Bintou DEMBÉLÉ et Merel VAN HEESWIJK
Dancers, choreographers

Bintou and Merel received a grant to participate in the Green Factory project organized by the Centre National de la Danse.

Interview of Bintou Dembélé
What is your artistic background ?
I have been dancing since 1985, going from performing on grass to cardboard, then asphalt to dance floor. I forged my hip-hop identity within groups like Aktuel force, Ykanji and by dancing for rapper MC Solaar. I also collaborated with artists such as choreographer Sophiatou Kossoko, visual artist Denis Darzacq, and director Yolande Zauberman. I set up my practice in 2002, which allowed me to create six new pieces, to work in Guyana and to develop my research process on the genesis of street dance, black dances and ritual-inspired dance. This allowed me to move on to choreography and artistic direction, to understand different spaces (opera, museum) and media (films, photos).

How do you view your profession today ?
A responsible vision more than ever. I am aware that what was possible for me is not possible for everyone, I am aware of the need to work together in spite of everything.

How do you see yourself in 5 years ? In 10 years ?
The future is unclear, I think it is more reasonable to live fully in the present.

Interview of Merel Van Heeswijk
What is your artistic background ?
I joined the Lyon Opera Ballet in 2019-2020. Before that, I was with a company in Barcelona, ITDansa, and a company in the Netherlands, Introdans. I started my dance studies when I was ten years old at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague in the Netherlands. This Conservatory gave me a mixed training, including classical dance and contemporary dance, such as the Nederlands Dans Theaterrepertoire.

How do you view your profession today ?
Of course, this is a difficult time for the entertainment industry. However, I believe that today's artists are very capable and keen to translate and express 'the changing world' and all the feelings that come with it. Maybe people are even more sensitive and receptive to art than usual because of these uncertain times. Even if the conditions for the entertainment industry are not optimal today, I hope that our profession will continue to be given opportunities and support so that it can evolve without limits, without restrictions, with freedom.

How do you see yourself in 5 years? In 10 years?
I don't like to predict the future, so it's not an easy question. But looking at the past, I see that my vision of art has changed a lot, my way of thinking as well, and also the things that are valuable to me. Indeed, I am young, but I like that. I know that there are other challenges ahead of me, challenges that will take me to new limits and redefine my abilities further. So, looking back on it all, I believe that the future, even in five or ten years, will still be exciting.

Interviews conducted in 2020
Photography credit : Kamila K. Stanley