Bengolea and Chaignaud's TWERK Brings Club Dance to the Stage

From October to December 2012, Cecilia Bengolea and François Chaignaud showcased Altered Natives’ Say Yes to Another Excess – TWERK at the Festival d’Automne in Paris, with performances at various locations, including Centre Pompidou from October 24–28 and (M)imosa in Boston on December 17–18. This work delves into the rhythms of hip hop and Bronx nightclubs, merging electronic music with explicit texts to position sexuality at the forefront of dance. It features the 'split and jump' style, incorporates voguing and house beats, and uses dildos as part of the choreography. Since their debut in 2004 with Pâquerette, Bengolea and Chaignaud have sought to forge a 'new abstract dance' that emphasizes the dancer's posture and their connection with the audience, while exploring the legitimacy and visibility of club dancing.