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Celina Chalhoub is a young Montreal DJ who has found a new identity in the rave scene.
“ My alter ego is a little bit mystical. I do believe at heart I am a pixie,” they said.
The pixie side comes through in the fake ears Chalhoub wears at their sets, which often take place in the early morning hours around Montreal.
It’s a very different identity than the one Chalhoub could express to their Lebanese parents. According to Chalhoub, being a DJ helps them heal.
“You’re feeding off people’s good energy. It’s like the pain, the mean pain, everything kind of disappears.”
Directed by Aidan McMahon, the documentary Back Of The Dance Floor follows Chalhoub from the highs of a 4 a.m. DJ set, to the quiet of setting up in a new apartment, to an intimate conversation with their brother to build a portrait of 24 hours in Chalhoub’s life.
The documentary is also a portrait of the city’s rave scene, where people like Chalhoub can find meaning dancing through the night.
Licensed by the CBC Creator Network.
This video was produced by Arizona O’Neill as part of the CBC Creator Network. Learn more about the Creator Network here.