Dance Senegal

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DANCE & CULTURE FOR THE ELDERS

Ecole des Sables | Toubab Dialaw | Senegal January, 10th to 22nd, 2011

During 2 weeks in January 2011, The Ecole des Sables will offer you to discover the

Senegalese culture in the village of Toubab Dialaw, through movement, music, rhythms

of percussions, story telling and poetry, the breaths of the Atlantic Ocean breezes and

the murmur of the savanna.



DANCE AND CULTURES FOR THE ELDERS | ECOLE DES SABLES | TOUBAB DIALAW | SENEGAL | 2

The Jant-bi association / the Ecole des Sables and it’s team suggests you to come to

Toubab Dialaw, a small fishing village in Senegal, to familiarize you with dance and

movements, which are immediate and intense personal means of expressions, to find a

natural well-being through an intimate union between the physical body and the mind.

In an ideal environment, surrounded by competent and listening people, all the

conditions are met to spend together moments full of meaning, experience, culturalexchanges and discoveries. This is especially a great opportunity to explore the African

Dance directly to its source, to feel the energy of ones body and that of the

environment. It is also the opportunity to undertake various activities and to share

during some time the life and the habits of the inhabitants of the village of Toubab

Dialaw.

The Ecole des Sables is a unique place in Africa and in the world, a large Centre

considered as the "Home" of the African Dance. Usually approaching especially young

African dancers, this Centre wishes to offer also to other people the opportunity to

discover Africa through one of its major expressions: the Dance.

The age should not be a handicap but rather express the wisdom and the wealth of

experience and the willingness to continue to be active in this world. Make the body

work is the best way to keep autonomy of motion and physical well-being. The positive

impacts on the mental well being are known and considerable.

Such a stay deeply influences and helps to live comfortably the day with the heart and

the body, whatever the age may be. Knowing that the time is perceived in Africa in a

radically different way than in the West, the concept of age is conceived differently.

The elders are respected, listened. They are not put aside as we can see in Europe; theyplay an essential role in the society and remain active. In Africa the elders dance, so

come and dance with them!




| THE ECOLE DES SABLES

Toubab Dialaw is a small fishing village located on the “Petite” Coast 55 km South of

Dakar, along a coastline of white sand beaches and rocks, opening towards a typical

African savanna dotted with baobabs.

The Ecole des Sables, International Centre for Traditional and Contemporary African

Dance, is located on the heights of the village facing the Ocean, a lagoon and the

savanna. It is, since 2004, a place for meeting, training, research, creations and

exchanges, dedicated to African dance. Created by the dancer-choreographer Germaine

Acogny and her German husband Helmut Vogt, the Ecole des Sables organizes

professional workshops for dancers from all over Africa. Since 2007, it openes its doors

also to the dancers from all over the World. The Centre contributes by its trainings to

the development of the Contemporary African Dance and to its recognition in the

World.




| HOUSING, FOOD, HEALTH, INFRASTRUCTURE

The participants are hosted in the 24 bungalows of the centre (including mosquito nets

and fans), with 2 persons per bungalow. Some bungalows are equipped with a

bathroom and individual toilets (firstly reserved for the most elders), the other

bathrooms are just located next to the bungalows. Those are showers and toilets withoriginal architecture well-equipped.

Meals are taken in the restaurant of the Centre overlooking the lagoon and the Ocean.

They are prepared by a staff of women from the village in conditions of perfect hygiene.

A variation of cooking is proposed: rice, fish, meat, lots of vegetables and fruits of the

country, adapted to the taste and stomachs of everybody.

The center is equipped with a house-infirmary in which a doctor is present during the

entire time of the program. The simple and basic cases which are not requiring

necessarily the intervention of a specialist can be treated on the spot. Cases requiringthe consultation with a specialist may be directed to Rufisque (the closest city) or

Dakar. The village of Toubab Dialaw has a pharmacy and a professional masseuse

working by appointment.

The classes of expression through movement take place under the structure of a 400

m2 dance space called "Kër Aloopho" (the House of Aloopho), with a sand floor, and a

second space of 280 m2 (called Henriette Bathily), equipped with a professional dance

floor of European standard.

A WIFI connection helps those who have a laptop to use internet. A computer lab with

computer is also available.

Conference room Bedroom Common bathrooms Restaurant




| THE ACTIVITIES FOR THE ELDERS

Of course, there are physical activities like soft dance with Elizabeth Cameron Dalman

and Germaine Acogny.

Elizabeth lives and works in Australia, where she teaches a dance strongly related with

nature. She is the origin of Contemporary dance in Australia.

Germaine, great personality of African Dance, choreographs, teaches and manages the

Ecole des Sables with her husband Helmut Vogt. Her specific technique of Modern

African Dance is world wide recognized. She has dreamed for a long time to take Elders

to Toubab Dialaw, especially since she has a very strong and intimate relation with the

elder women of the village, heirs of a long tradition.

The proposed approach is based on the discovery (or rediscovery) of the body in an

unusual context, in which the nature is a crucial component. It is about being together,especially during the activities. Indeed, whatever the level of the participants is, the

lessons are taught in a single group, without discrimination of skills, each one moving in

his or her own pace and according to the individual abilities.

Other activities are planned facilitating meeting, exchange and discussions with the

elders and the women from the village. Also through learning the preparation of local

fruit juices with the women of the village, evenings of storytelling and conferences,

excursions in the bush, strolling in the market, singing, walking in the water …It is about

discovering the lifestyle of the Ancients, guardians of the tradition of the village of

Toubab Dialaw, and feeling and going with the flow and guided by the surroundingnature. Finally to live these two weeks at the rhythm of the Ecole des Sables shared

between musics and movements, village and nature, activities and peace.

The proposed activities are equally well thought out for men and for women. The

companions, the partners, husbands or wives may of course also join to participate in

the dance training or if they prefer the other activities around story telling, poetry and

music.




| PARTICIPATION COST AND REGISTRATION

This special project is since a long time of great importance to Germaine Acogny and

she really wished to make it happen. For this first edition a special price of 1200 € per

person for two weeks has been fixed to launch this idea. It includes accommodation,

full board food, all the dance and movement classes and the in-house activities at theCenter.

International transport, transfer fees Airport-Toubab Dialaw (approx.30€ each way),

outside excursions, massage sessions, are additional cost.

The number of participants is limited to 25 people.

You will find attached a registration form to return to us duly completed.

| PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Visa

The French and German people, for example, do not need a visa. The others should

please check with the consulate of Senegal in their country. If necessary, we will issue

you a letter of invitation for your formalities.

Climate

In January, it is the dry season and the best time of the year with a temperature around

25C° - evenings could be chilly.

Clothes / personal items

Please bring a jacket or a sweater; it can be cold at night. Bring also sport shoes in

addition to your usual shoes.

If you have special food requests (cereals for example…) you better bring the basic

things you need. Some specific products are difficult to get in our village. Shopping can

be made in Rufisque or Dakar.

Health

Yellow Fever Vaccination is obligatory!!!! Don’t forget your vaccination booklet. You will

have to show it at the airport. The vaccination against the yellow fever must be

mentioned.

But ask for eventual other vaccinations. There is no vaccination against malaria

available. Please see your doctor for advice.

Please avoid the Lariam pills which often cause many different problems

Please take also with you some basic medicine for curing diarrhea, flu, fever or other

small illnesses, and bring everything related to your specific needs.




Money

The currency in Senegal is the Franc CFA. You can easily change Euro and US$ at the

Ecole des Sables office. Money Distribution Machines Distributors are in Rufisque, 25

km fromToubab Dialaw.

One Euro = 650 FCFA. One US$ = 450 FCFA (changing exchange rate)

Do not forget:Do not forget:Do not forget:Do not forget:

A torch, your camera, mosquito repellents, your swimming suit as well as your mobile

phone as you can buy local pin card in for about 2500 CFA.

If you want to use Internet, please bring your own laptop. There is WIFI connection.

Otherwise, there is only one computer available in the office. The Ecole des Sables is a

safe and secure place. You don’t need to worry about your valuables.

Documents

Dance Senegal