UNEXPECTED LESSONS 1: Contemporary African Dance
Workshop with Patrick Acogny
Workshop
Patrick Acogny © Abdoul Mujyambere
Ticket Prices
Workshop
10 Euro reduced 8 Euro
Combi Ticket (Workshop & Performance)
30 Euro reduced 20 Euro
Dancer, choreographer, and teacher Patrick Acogny will host a workshop entitled “Contemporary African Dance” as part of the opening of the series UNEXPECTED LESSONS - Knowledges of Body and Sound.
Senegalese-French artist Patrick Acogny’s work operates at the interface between contemporary African dance, body work, and contemporary choreography. His powerful and vibrant training is suitable for dancers of all levels. As he puts it himself: “In many African cultures, you don’t start out knowing how to dance. You start out by being there, listening, and entering the circle.” The internationally renowned artist’s workshop is based upon the spine as a source of movement, breath, and polyrhythms, unfolding from a warm-up into small choreographic sequences. The workshop will be accompanied by live music.
Visitor Information
Participation
The workshop is aimed at dancers of all levels.
Programme
UNEXPECTED LESSON 1
Sun, 25 May 2026
15 – 17 h: „Contemporary African Dance“ – Workshop with Patrick Acogny
17 – 19 h: „LA PALABRE Space“ – Tea, Reading & Resting Room with artistic interventions
Mon, 25 May 2026
18 – 20.30 h: „LA PALABRE Space“ – Tea, Reading & Resting Room with artistic interventions
19 h: „Somewhere at the Beginning“ – Performance by Germaine Acogny
20.30 h:„Germaine Acogny. Die Essenz des Tanzes" – Film by Greta-Marie Becker
Tue, 26 May 2026
18 – 20.30 h: „LA PALABRE Space“– Tea, Reading & Resting Room with artistic interventions
19 h: „Somewhere at the Beginning“ – Performance by Germaine Acogny
Wed, 27 May 2026
14 – 16 h: „Technique Acogny – Contemporary African Dance“ – Workshop with Germaine Acogny (venue tbc)
Cast
With
Patrick Acogny
Cast
With
Patrick Acogny
Biographies
Patrick Acogny ist ein französisch-senegalesischer Choreograf und Pädagoge. Seine Arbeit verbindet zeitgenössischen afrikanischen Tanz, somatischn Praktiken und zeitgenössische Choreografie. Er versteht den Körper als lebendiges Archiv, durchdrungen von Geschichte, Erinnerung und Beziehungen. Seine Pädagogik basiert auf Verankerung, Atmung, der Wirbelsäule als Quelle der Bewegung, Polyrhythmik und kollektiver Arbeit.
Biographies
Patrick Acogny ist ein französisch-senegalesischer Choreograf und Pädagoge. Seine Arbeit verbindet zeitgenössischen afrikanischen Tanz, somatischn Praktiken und zeitgenössische Choreografie. Er versteht den Körper als lebendiges Archiv, durchdrungen von Geschichte, Erinnerung und Beziehungen. Seine Pädagogik basiert auf Verankerung, Atmung, der Wirbelsäule als Quelle der Bewegung, Polyrhythmik und kollektiver Arbeit.
Further Information
The series UNEXPECTED LESSONS – Knowledges of Body and Sound, which will take place from May 2026 to February 2027 at Radialsystem, explores the plural knowledge of dance, body, and sound. Interdisciplinary perspectives and practitioners from the African continent, the diaspora, and beyond will engage in dialogue with Berlin's dynamic dance scene.
The focus is on the social and political dimensions of dance, knowledge systems in music, the body as a living archive, movement as healing, a decolonial perspective on the body and dance, and a critical examination of global dance history. Performances, talks, listening sessions, and workshops transform knowledge into experience and movement.
The series kicks off with an opening program from May 24 to 27, 2026, centred around the solo performance “Somewhere At The Beginning” by Germaine Acogny, an icon of African contemporary dance, with workshops, talks, and the Berlin premiere of the documentary film “Germaine Acogny – Die Essenz des Tanzes.”
The series is curated by Isabel Raabe (artistic director) and Celina Baljeet Basra (co-curator) and accompanied by Prof. Dr. Mariama Diagne.
Programme
UNEXPECTED LESSON 1
Sun, 25 May 2026
15 – 17 h: „Contemporary African Dance“ – Workshop with Patrick Acogny
17 – 19 h: „LA PALABRE Space“ – Tea, Reading & Resting Room with artistic interventions
Mon, 25 May 2026
18 – 20.30 h: „LA PALABRE Space“ – Tea, Reading & Resting Room with artistic interventions
19 h: „Somewhere at the Beginning“ – Performance by Germaine Acogny
20.30 h:„Germaine Acogny. Die Essenz des Tanzes" – Film by Greta-Marie Becker
Tue, 26 May 2026
18 – 20.30 h: „LA PALABRE Space“– Tea, Reading & Resting Room with artistic interventions
19 h: „Somewhere at the Beginning“ – Performance by Germaine Acogny
Wed, 27 May 2026
14 – 16 h: „Technique Acogny – Contemporary African Dance“ – Workshop with Germaine Acogny (venue tbc)
Further Information
The series UNEXPECTED LESSONS – Knowledges of Body and Sound, which will take place from May 2026 to February 2027 at Radialsystem, explores the plural knowledge of dance, body, and sound. Interdisciplinary perspectives and practitioners from the African continent, the diaspora, and beyond will engage in dialogue with Berlin's dynamic dance scene.
The focus is on the social and political dimensions of dance, knowledge systems in music, the body as a living archive, movement as healing, a decolonial perspective on the body and dance, and a critical examination of global dance history. Performances, talks, listening sessions, and workshops transform knowledge into experience and movement.
The series kicks off with an opening program from May 24 to 27, 2026, centred around the solo performance “Somewhere At The Beginning” by Germaine Acogny, an icon of African contemporary dance, with workshops, talks, and the Berlin premiere of the documentary film “Germaine Acogny – Die Essenz des Tanzes.”
The series is curated by Isabel Raabe (artistic director) and Celina Baljeet Basra (co-curator) and accompanied by Prof. Dr. Mariama Diagne.
Visitor Information
Participation
The workshop is aimed at dancers of all levels.
Credits
The series ‘UNEXPECTED LESSONS – Knowledges of Body and Sound’ is supported by the LOTTO Foundation Berlin. An event as part of the TALKING OBJECTS LAB.
Media partners Radialsystem: taz. die tageszeitung, tip Berlin, Rausgegangen, The Berliner.
Credits
The series ‘UNEXPECTED LESSONS – Knowledges of Body and Sound’ is supported by the LOTTO Foundation Berlin. An event as part of the TALKING OBJECTS LAB.
Media partners Radialsystem: taz. die tageszeitung, tip Berlin, Rausgegangen, The Berliner.
Dancer, choreographer, and teacher Patrick Acogny will host a workshop entitled “Contemporary African Dance” as part of the opening of the series UNEXPECTED LESSONS - Knowledges of Body and Sound.
Senegalese-French artist Patrick Acogny’s work operates at the interface between contemporary African dance, body work, and contemporary choreography. His powerful and vibrant training is suitable for dancers of all levels. As he puts it himself: “In many African cultures, you don’t start out knowing how to dance. You start out by being there, listening, and entering the circle.” The internationally renowned artist’s workshop is based upon the spine as a source of movement, breath, and polyrhythms, unfolding from a warm-up into small choreographic sequences. The workshop will be accompanied by live music.
Cast
With
Patrick Acogny
Biographies
Patrick Acogny ist ein französisch-senegalesischer Choreograf und Pädagoge. Seine Arbeit verbindet zeitgenössischen afrikanischen Tanz, somatischn Praktiken und zeitgenössische Choreografie. Er versteht den Körper als lebendiges Archiv, durchdrungen von Geschichte, Erinnerung und Beziehungen. Seine Pädagogik basiert auf Verankerung, Atmung, der Wirbelsäule als Quelle der Bewegung, Polyrhythmik und kollektiver Arbeit.
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