A Key Platform for Choreographic Creation on the Continent

Initiated in 1997 by the Institut français - Paris and steered since 2016 by an independent committee, the Dance Biennial in Africa has been contributing to the development and the visibility of the choreographic creation on the African continent for almost thirty years.

For each edition, the Biennial is implemented by a different festival or cultural operator that brings on the table its expertise as well as its local and regional presence, in dialogue with the Biennial Committee, the Institut français Paris, the event's main partner, as well as with other involved supporters.

A springboard for the emergence of new projects and talent, this touring event also serves as a showcase for established African artists and a meeting place for professionals from all over the world. It highlights the vitality of the different choreographic scenes on the African continent.

The next Dance Biennal in Africa will take place between September 2025 and December 2026.

In order to support the emergence of a new generation of choreographers in Africa, the French Institute proposes an incubation programme for choreographic projects called Résidanses in inter-biennial years.

The aim of this scheme is to support emerging choreographers from the African continent in their creative process. It allows artists and companies to carry out residencies in order to develop new stages of creation under the guidance of experienced artists from the continent who have a place to work and create. All residencies take place in Africa, with the possibility of a residency in France in conjunction with an identified partner.

This incubation, which takes place every other year, also allows new creations to be proposed which, for the most successful, can be presented during the Biennials of Dance in Africa of the same year.

This Résidanses programme was set up by the French Institute in partnership with the Artistic Committee of the Biennial of Dance in Africa, made up of : Hafiz Dhaou, Virginie Dupray, Taoufik Izzediou, Qudus Onikeku, Salia Sanou and Quito Tembe.

Since 2019, some thirty French, English, Portuguese and Arabic-speaking African laureates have been supported through this programme, including 13 projects by women choreographers, in 12 countries (South Africa; Benin; Burkina Faso; Comoros; Mali; Morocco; Mozambique; Nigeria; Democratic Republic of Congo; Senegal; Togo; Tunisia).