Practical Information

• Please wear comfortable clothing
• The workshop is practised barefoot

Returning to ADEM, Khady invites participants to deepen their understanding of Sabar, the emblematic dance tradition of Senegal, through embodied practice. Particular attention will be given to breathing, closely connected to the specific postures characteristic of this choreographic tradition. The workshop will also explore the rich rhythmic complexity at the heart of Sabar practice.

In her teaching approach, Khady emphasises the fundamental importance of grounding and self-connection. She highlights the balance between verticality and rootedness, encouraging participants to approach Sabar with a heightened awareness of breath and emotional states.

Drawing on her extensive experience, Khady guides participants within an attentive and supportive learning environment, where the Guew — the Sabar circle — becomes a space of presence, personal development, and sharing. This journey offers an invitation to reconnect with the essential dimensions of traditional African dances.

Biography

Originally from Dakar and Casamance, Khady Sarr expresses her identity through dance. Her style, shaped by multiple influences, flourishes through graceful movement and extraordinary energy.

Although initially self-taught, she later sought to broaden her knowledge by joining the Traditional Ballets of Senegal, notably the Forêt Sacrée ballet company in Dakar.

Deeply committed to transmission and teaching, Khady considers concepts such as “breathing,” “grounding,” and “awareness of the body, movement, and musicality” to be fundamental elements of the language of dance. Speaking about transmission, she explains:

“My goal is not to make you love my dance, but to help you discover your own — and to dare.”

Khady is recognised as one of the finest pedagogues of her generation. With talent and generosity, she guides her students toward greater bodily awareness and a deeper understanding of the connections between music and movement in the traditional dances of West Africa, particularly Sabar and Mandingue dances.