The Ecole des Sables, which is the only Pan-African structure offering training of a high level in traditional and contemporary African dance (with the Choreographic Centre of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso), is also a place of residence for companies from Africa and outside Africa.

Contemporary dance is still sorely unrecognised on the continent and little infrastructure exists dedicated to dance or capable of welcoming companies. The Ecole adopts a very affordable fee policy adapted to the companies’ resources. It is possible as well that the Ecole grants the use of its premises gratuitously to young emerging companies without resources, in order to help them. This is also the case whereby ex-trainees from the Ecole ask for a residence with their company. This welcoming policy favours the development of contemporary dance in Africa.

The welcoming of international interdisciplinary projects

The centre is also a place open to interdisciplinary projects. The Ecole des Sables welcomes projects of an international scale. It has, for example, welcomed the first phase of the creation of a Sahel Opera, conceived by the Prince Claus Foundation from the Netherlands, for which the opening night was held 17th February 2007 in Bamako, Mali before a Pan-African and international tour.

Hosted companies

  In 2000: The Heddy Maalem Company (Toulouse), for a creation with eight African dancers entitled “Black Spring”.

  End 2001: The Mawguerite Company of Bernardo Montet (Brest), with ten dancers for the “O’More” choreography.

  2002: The Senegalese Company, “5th Dimension”, created its choreography “Bujuman”.

  In 2005: Welcoming of the TA Company, Burkina Faso, and of the Company “1er Temps”, Senegal.

  In December 2006: The welcoming of “Contemporary Synergy”: for around fifty artists based on the theme “100 books and objects for Senghor”.

  In 2007: The welcoming of the Moroccan choreographer Toufiq Izediou’s Company for its next creation.

The welcoming of Raphaëlle Delaunay to work on a creation.