Led by the Kazyadance association as part of the CORÉOM program, the TRANSENDANSES project powerfully illustrates how culture can become a structuring force for regional cooperation, youth engagement, and international solidarity. At the crossroads of the territories of Mayotte and the Democratic Republic of Congo, the project uses dance as a common language to connect artistic creation, citizenship, and collective dynamics.
Culture as a space for emancipation and civic engagement
TRANSENDANSES confirms that artistic practice, when integrated into a structured program, extends far beyond the realm of creation. In Kinshasa as in Mayotte, dance has become a space for self-affirmation, recognition, and self-projection. The young participants have strengthened their confidence, affirmed their identity, and developed their ability to speak out, not only as artists, but as engaged citizens in their communities.
Culture appears here as a field of learning and transformation, capable of strengthening the agency of young people and offering them new perspectives.
Learning through experience and encounters
At the heart of the project is a pedagogy based on experience, fully aligned with the principles of...’Education for citizenship and international solidarity (ECSI). Citizen immersions, particularly in Masina (a commune east of Kinshasa), co-creation sessions and intercultural exchanges allowed participants to directly link their artistic practices to the social, economic and political realities of their territories.
This approach through encounters has proven to be particularly structuring: it promotes critical thinking, fosters understanding of global issues and strengthens the sense of collective commitment.
Cooperating to break isolation
By linking Mayotte and the DRC, TRANSENDANSES highlights the added value of the regional and international cooperation as a response to the isolation often experienced by young artists from overseas territories and Africa. The circulation of practices, know-how and experiences has opened up professional and artistic perspectives that were previously difficult to access.
This networking creates a solid foundation for sustainable cooperation, based on reciprocity, mutual recognition and the building of joint projects.
Establish relays and encourage dissemination
One of the project's key design choices is not to limit itself to providing occasional support to direct beneficiaries. TRANSENDANSES explicitly aims for a multiplier effect. Participants are encouraged to become local ambassadors, capable of passing on artistic skills and civic values in turn.
This scaling-up approach has already borne fruit: workshops, battles, educational actions and local initiatives have emerged, helping to strengthen the cultural and associative fabric in the territories concerned.
Structure for the long term
The project also highlights a central issue for cultural stakeholders: the professionalization. The modules dedicated to administration, project management, and technical aspects (production, stage management) were particularly popular. They demonstrate how essential the link between artistic creation and management skills is for ensuring the long-term sustainability of initiatives.
This dimension fully aligns with the values of the social and solidarity economy, promoting the autonomy of actors and the sustainability of projects.
Dynamics already rooted in the territories
Finally, TRANSENDANSES reveals that sustainable dynamics can emerge rapidly when conditions of trust and shared responsibility are met. The creation of local associations, the strengthening of institutional partnerships (INA, EUNIC, Plateforme Contemporaine), and the prospect of future editions supported locally demonstrate the project's genuine roots in the communities it serves.
Through TRANSENDANSES, CORÉOM demonstrates its ability to support initiatives where culture becomes a true lever for cooperation, emancipation and international solidarity, serving youth and territorial dynamics.
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