I have been dancing with Tchekpo Dan Agbetou since 2007 – a connection that has been fundamental to my personal journey with the body. Through his classes, I began not only to train my body intensively, but also to experience it as a powerful tool for expression. His unique approach to teaching has deeply shaped my relationship with movement, body awareness, and creative exploration.
In close collaboration with Tchekpo Dan Agbetou, I organize regular dance workshops in Berlin.
Location: Studio2 / Mime Centrum, Kunstquartier Bethanien, Mariannenplatz 2, 10997 Berlin-Kreuzberg
Fee: €140 per weekend (€120 reduced rate)
With live percussion by Janos Crecelius & Moussa Coulibaly
Open to all – prior movement experience recommended
For registration send me an email to events@dansart.de
The workshop consists of a total of 6 hours dancing over two days. It is a dynamic interplay of choreographic sequences and guided improvisation, exploring different layers of intensity. After powerful and expansive movement, a quieter phase follows – focusing on the breath and allowing the body to land and fully integrate the experience.
What makes Tchekpo’s teaching truly special is that the body is never exploited. Instead, new physical openings are created, activating sustainable and unlimited energy sources. Movement becomes as natural as breathing. The connection to the ground is strengthened, and the body finds new vitality in dialogue with vibrant rhythms.
By fusing elements of modern dance with traditional African movement, a dance style is created that is powerful, joyful, and yet graceful. Tchekpo’s warmth, humor, and his ability to connect people across different dance backgrounds and life experiences make his workshops a truly unique and inclusive space.
Tchekpo Dan Agbetou is a dancer, choreographer, dance educator, and curator for contemporary dance. Born in Benin, West Africa, he received his training in traditional African dance in Benin, as well as in Modern and Jazz dance at the renowned Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre School and at Steps on Broadway in New York City.
His work merges the mythology of his African roots with the expressive language of modern dance and the elegance of classical ballet. His distinctive style is shaped by the energy of jazz and the origins of African dance.
In 1991, he founded the Tchekpo Dance Company, and in 1995, together with Ulla Agbetou, he opened the center DansArt TANZNETWORKS in Bielefeld. Since 2002, they have curated the Tanzfestival Bielefeld, as well as the Passages Biennale (since 2006) and the Artists in Fusion Biennale (since 2013).
Tchekpo Dan Agbetou is internationally active as a performer, teacher, and juror – with engagements across Europe, the USA, Asia, and Africa. In 2021, he was appointed to the Ethics Commission of the German Dance Association (Dachverband Tanz Deutschland – DTD).
Learn more about Tchekpo Dan Agbetou
The next dance and cultural journey to Benin will take place around Easter 2026. More information will be announced soon.
If you'd like to be placed on the waiting list, feel free to send me a message at: events@dansart.de
As part of the organizing team, I will guide you through the entire registration process, support you with preparations, and accompany the group on-site during the trip.
The journey is lovingly curated by Tchekpo Dan Agbetou and his wife Ulla Agbetou.
Together, we embark on a truly special experience – deep into the heart of Benin. We immerse ourselves in its rich culture, vibrant rhythms, and powerful dances. We witness first-hand how deeply dance, movement, and percussion are woven into everyday life, spirituality, and belief systems in Benin.
This journey creates space for genuine exchange and for building bridges between cultures. A journey that moves – physically, emotionally, and culturally.
