The director of the Ballet Academy of Senegal Slou Akimguereeva took on the honorary mission of GITIS Ambassador in Senegal.
Mrs Akimguereeva graduated from GITIS choreography faculty in mid-1980s. She studied in the class of an outstanding ballerina and teacher, People’s Artist of USSR Raissa Struchkova. In GITIS Slou also met her future husband, a student Abdu Ndiegen, who later became a prominent director in his home country Senegal. Slou started teaching classic dance in Senegal and elaborated different programs.
In early 2000s, after Abdu suddenly passed away, Mrs Akimguereeva moved to South Africa and opened The Russian Ballet Academy. She later returned to Senegal where she successfully continues to teach classic dance and choreography.
In 2014 Mrs Akimguereeva was awarded the A.Pushkin Medal for strengthening friendship and cooperation between Russia and African countries, upon a decree by president Vladimir Putin.
Thanks to the efforts of Mrs Akimgereeva, in October last year several cooperation agreements were signed between GITIS and the Grand Theatre in Dakar, the National Academy of Drama and the Writers’ Union of Senegal. In December the Ballet Academy received first GITIS teachers to deliver master classes on classical dance. In April 2024 GITIS choreography faculty students and graduates performed at the Grand Theatre together with students of the Ballet Academy. After workshops two young dancers were recommended to continue their studies at GITIS.
We look forward to new creative and educational projects with Senegal and other African countries.
