À UN ENDROIT DU DÉBUT. GERMAINE ACOGNY / MICHAËL SERRE

This piece explores through dance the sediments of the history of Germaine Acogny and of Africa itself through the prism of tragedy.

A solo by Germaine Acogny

Jant Bi

This proposal raises a dialogue on fundamental, archaic questions. It is a strong and uncompromising dialogue between contemporary Africa and the ancient tragic world. Through her testimony and her dance, translated into movement and breath, Germaine Acogny shows that it is still possible to start again but that a previous struggle of the mind against itself is necessary. At a time when the great ideologies can no longer provide an identity for the individual, it is essential to engage in a dialogue with one's inner self. This work is a testimony on stage about breathlessness and movement, a face to face between the solitude on stage and the intimacy of each spectator.

ARTISTIC FILE

Conception and staging: Mikaël Serre

Choreography: Germaine Acogny

Assistant choreographer: Patrick Acogny

Set design: Maciej Fiszer

Wardrobe: Johanna Diakhate-Rittmeyer

Music composed and performed by Fabrice Bouillon "LaForest".

Video: Sébastien Dupouey

Lighting: Sébastien Michaud

Technical direction: Marco Wehrspann

Texts: Togoun Servais Acogny, Les récits d'Aloopho by Togoun Servais Acogny, Germaine Acogny, Medea by Euripides, editing and text adaptation: Mikaël Serre

Production company: JANT-BI, Sénégal

Coproduction: Les Théâtres de la Ville du Luxembourg / Théâtre de la Ville, Paris / Institut Français, Paris Venue and Co-production: La Ferme du Buisson, Scène Nationale de Marne-la-Vallée Location: Le Centquatre, Paris

GERMAINE ACOGNY

Senegalese and French, Germaine Acogny is considered "the mother of contemporary African dance". From 1977 to 1982, she was artistic director of Mudra Afrique, created by Maurice Béjart and President L.S. Senghor in Dakar. After the closure of Mudra Afrique in 1982, she dances, choreographs and teaches all over the world, and becomes a true emissary of African dance and culture.

In 1997, Germaine Acogny was appointed artistic director of the Danse d'Afrique en Création section in Paris. In 2004, with her husband Helmut Vogt, she creates in Senegal the Centre International de Danses Traditionnelles et Contemporaines d'Afrique, the Ecole des Sables. It is a place of exchange and professional training for African dancers and dancers from all over the world. 

Since 1998, Germaine Acogny regularly creates solos for herself, and since 2004, choreographies for her company JANT-BI, with which she successfully tours the world.

Germaine Acogny is "Chevalier de l'Ordre du Mérite", "Officier des Arts et Lettres", "Chevalier de l'Ordre de la Légion d'Honneur" and "Commandeur dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres" of the French Republic. He is also "Chevalier de l'Ordre National du Lion" and "Officier des Arts et Lettres" of the Senegalese Republic.

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