In Benin the strong artistic and cultural heritage of which dance and music are essential elements has maintained its identity.  In particular the body is a channel for healing processes, spiritual growth, social cohesion, and economic sustainability. 

Movement education is key to stimulate healthy lifestyle choices, effective community engagement processes and creation of sustainable income. 

Based in the Historic City of Ouidah, TRACES offers a context of open research and artistic exchange to dance artists and musicians with the intention of transferring movement pedagogical and choreographic skills and share experience without imposing an aesthetic style.  

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 

TRACES generates impact among individuals and in communities since its applicability is diverse. The method itself is designed to be adaptive to community needs and to different sections of the population. It accommodates different opportunities and adapts to local constraints. Such an approach has proven TRACES to be resilient to the challenges of operating in Benin since 2012. 

CULTURAL HERITAGE AND WISDOM 

Our  enquiry revolves around these fundamentals questions:

Is it possible that ancient values and practices maintain their validity in contemporary society? How do they adapt and manifest?

Is it possible that ancient and current performative practices could enrich each other?

How can we, as artists, look at ritual and re-elaborate the wisdom that passes through the  body in such a vivid way? The artistic and pedagogic research is informed by  the Vodoun philosophy and its expression in music and dance. The attention is captured by the structure and phasing of ritual as a performative act, where the body, the rhythm, the voice, the gesture, repetition become instruments of evocation, portals for connection and access to collective memory.  These processes translate from persona to the collective, and although structured, leave space for improvisation.

Since 2012 continues to grow and develop and on average each edition works with:

50 dance artists, musicians, movement and music educators from Benin and Togo and from abroad

50 kids and teenagers

5 to 10 independent Cultural Centres

The open events involve a general public of 200 to 300 people.

Traces is  TRANSFORMATIVE in generating an impact: 

*Behavioral change in dealing with health issues (reduced use of drugs, alcohol), in causing social inclusion in communities and in public engagement. 

*Promoting ownership from local artists and educators in management of their professional  careers. 

*Access to international network of professional opportunities 

*Establishing a dialogue with public institutions to support professional arts as means of source of income 

*Generating a spill-over effect on local economies (transport accommodation, catering, local craftsmen)

TEACHERS and EXPERTS 

Eric Acakpo:  music and cultural heritage dissemination

Francesca Pedullà:   dance, composition, movement education, cultural mediation

Frey Faust:  dance, composition  and movement education

Aliou Guessere: music

Fortin Acakpo : traditional dances

Sara Parisi: movement education and Street Dance

Isidore Acakpo:  cultural heritage dissemination

Gabriella Bazzano: economic and financial sustainability

Barbara Calì: photographer

IN COLLABORATION WITH

IN COLLABORATION WITH:

Axis Syllabus Research Meshwork, CACO, Mairie de Ouidah,  Collectif des Acteurs culturels de Ouidah, POSIDONIA GREEN PROJECT, Wéziza Technology,