UNEXPECTED LESSONS 1: Germaine Acogny – Die Essenz des Tanzes

Film by Greta-Marie Becker

Germaine Acogny is not only the “mother of African contemporary dance,” she is also one of the most important artistic voices from the African continent. She developed her own ‘Acogny Technique’, rooted in traditional West African dances and engaging with European dance forms.

“Germaine Acogny – The Essence of Dance” is a full-length documentary about the world-renowned dancer and choreographer by director Greta-Marie Becker. Acogny was born in Benin and grew up in Senegal, before studying in Paris and travelling around the world for more than five decades. Her unique dance technique has been included in the international modern dance canon. She still dances today, at almost 82, and encourages new generations of African and international dancers in her unique school, l’École des Sables in Senegal.

The film will premiere on 25 May in Radialsystem, accompanied by two performances of Germaine Acogny’s solo work “Somewhere at the Beginning”. These events will launch the series UNEXPECTED LESSONS – Knowledges of Body and Sound, running from May 2026 until February 2027. The film celebrated its world premiere at the Munich International Film Festival in 2025, and will be showing in German cinemas from 28 May 2026.

Film audiences accompany Germaine Acogny on stage as she is honoured with the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Dance Biennale in Venice 2021 and the Grand Prix de l'Académie des Beaux-Arts in Paris 2023. The protagonist’s tumultuous present and remembered past are connected through documentary scenes, carefully selected archive material, and dance scenes staged specially for the film.

Artists/Collaborators: Greta-Marie Becker (Autorin und Regisseurin), CALA Film Berlin (Produzentin Martina Haubrich) (Eine Produktion von), Les Films d'Ici, Paris (Produzentin: Charlotte Uzu), Goree Island Cinema, Dakar (Produzent: Yanis Gaye) (In Koproduktion mit), Sophie Maintigneux (Kamera), Katja Dringenberg (Schnitt und Dramaturgie), Fabrice Bouillon „LaForest” (Komposition), Film- und Medienstiftung NRW (Entwicklung gefördert durch), BKM, Film- und Medienstiftung NRW, Mini-Traité der FFA und CNC, Kuratorium Junger Deutscher Film, DFFF (Produktion gefördert durch), BR in Zusammenarbeit mit ARTE (Eine Koproduktion mit), farbfilm verleih (Verleih)

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 Monday, 25/May/2026 20:30
• Venue Radialsystem V
• Address Holzmarktstraße 33, 10243 Berlin-Friedrichshain