Culture
Visiting the Grande Dame of Modern African Dance: 'If They Think I Am Crazy: Tant Mieux'
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Germaine Acogny, 82, founder of the École des Sables in Senegal, established one of Africa’s most renowned dance schools by blending modern Western techniques with traditional African movements. Located in a fishing village, the school attracts dancers globally to learn her unique style, though financial support has historically relied on European and American donors rather than the Senegalese government. Although Acogny has handed over artistic leadership and teaching duties to choreographers like Kodro Aoussou, she remains a central figure at the institution. Born in Benin and known as 'la folle' in childhood for suggesting classmates dance like trees, Acogny views her work as a mirror of contemporary Africa, rooted in tradition yet embracing modern ambitions.
Ozetta summarises; the reporting is the newsroom's