Manu interacting with the camera through dance.©David Jacowbski

SHORTFILM - Metronome

Metronome is an experimental dance film created during Embodied, a residency exploring different ways of creating dance on film.

Set inside a museum, the film follows two Hip Hop artists dancing through an environment that is usually associated with traditional values. Their energy introduces a different dynamic, creating a contrast between the traditions of the museum and the culture of Hip Hop. In many ways, the film can be seen as a small museum takeover.

Partners: DeSingel

Initiator

Facilitator

Director

Two festival selections · 2026–2027

Official selections

Metronome has been selected for Dance On Screen and SEEN Dance & Film Showcase.

  • Dance On Screen Film Festival — Official Selection 2026 laurel

    Dance On Screen Film Festival

    Austria
  • SEEN Dance & Film Showcase — Official Selection 2027 laurel

    SEEN Dance & Film Showcase

    Canada

Images

A dancer in a black hoodie seated against a stone wall.©David Jacowbski
A dancer in a beanie seated against a stone wall.©David Jacowbski
Two dancers sharing an orange chair in front of a wooden slat wall.©David Jacowbski
A dancer reaching towards the camera beside a staircase.©David Jacowbski
Two dancers leaning over the camera beside a staircase.©David Jacowbski
Two dancers looking down towards the camera.©David Jacowbski
Two dancers seated on a broad stone staircase.©David Jacowbski
Two dancers facing each other across a mirrored staircase.©David Jacowbski

Process

The film was created through an experimental process that reverses the way dance films are often made:

Music → Dance → Cinematography

became

Dance → Cinematography → Music

The dancers first created choreography to a simple metronome, allowing them to focus on movement, rhythm, and visual storytelling without being guided by music.

From there, the choreography became the foundation for the cinematography. Camera movements, framing, shot durations, and transitions were all developed with the same metronome in mind, creating a timed structure between movement and image.

Only after the film was edited was it shared with the producer, who approached the project more like a sound designer, creating the soundtrack in response to the choreography, cinematography, and edit.

Because the dance and cinematography were built around the same metronome, the producer could use that structure as a common language, synchronising the music to the movement of the dancers and also of the camera.

The metronome was the glue between all three layers: movement, cinematography, and music.

Metronome is the first iteration of an ongoing research process within Embodied. The film serves as an experiment and a starting point for further exploration into movement-led creation and collaboration.

A dancer reaching towards the camera beside a staircase.©David Jacowbski
Two dancers seated on a broad stone staircase.©David Jacowbski

Team

  • Director: Denis Inghelbrecht
  • Producer: Cléry Khedhir
  • Costume Designer & Make-up Artist: Ayla Vitale
  • Videographer: David Jacobs

  • Dancers:
    • Manu Mpasi Garcia
    • Cléry Khedhir


Spaces:

  • DeSingel, ON_OFF_SPACEDistricthuis Deurne