Creating, Teaching and Promoting Contemporary African Dances

Creations, workshops, symposia, training sessions—Zab Maboungou, founder and director of the Compagnie Danse Nyata Nyata, stimulates and embodies the practice of contemporary African dance.

A space for renewal and advancement

Zab Maboungou has perfected a unique training method for dancers that ensures knowledge is passed on and choreographic arts promoted. Her creative method (solo-group or question-and-answer format) is adapted according to the context in which the work is presented, its artistic direction, and the type of event. This results in work that explores space and time in motion. For example, on stage, the field of possibilities is defined by the exchanges between the musicians and the choreographer-performer, or in a space with seven dancers exploring density and their presence in that space.

Conquering Canadian and international stages

The dance company creates and presents its works on Canadian and international stages, namely in the UK, France, and Italy. Up-and-coming dancers and numerous collaborators are at the heart of many of Maboungou’s local artistic projects. The company is also building relationships with many African festivals, Canadian and European artistic networks, and American universities.