Fulbright Residency in Benin
Global
Cecilia Slongo was awarded the prestigious Fulbright grant for a 10-month residency in Benin, where she focused on the intersection of filmmaking and traditional dance. Her project was dedicated to equipping aspiring professional dancers with fundamental filmmaking techniques while simultaneously exploring and documenting Beninese traditional dance forms.
Based in Cotonou, she collaborated with the Centre Chorégraphique Multicorps, where she conducted research and taught weekly classes. Working alongside an associate artist and instructor at the center, she engaged in extensive fieldwork, including specialized workshops, participation in traditional festivities, and courses with esteemed artists. Through these immersive experiences, she conducted in-depth studies of various regional rhythms and dances. Additionally, she pursued coursework in traditional music to further enrich her cultural and artistic understanding.
Check Didyo’s visuals here
Check the Ansenuza’s trailer here
Artistic Achievements and Legacy
As the culmination of her Fulbright experience, Cecilia choreographed and presented Didyo, a multidisciplinary dance performance featuring her students, with an original score composed by Cotonou-based musicians. Didyo was showcased at the U.S. Embassy in Cotonou and at Connexion, a renowned dance festival directed by Marcel Gbeffa, in December 2023.