On the occasion of François Chaignaud and Cecilia Bengolea’s performances at Dia:Beacon in May 2017 (more information here), the Cultural Services of the French Embassy  host a conversation with the Paris-based choreographers and Kelly Kivland, Associate Curator, Dia Art Foundation on Monday, May 15, 6:30 pm.

Dia Art Foundation has commissioned Chaignaud and Bengolea to develop a multipart performance program for Dia:Beacon. Over two weekends in May (May 12-14 and May 19-21), the program will reflect on key choreographic attributes of the Chaignaud and Bengolea’s twelve-year creative partnership.

The conversation on May 15 will focus on the adaptation of Chaignaud and Bengolea’s work staged in Dia:Beacon’s lower-level gallery, and will also explore the various influences informing their practice as well as their collaborative approach to dance-making.

Q&A will follow | Free and open to the public. No RSVP necessary

Chaignaud trained in dance and music at conservatories in France, and Bengolea studied philosophy along with anthropological and modern dance in Argentina. In 2004, the two met in Paris through a mutual interest in labor activism for sex workers’ rights. Since then, they have developed a daring practice that is as rigorous as it is inventive and playful. Calling upon a diverse vocabulary, their choreography combines classical forms with contemporary references while reflecting their radical politics and cultural associations. Their practice is well-known for bringing together singular mixes of ballet, modern dance, and choral singing with dancehall, dub, voguing, and other influences drawn from club culture.