Sing it, drum it, dance it! Chantes-le, joues-le, danses-le!
Sophie “Sabar” is a dancing anthropologist. For well over 20 years, she has been sharing her great love for sabar around the world. Sophie has studied sabar extensively as an anthropologist; she considers sabar dance to be much more than just dance steps:
“Dancing sabar is like dancing a culture”.
TRANSMISSION METHOD: Sing it! Play it! Dance it!
Her method (sing it! play it! dance it!) is thought through, and her 20 years of teaching experience allow her to guide each dancer on their dance journey. The connection with drummers and rhythms is central to her approach. “We take time to study the rhythm, sing the different accompanying parts, find the temps fort and the temps faible. We learn about rhythms before we dive into exploring the vocabulary of any particular rhythm. What we sing, what we drum and what we dance is the same thing. Understanding that logic is key to beginning to access sabar.
“I love nothing more than dancing sabar with you, creating moments of happiness, profound learning, kindness, and joy. With all my love, welcome to our sabar circles!”
TEACHING | PÉDAGOGIE
What characterises Sophie’s teaching is the deep, explicit and lively connection she has with the musicians. This connection is at the heart of her teaching: it reflects the very essence of sabar, where dance is inseparable from music and rhythm. Sabar dancers are in constant dialogue with the musicians — a nourishing, open dialogue rich in exchange. Sophie creates a space in which the drummers’ words and knowledge are fully recognised, valued and directly transmitted. She gives them a real place and real time. She gives them the credit they deserve, and it shows.
Her teaching style is both rigorous and joyful. She is serious and focused, but she never teaches in a dry manner. She is playful and brings humour and lightness to her teaching, even when conveying rich, complex and dense content. She knows how to gauge the intensity so that learning remains a pleasure without losing any of its depth.
‘I don’t simplify sabar; my teaching is imbued with the conviction that you have to love sabar in all its complexity.’
Testimonial from Mahaut: You work with a combination of intuition and confidence. You are completely present, your eyes everywhere — nothing escapes you. If someone loses the rhythm or gets lost, you see it immediately. Without judgement, you gently guide them back on track, simply through your presence, your energy and your listening.
Ce qui caractérise la pédagogie de Sophie, c’est le lien profond, explicite et vivant qu’elle entretient avec les musiciens. Ce lien est au cœur de son enseignement : il reflète l’essence même du sabar, où la danse est indissociable de la musique et du rythme. La danseuse est en dialogue constant avec les musiciens — un dialogue nourri, ouvert, riche en échanges. Sophie cré un espace dans lequel la parole et le savoir des musiciens sont pleinement reconnus, valorisés, et transmis directement. Elle leur laisse une vraie place, un vrai temps. Elle leur donnes le crédit qu’ils méritent, et ça se ressent.
Sa pédagogie est à la fois rigoureuse et joyeuse. Elle es sérieuse, concentrée, mais elle n’enseigne jamais de manière sèche. Elle es joueuse, elle amène de l’humour, de la légèreté, même quand elle transmet des contenus riches, complexes, denses. Elle sait doser l’intensité pour que l’apprentissage reste un plaisir, sans rien perdre en profondeur.
« Je ne simplifie pas le sabar, ma transmission est imprégnée de la conviction qu’il faut aimer le sabar dans toute sa complexité «
Témoignage de Mahaut : Tu travailles dans un mélange d’intuition et de confiance. Tu es entièrement présente, les yeux partout — rien ne t’échappe. Si quelqu’un se déconnecte du rythme ou perd le fil, tu le vois immédiatement. Sans jugement, tu te places à ses côtés, avec douceur, et tu le remets sur les rails, juste par ta présence, ton énergie, ton écoute.
Portfolio
African Image Maker Award winner of 2016
References
- Sabar Summer Camp | Stage Residentiel, since 2017 (France)
- Sabar Stage Senegal in Yoff, since 2008, The DANCE Hall, The first urban dance centre in Dakar, since 2014
- Symposium sur la codification des danses Africaines : LAIC – Laboratoire d’Anthropologie et Ingénerie Culturelle, currently called URICA, part of UCAD (Université Cheikh Anta Diop) – Dakar (2018); TFM, Dakar (2014-2018)
- Performing with Orchestra Baobab (La mer à table, Lala beach-Dakar; Concertgebouw-Amsterdam; North Sea Jazz-Rotterdam), Momo Dieng, Pape&Cheikh, Youssou Ndour & Le Super Étoile de Dakar, Salam Diallo & many other artists
- Sabar in France : Marseille with Association Gëm sa Bopp (2014-2019) & Association Nadonké (2016-2025); Sabar in Paris: Festival Africolor – Rencontre Mali-Senegal, bal afro & conference (2016), Association Pazonote, Association Niokobokk & Urban Soul (2013), Valentine Kirszbaum (2024); in Bordeaux, Association Jokko (2024) & Fecc’art (2014-2015); Kaay nu sabaru, Perpignan (2022-2023); Dijon, Lyon, Nantes, St. Sulpice de Royan, Brest, Auray, Lorient, Landéda, Montricoux, Nancy
- Sabar in Spain: Pamplona & Concert Ngomez Nokass guest performance, since 2023, Barcelona (since 2014), Hendaye (2016); Sargal Adama Ngom Festival (Barcelona, 2022)
- United Kingdom : Sabar Conference in London, The NEW Generations Festival, Leamington UK (2015), DrumCamp 2016, Roots Event, Bristol.
- Sabar pour les Séniores | Guest teacher for Dance Connects (Amsterdam, 2025)
- Sabar op school: St. Nicolaas Lyceum Amsterdam (2012 – 2024), Nederlands Blazers Ensemble (NBE) ism Caland 2 lycuem (2013-2014), Revius Lycuem Wijk bij Duurstede (2013), Stedelijk Gymnasium Utrecht (2011), Almere Oostvaarders College (2010-2011),Nellestein Basisschool Gaasperplas, Amadeus Lyceum (2011-2013)
- Sabar in companies: energizer voor de interne lancering van 100 jaar Kinderpostzegels (2023), FairFood (2011), Ambassy of the Netherlands in Dakar, Senegal
- Sabar in Scandinavia: Stockholm, Helsinki, Copenhagen, Goteborg, Arhus, Reykjavik (2014-2018)
- City Bum Bum Festival Poland (Lodz, 2018)
- Talentenklas, BplusC cultuurcentrum Leiden (2023)
- Sabar in Germany : Tanzhaus Düsseldorf – Afro Latin Dance Days (2016-2019) & Winterakademie, (2018-2019), Essen, Bonn, Hamburg, Neurenberg, Berlin.
- Conservatorium van Amsterdam (2016-2018)
- SeptemberMe Festival (Amersfoort, 2019)
- The Voice Magazine – Voice Achievers Award (2016)
- Sabar dans & percussie at Eiwerk, Amsterdam (2023-2024)
- WestBest Talkshow | Amsterdam (2024)
- Music Meeting Nijmegen sabar dance & percussion workshops and performance (2014)
- ROOTS open air festival Amsterdam (2013 en 2014)
- Salsa Events Rotterdam (2008-2014)
- Multiple Moves Bijlmerparktheater (2009)
- NoLimit ZuidOost (2008)
- ColourDance Festival Muiderpoorttheater (2008)
- African European Festival (2006)
There are many more videos on my social media channels.
Sophie Sabar 