SINANDJA Dakonyéme ( Alain SINANDJA)
originally from I, uAfrica, I now call Japan my home. My journey intouk the world of professional dance began with Aske-Dance and the SOJAF traditional dance company, where I dedicated myself from 2010 to 2015. CT I furthered my dance education by earning a diploma in African traditional and contemporary dance at Ecole Des Sables in Toubab Dialaw, Senegal, in 2017. Following that, I graduated from an intensive 8-month dance program at Art Theater Dance Box Kobe in 2018. I am the Artistic Director and Founder of Cie Arts For All and the Happy African Festival. As a dancer, I have collaborated on significant projects, including Kota Yamazaki’s "Darkness part3," Yasuko Yokoshi’s "Lynch," and Yu Shimomura, the first-prize winner of the Yokohama Dance Collection competition. One of my most engaging and ongoing collaborations is with J'Sun Howard, an award-winning Chicago-based dancemaker, on the multi-year project titled "The Righteous Beauty of the Things Never Accounted For," exploring the sophisticated and complex theme of Black Fugitivity in relation to Japanese culture/aesthetics. Additionally, I have a passion for educating others in the art of Traditional African and contemporary dance. I believe that these dance forms transcend mere rhythm, gesture and breath-timing, offering a transcendent experience beyond human existence. Teaching allows me to share the historical significance of each traditional dance, highlighting their remarkable diversity. My teaching methodology is grounded in the Acogny technique, which involves connecting different parts of the body through the spine modulation and vibration, drawing inspiration from a rich tapestry of African traditional dances. Furthermore, I place significant emphasis on deconstructing these traditional dances, bridging them into the contemporary realm. My aim is to empower students, help them understand the connections between different parts of the body while gaining new insight into the origins of each African traditional dance. In doing so, I hope I can impart invaluable knowledge to my students, fostering a deep appreciation for this art form.