Yoon wi (The way)

My mother used to be disabled. She has struggled a lot for the well-being of her children and family. I used to see her early in the morning, waking up to go selling loaves of bread; she would stop for a short while to take a breath to then resume her way. This gave me a lot of courage to work hard in my life so that one day I could get her out of that unbearable situation I witnessed.
Toubab Dialaw did not have any high school so I studied at Bargny for 3 years and then one year in Rufisque. When mother died, I stopped my studies because of the lack of funds. I met my father some time just after I lost my mother; when I started to really getting to know my father, he fell ill, he is paralyzed and he is unable to talk at the moment.

In 2003 I entered the world of dance, which was my passion since I was a kid. I trained in traditional and contemporary dance. I danced with a dance company at Badé SOBO hotel located in Toubab Dialaw, where I came back when I stopped my studies. I had a boy in 2005. In 2008 I started with Ècole des sables, where I was able to train a lot in traditional and contemporary dance. This opened my eyes to the world of dance.

Ecole des Sables has opened my eyes regarding “the discipline”, life in community with other trainees but especially the attire of an artist in social life and on stage.

The [workshop] ‘Tools of choreography’ at Ecole des Sables between March and May 2009 gave me the ability to observe the dance with a different approach, which I did not have before. I used to think that dance was about beauty. Today, I have realized that it conveys messages, teaches lessons and gives testimonies...

The choreographic sense I learnt at that workshop is the core of my professional career. I am in charge of the artistic supervision of young boys and girls in my locality. This course has helped me [to develop] in choreography and in preparing the lessons I have to deliver.
This is the most significant change that I had in my artistic life with the little experience I have.