École des Sables: Senegal's unconventional dance training center
The École des Sables in Senegal, Africa's premier dance training center, operates in an unconventional open-air studio with a sand floor, no sprung floor, and no mirrored walls. Dancers train under a tented canopy, challenging traditional dance space norms. The school is led by Germaine Acogny, a pioneering figure in contemporary African dance.
Key facts
- École des Sables is Africa's number-one dance training center.
- The main studio has no sprung floor, no mirrored walls, and no walls at all.
- Dancers work outdoors under a large tented canopy.
- The floor is sand, making it treacherous for dancers.
- The school is located in Senegal.
- Germaine Acogny is associated with the school.
- The article was published in The New York Times on April 22, 2026.
Entities
Artists
- Germaine Acogny
Institutions
- École des Sables
- The New York Times
Locations
- Senegal