Last autumn, Cengiz Al (25) was on everyone’s lips, when he ran away with the long-awaited first place in “Shall we dance: All stars”. In addition, he excelled in the TV 2 success “Forræder”.
In just under two months, the dramatist will be seen on the screen again, this time in the cinema-current “Dancing Queen”, which, unsurprisingly, also deals with dance.
– The film is about the joy of dancing, and spreading it to others. That you must continue to do what you dream of, says Al.
In “Dancing Queen”, we meet twelve-year-old Mina who falls head over heels in love with the new boy in the parallel class, Edvin, who is into dancing. Mina therefore signs up for a dance audition, where Al plays dance teacher for the crew.
DANCING QUEEN: Director Aurora Gossé Viljar (tv), together with the actors in the film Bjaadal Knutsen and Cengiz Al. Photo: Gorm Kallestad
The choice that changed his life
Al says that it wasn’t that common for guys to dance in his own upbringing, but that didn’t stop him.
– Dancing gave me enormous joy, and I had a talent. Dancing wasn’t popular in Drammen, but I wanted to do something about it, he says to Good Evening Norway.
– I wanted to inspire and be inspired by others, he adds.
The actor has been dancing since he was 13, and last year won the star-studded season of “Shall we dance: All Stars”. But he and his mates had to learn the dance on their own.
– We had no teachers, so it was us who became the educators. We wanted to be like the ones we saw on Youtube, says Al.
– How much did the choice to continue dancing when you were little affect your life?
– It has affected everything. Dancing became a very natural part of me, which led to me also being able to make a living from being an actor. If it wasn’t for dancing I would probably have an “eight to four job”.
SKAM: Cengiz Al from the time he was in SKAM. Photo: Terje Bendiksby
Worked at Elkjøp
Al became seriously known to the public in 2017 through season four of the NRK hit “SKAM”. The same autumn, he took part in “Skal vi danse” for the first time, before the 25-year-old became silent.
– Right after “SKAM” I worked at Elkjøp. I’ve always known where the money comes from, you have to work for it anyway, says Al.
He then made the choice to step back into the limelight, when in 2020 he was to be seen in the film “All foreigners have closed the curtains”.
– The choice I made at the time, and the result, is quite crazy when I think about it, he says.
Dropped drugs and alcohol
And it was in the cards for Al early on that this was the direction his life would take.
– When people our age started testing drugs and alcohol, we got the rush and adrenaline from dancing. We danced a lot at parties, in dance circles, recalls Al.
He goes on to say that all the dancing in his spare time paid off.
– With the training, we became good, which made dancing accepted and cool. We ended up performing at various festivals and stages in the local environment. Then we also inspired other boys, he says.
WINNER: Cengiz Al, together with dance partner Rikke Lund, when they won Skal vi danse last autumn. Photo: Thomas Andersen / TV 2
Turkish culture
Al is a second-generation immigrant from Turkey. He believes that the joy of dancing may come from his Turkish roots.
– I have a very playful culture with me from Turkey. They are very fond of dancing and having fun. I also quickly understood beat, and was inspired by breakdancing and Michael Jackson, explains Al.
Already as a teenager, he knew what he dreamed of for the future.
– I lay in bed in the evenings and imagined myself standing on stage dancing and singing. I always wanted to be in front of the audience and get applause. I was very much in creative mode. Dance became a natural part of me, he says.
Now Al hopes to break further barriers.
– I am in the industry, and I have more guts to do even bigger things. I’ve always trusted myself, but do so even more now, says Al.
– I just have to “enjoy” it.
“Dancing Queen” premieres in cinemas on 10 March.
