AS WE ARE

AS WE ARE  brings together two iconic women, each with her own story, connected across time and history. In this compelling double bill, the worlds of Germaine Acogny and Josephine Baker meet in a dialogue between past and present.

Germaine Acogny, pioneer of contemporary African dance, returns to Dutch stages with the powerful solo Josephine. In this intimate performance, she embodies Josephine Baker as a symbol of Black female freedom, resilience, and self-determination.

Inspired by Acogny’s work, acclaimed choreographer Gregory Maqoma offers a choreographic response with Bantu, performed by Vuyani Dance Theatre alongside dancers from Acogny’s renowned École des Sables. Together, Josephine and Bantu form AS WE ARE: a moving reflection on memory, exile, identity, and belonging.

About Josephine

Germaine Acogny and Josephine Baker: two extraordinary women whose lives resonate across generations. In Josephine, their worlds intersect.

Josephine Baker challenged and reshaped the image imposed upon her. Rising to fame in France, she used her visibility to confront stereotypes and speak out against racism and injustice.

Germaine Acogny approaches these themes through the body. Her dance language is direct, expressive, and deeply political.

Together, they create space for new perspectives on identity, history, and humanity.

About Bantu

Derived from the concept of “being human,” Bantu is more than a word or a language family. It embodies memory, resistance, and connection. The work reaches back to a time before fragmentation and dehumanisation, becoming a space for return, healing, and renewal.

Performed by a new generation of dancers, Bantu comes alive through bodies that allow forgotten languages and histories to speak again. Through rhythm and movement, the performers honour a shared heritage and collective memory.

On stage, dance becomes a powerful statement about humanity, solidarity, and the philosophy of ubuntu — I am because we are.