Cecilia Bengolea: Deary Steel

Esch2022 – European Capital of Culture and Mudam Luxembourg have commissioned artist and choreographer Cecilia Bengolea to create Deary Steel, a new body of work bringing together dance, performance, sculpture and video installation.

Unfolding across the Socle C (the concrete foundations of the former Blast Furnace C in Esch-Belval) and the Grand Hall of Mudam, the work explores the genesis of the social and material dimensions of the industrial era, and how they have choreographed the post-industrial era including connections to the early twentieth century dance form danse libre (Free Dance). Inspired by this moment and its relevance to today, Bengolea studied the danse libre repertory, instructing dancers from the Jeune Ballet du Conservatoire National Supérieur Musique et Danse de Lyon (CNSMD Lyon) for the video Deary Steel and dance performance La Danse des Éléments.

Deary Steel is inspired by Bengolea’s fascination with the mineral origins of our planet and the production of steel as an alluring choreography of the elements reflecting these origins. Describing the industrial production of steel as an ‘alchemic process’ Bengolea maintains that it is ‘not just into the orchestration and composition of these elements’ that interest her ‘but also how they influence and manipulate our bodies, natural cycles and lifestyle’.

Collaging gestures, images and sounds from the past and present, Bengolea reveals ‘new synthetic narratives’ within a location where the artist says ‘the roughness and strength of metal, the hardship of strikes, the mechanical choreography of industrial work and the beauty of dance come together.’

La Danse des Éléments (performance)
May 14, 4–4:30pm and 6–6:30pm
Socle C, Avenue de la Fonte, 4365, Esch-sur-Alzette

May 15, 3–3:30pm and 5–5:30pm
Mudam Luxembourg – Musée d’Art Moderne Grand-Duc Jean

Curators
Vincent Crapon, Project Manager of Exhibitions at Esch2022
Joel Valabrega, Curator of Performance and Public Programmes at Mudam Luxembourg
Assisted by Caroline Schmit

Performed by
Jeune Ballet du CNSMD Lyon
Artistic direction: Kylie Walters
Dancers: Clara Chastagnac, Lucie-Mei Chuzel, Marie-Lou Durand, Eléonore Ghyssaert, Caroline Maquignon, Vincent Mazerot, Mathis Nour, Circé Persoud, Magdalen Wood
Ballet mistress: Gaëlle Communal Van Sleen
Rehearsal assistant: Franck Laizet
Costumes: Maïté Chantrel

With the support of
ArcelorMittal Luxembourg
AXA Luxembourg

Technical support
LG

Technology partners for video installation
LG OLED

Media partners
Mousse Magazine, L’Essentiel Radio

Mudam Luxembourg – Musée d’Art Moderne Grand-Duc Jean and Esch2022 – European Capital of Culture thank all their donors and sponsors.

Special thanks to LG for supporting Cecilia Bengolea and the video installation at Mudam by kindly providing 18 55’ OLED screens and ArcelorMittal Luxembourg for their trust.