Africa

West Africa

West African dance spans many peoples, ceremonial settings and social practices. Guinea, Senegal, Mali, Ghana and Nigeria each sustain diverse repertories; national ensembles and contemporary artists translate selected traditions for concert stages.

History

Dance traditions have long been transmitted through families, associations and community occasions. Post-independence national ensembles brought selected repertories to international stages, and contemporary artists created new approaches to training and choreography.

Key forms

Guinean repertories
Senegalese Sabar
Malian traditions
Ghanaian repertories
Nigerian traditions

Elements

Polyrhythm
Dialogue with drummers
Community and occasion

Masters & companies

Les Ballets Africains
Germaine Acogny
École des Sables
Ghana Dance Ensemble
National Troupe of Nigeria

Watch Live

No official live dance stream verified for this tradition yet.

Watch Recorded

No specific official watch recorded resource verified yet.

West Africa · YouTube search

Search results, not a verified recording; choose official company or institution uploads.

Learn

École des Sables

Official dance education, company or cultural resources. · Free and paid options · checked 2026-10-21

Ghana Institute African Studies

General institution or cultural programme; not a dedicated online dance archive. · Check publisher access · checked 2026-10-21

Attend

No specific official attend resource verified yet.

Some publishers offer paid access. Public recordings do not grant permission to reuse choreography or ceremonial material.