norway nett no. Mimi Devine is the alter ego of former Carte Blanche dancer Shlomi Ruimi. Now he is a test manager at the same company during the day – and an entertainer and drag artist in the evening, as he says it himself. In the show, which offers everything about Mimi, there is of course light-hearted entertainment recognizable from social media, daring dresses, high hair and high heels. But Mimi also wants to show off more of herself. Here Ruimi comes with small, humorous anecdotes, many of them combined with lip sync (miming), which is one of the categories within ballroom culture. Mimi’s sync gets better as the show progresses. EVERYONE IS WELCOME: Ballroom culture is like a home for many minorities. Here’s a hot scene between Father Diesel (Daniel Elahi) and Mimi Devine. Photo: Yaniv Cohen From family What Mimi wants is to open up to what ballroom culture is. Originally, the ballroom was a haven and queer community for minority youth in Harlem, New York in the 1920s. Many found a home here. Some were rejected by the family they came from, but in the ballroom culture they found a new family where they could be themselves. This is why these environments are called “houses”, and the leaders “mother” and “father”. Mimi Devine has invited Kiki House of Meraki, the leading ballroom group in Norway, into the screening. They call Mimi their family. PART OF THE FAMILY: Mother Cassandra Meraki (Cassandra Moldenhauer) and Mimi Devine on the runway in “All about Mimi”. Photo: Yaniv Cohen And here is the foresight at its most interesting: Through various dance numbers, the Meraki gang shows different perspectives on what it means to be queer today. It is as if, through costume changes and various numbers, they are dancing their way with increasing intensity towards a core of something urgent and serious which is about who you are, about belonging and about belonging together. Rock-hard attitude These numbers are without a doubt the most artistically interesting of the show. The choreography, which has been done by Ruimi and the Meraki group together with Nicola Gunn, is challenging, cheeky and surprising. They build up to several fine tableaus and stage pictures. The dancers maintain a high level, especially Thor (Tormod Skår Midtbø) impresses with precision, control and a dramatic expression of his own. Where the vision constantly breaks the boundary between stage and hall, the dancers take different approaches to how much they are in character and how much they let themselves as characters slip through the cracks. Here, Midtbø is consistently icy and cool, and that gives wholeness and authenticity to the expression on stage. Where Ballroom is a sanctuary and an exercise in daring to believe in oneself, it is like art characterized by attitude, self-confidence and speed. I find myself waiting for where the weak point lies, where they will let out what lies behind the strong and colorful identities they dress in. UNDRESSED: Drag at night, dad during the day. Shlomi Ruimi tells towards the end what life is like. Drifting can be tough, even with 80,000 followers. Photo: Yaniv Cohen The runway may not be a place for doubt, but as foresight something more is needed. It comes towards the end, when Mimi takes off her wig and says things like they are. And come with the common, but important message in ballroom culture: All bodies count, all bodies are fine as they are. I don’t know how much more I know about Mimi after this evening. Maybe she thrives best in the SoMe format. A vision needs more voice training, clearer articulation and a better text. She doesn’t need to think about that on TikTok. But she has to here, when she calls it stage art. But “All About Mimi” is a foresight to be happy about. She is intense, light-hearted and meaningful at the same time. The costumes are elaborate, the dance numbers engaging, and they are lifted by the lighting. Not least the foresight says something about the joy of being free, it shows how much energy can be released in pure, pure joy of being something that one has decided for oneself – and masters. Mimi has attracted her fan base. The dancers have attracted everyone. BETTER ONLINE: The SoMe phenomenon Mimi Devine offers in “All and Mimi”. But she suits the digital format better. Among other things, he needs voice training, says news’s announcer. Photo: Yaniv Cohen news reviewer Photo: Promo Title: “All about Mimi” Place: Dansens hus Choreography: Shlomi Ruimi, Cassandra Moldenhauer, Daniel Elahi, Emma Damskau, Tormod Midtbø, Nicola Gunn Playwright/co-author: Nicola Gunn Composer: Jørn Lvoll Lys and scenography: Martin Myrvold Costumes: Silje Teland Pedersen, José Cecilio Orozco Martínez Cast: Mimi Devine (Shlomi Ruimi), Mother Cassandra (Cassandra Moldenhauer), Father Diesel (Daniel Elahi), Emmadonna (Emma Damskau), Thor (Tormod Skår Midtbø) . The dancers are from Kiki House of Meraki. Date: Dansens hus in Oslo 15 December–18. December 2022, Studio Bergen 21 and 22 December 2022. Hi! I review theatre, performing arts and dance for news as a freelancer. Also read my reviews of “Kristin Lavransdotter” at Det Norske Teatret, of the play “Don Juan” at Trøndelag Teater or “Snøsøstera” at Det Norske Teateret.
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“All about Mimi” at Dansens hus – Reviews and recommendations
