Filmed at the École des Sables in Senegal, this documentary captures the final year of training for a cohort of dancers from several countries across the African continent. With its classroom open to the outdoors, this unique institution is run with empathy and calm by Franco-Senegalese dancer and choreographer Germaine Acogny, recipient of the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Biennale Danza 2021. Dance takes centre stage as the film’s attentive camera captures the students’ lessons, practices, experiments and end-of-year performances without artifice. This observational film gives voice to their reflections on transmission and learning, as well as their artistic practices that embody, through expressive movements, their life stories, emotions, and identities, as well as the messages they wish to share. (HSB)

Canadian Premiere

competition : New Visions Competition

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