“If you really want to teach young people the knowledge they need, make sure you study how to be an inspiring teacher.”
— Abdou Sarr

Abdou Sarr, dancer extraordinaire from Senegal, West Africa performs and teaches traditional dances to students and adults and uses Senegalese dance moves to teach agility to soccer players. Abdou performs programs for education and community events and dances with several other bands.

Abdou teaches West African dance by breaking the dance down into segments and teaches each group of steps until all the students “have it.” He makes learning dance steps fun as well as challenging. He is highly charismatic and is an excellent role model for our youth, especially when sharing his experience and wisdom on Senegalese culture, the Muslim religion, and the arts.

ABDOU’S STORY

Abdou grew up in Senegal, West Africa. As a young student he had trouble fitting into the classroom — he always wanted to be dancing. When he approached his mother about dropping out of school, she considered the hardships he was suffering with his very strict teacher. Mrs. Sarr, a professional dancer, agreed to allow him to “drop out” but only if he came with her to her performances and learned the traditional dances. That is not all Abdou learned from his mother. She also taught him to sew. Now Abdou makes his own dance costumes and sells custom clothing to his African friends here in the US.

Abdou came to the US in 2000 on a work visa with a Senegalese performing group called Gokhi-Bi System. Now, a naturalized US citizen, he lives in Western Mass with his wife and two sons. He teaches in a way with which everyone can connect — all ages and all abilities. In addition to the classroom and performance settings, during school vacations, he uses African dance to help teach agility for soccer players.

“I just wanted to reach out to tell you that my students and I absolutely loved having Abdou visit our school! He was respectful, engaging, and lots of fun. We were all impressed and would love to have him back next year!”
— Daniel Straughn, PE & Health Teacher, McDonough Middle School, Hartford, CT

“Please pass on thanks to Abdou for a great session at MAPHERD, today. I thought he did a great job of keeping us all at it and energizing us.”
— Julie Barley, Workshop Sessions Coordinator at MAHPERD Conference.

REFERRALS

Two-Week African Dance Residency
Kristen Neuschaefer, PE, Athletics Director, and DEI Coordinator, Lexington Montessori School, Lexington, MA, (781) 862-8571x1129,  kneuschaefer@lexmontessori.org

Three-Week African Dance Residency
Gayani Weeraratne, Parent Coordinator, Broadmeadow School, Needham, MA, gayani.jayaratne@gmail.com