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Dancehall Takes Over Art Basel In Switzerland As “Spiritual Experience”

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Argentinian Cecilia Bengolea has taken her love for Jamaican Dancehall to the Art Basel, in Basel, Switzerland.  Her appreciation for the genre and culture started from a visit to the island, not so long ago, after being introduced to it via the UK music scene.

“I was working with Deejays from grime scene and got into dancehall old school then went to Jamaica for the first time in 2014,” she told DancehallMag in an interview.

Bengolea said Dancehall is strong in Argentina, as well as in Paris where she now lives, but she engages with Jamaican artists from time to time—having worked with Sanjay, Shelly Belly, and Heatwave.

“I always put video in my work,” said the award-winning choreographer.

Her work in music goes beyond dancehall but with dancehall for her, it is treated as more than just a performance but as a spiritual experience.

“At Basel we stage dancehall performances in the Messeplatz in the streets and have conversations about dancehall as a spiritual practice and also entertainment.”

The live music performances will take place in Basel Switzerland this week and features live dancers and art simulations of bodies moving dancehall style on video. Spectators can also expect to see DJ Master Will from Guadeloupe.

Taking her collaborative show on the road Bengolea said “We have already performed together in Paris, Stromboli, Venice, Madrid, London, Lyon and we are going next to Munich.”

Her work with French Choreographers has won numerous awards including the Award de la Critique at the Gwangju Biennial in 2014.

Her creativity may be found in private and public collections at the Vinyl Factory, Fiorucci Arts and Trust as well as the Mire Fond Cantanol de La Ville de Geneve.

When asked to share her top Jamaican dancehall artists she said, Vybz (Kartel), Alkaline, Shenseea, Mavado, Busy Signal, and Sean Paul.