UNEXPECTED LESSONS 1: Contemporary African Dance

Workshop with Patrick Acogny

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.

Artists/Collaborators: Patrick Acogny (Mit), Nago Koité (Musik)

The series ‘UNEXPECTED LESSONS – Knowledges of Body and Sound’ is supported by the LOTTO Foundation Berlin. In cooperation with the Betty Center for Movement Research in Dance Studies at LMU Munich. An event as part of the TALKING OBJECTS LAB.

Media partners Radialsystem: taz. die tageszeitung, tip Berlin, Rausgegangen, The Berliner.

UNEXPECTED LESSON 1 

Sun, 24 May 202612 – 14 h: „Contemporary African Dance“ – Workshop with Patrick Acogny15 – 17 h: „Contemporary African Dance“ – Workshop with Patrick Acogny17 – 19 h: „LA PALABRE Space“ – Tea, Reading & Resting Room with artistic interventions*

Mon, 25 May 202618 – 20.30 h: „LA PALABRE Space“ – Tea, Reading & Resting Room with artistic interventions*19 h: „Somewhere at the Beginning“ – Performance by Germaine Acogny20.30 h:„Germaine Acogny. Die Essenz des Tanzes" – Film by Greta-Marie Becker

Tue, 26 May 202618 – 20.30 h: „LA PALABRE Space“– Tea, Reading & Resting Room with artistic interventions*19 h: „Somewhere at the Beginning“ – Performance by Germaine AcognyArtist Talk afterwards

Wed, 27 May 202614 – 16 h: „Technique Acogny – Contemporary African Dance“ – Workshop with Germaine Acogny (at Tanzfabrik Berlin)

*The program at LA PALABRE Space is curated by Arantxa Ciafrino.

Next date:

• Date Sunday, 24/May/2026 12:00 bis 14:00 (1 more date)
• Venue Radialsystem V
• Address Holzmarktstraße 33, 10243 Berlin-Friedrichshain