VIBEDANCE #2 – Athena Lucie Assamba

Discover the unique journey of an artist whose approach oscillates between the rigor of neuroscience and the power of mysticism. After emigrating from Cameroon to Canada, she answered the call of dance, transforming this discipline into a true tool for research, healing, and reclaiming her art.

In this episode, we delve into her piece, African Celestial Beings. Inspired by African mask dancers, she explores the spirit and history of these sacred objects through an aesthetic she defines as “ugly, raw, and unique.”

On the program:

• Redefining Africanness: How her artistic work becomes an act of cultural reappropriation.
• Thinking Outside the Box: Why she chose to engage with public spaces to meet “everyman and woman” face to face.
• Returning to the Roots: The connection between contemporary street performance and the mask traditions of Africa, which also inhabit the outdoors.

A profound discussion about the permission we give ourselves to break the boundaries of the traditional stage in order to reconnect with the human and the invisible.