Mudra Afrique

The Mudra Afrique (or, Centre Africain de Perfectionnement et de Recherche des Interprètes du Spectacle Mudra Afrique) was a school founded in Dakar, Senegal in 1977 by Léopold Sédar Senghor, Maurice Béjart and the UNESCO based on multiculturalism and a Pan-African philosophy of uniting the African through the commonalities in the different ways of artistic self-expression throughout the continent and the world, thus creating a universal artistic culture. The school closed in 1983 but a significant number of its students went on to successful international careers., such as the Burkinabe choreographer, dancer, actor and artist Irene Tassembedo, Carole Alexis choreographer and Director of Carole Alexis Ballet Theatre / Ballet des Amériques company and conservatory located in New York and Djoniba Mouflet Founder and Director of the Djoniba Dance and Drum center in New York . Mudra Afrique played a crucial role in preparing the basis for contemporary, modern and neo-classical African dance by training the first generation of “modern and classical” African dancers according to international artistic standards.