Germaine ACOGNY – Sénégal

Contemporary dance and theater

Dancer, choreographer, teacher. 

Founder of the Ecole des Sables.

Website

Production

Somewhere at the Beginning

A COMMENT BY THE DIRECTOR (..Somewhere at the beginning)

I vividly remember a remark that Germaine Acogny made at our first encounter.
“My life has often been unsettled. I come from somewhere, but when I try to distance myself I cannot escape from my past. It’s as if I go back to the beginning – the place from whence I come – back to my ancestors and those who accompany me.”

These words speak of an action: the exploration of contrary forces. It is an upward compusion, but also a gesture of acceptance of the force of destiny.
Germaine Acogny told me her story – that of her family and its conflicts, of her host country Senegal , her time of ‘exile’ in Europe and her return to her native Africa. Before we met she told me that in her next work she wanted to think in terms of Greek tragedy.
That seemed to me to be most appropriate. When I read the text of a play I hear the moments of ecstasy, doubt and desert crossing. When we met I heard Shango: the god of thunder, lightening and war. I questioned my wish to mix the daunting problems and towering gures of Greek tragedy with the history of Africa.
I decided that this project would fulfil the need for a confrontation between the self and the world.

YOU KNOW WHERE YOU WERE BORN, BUT NOT WHERE YOU WILL DIE! (Tiviglititi, the sage, ‘Tales of Aloopho’) 
Collected By Mikaël SERRE.

Video

Brochure

Photo: Thomas Horn

 Where to see ..
July 7, 2017 MON ELUE NOIRE AMSTERDAM BJELMER PARKTHEATER / NL
August 2-4, 2017 SOMEWHERE AT THE BEGINNING IMPULSTANZ VIENNA AKADEMIE THEATER / AU
October 4-7, 2017 MON ELUE NOIRE BAM NYC / USA
October 11, 2017 MON ELUE NOIRE THE CLARICE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND / USA
October 21, 2017 MON ELUE NOIRE KOLN / DE
November 17, 2017 SOMEWHERE AT THE BEGINNING SACRE FESTIVAL HONG KONG
November 19, 2017 MON ELUE NOIRE SACRE FESTIVAL HONG KONG
November 28, 2017 SOMEWHERE AT THE BEGINNING KLAP MARSEILLE / FR
January 23-24, 2018 SOMEWHERE AT THE BEGINNING CHAMBÉRY / FR
March 19-20 , 2018 MON ELUE NOIRE HALLE DE SCHAERBEEK, BRUSSELS / BE
May 11-12, 2018 SOMEWHERE AT THE BEGINNING LEICESTER SERENDEPETY FESTIVAL / UK

The choosen one.

(a choreography by Olivier DUBOIS)