- My Diary
Isabouckar: brings the human inside and the outside world together. Senegalese dancer Madiba Badio communicate and make a connection in Saint Louis through his body by dance with his environment in their culture, tradition and the current Senegalese world. This creates a new reality.

Senegal, Saint Louis, June 2013. ‘Isabouckar’ is the crying out loud you will hear when someone in Senegal experiences enormous joy. A powerful way of expressing, sharing and showing.To me life is like a playground, for us to create our path in life as a way of expressing our talent. Dancing is a wonderful expression of our humanity, to me as a person even as a photographer. It shows freedom, happiness and energy. Some dancers are able to give me, the spectator this feeling myself. They have the magic to translate pureness and connection through dance. By photographing such a dancer we flirt with dream and reality.Madiba Badio from Casmance Senegal, a 26 years old Muslim, is such a magical dancer. His life is dance. It wasn’t a choice but meant to be. Even though his traditional and Muslim background made it hard for him to stay true to himself. He had to deal with his family disapproving and not talking to him, giving up on school to follow his heart. They had no belief in his ability to earn a living with it. For years he had to hide to his family that he was dancing. Now Madiba dances with Diagn’Art, a Senegalese contemporary dance company. He has proven to his family that he can make a living with dancing. They still aren’t happy he chose this path, but they allow him.His magic is in his style, which is unique and authentique. He is working on developing and improving his skills and style every day. He expresses his feelings and says; ‘Maybe it is a gift from God, no one told me how to dance’. In his performances he connects to the audience and talks to them by dancing. His choreographies will be about life, showing all human beings are the same.He dreams of an international dance career and travels all over the world. Photo: Inge van Mill

Senegal. Saint Louis. 13 juni 2013. Een flirt tussen droom en werkelijkheid dans als verbinding. Alles om ons heen danst. Schrijvend met magisch wit licht benader ik de danser. Wervelend vanuit kracht, passie en overgave roept de danser puurheid op. Puurheid verbindt mij en de danser samen met de omgeving.

Isabouckar: brings the human inside and the outside world together. Senegalese dancer Madiba Badio communicate and make a connection in Saint Louis through his body by dance with his environment in their culture, tradition and the current Senegalese world. This creates a new reality.

Isabouckar: brings the human inside and the outside world together. Senegalese dancer Madiba Badio communicate and make a connection in Saint Louis through his body by dance with his environment in their culture, tradition and the current Senegalese world. This creates a new reality.

Isabouckar: brings the human inside and the outside world together. Senegalese dancer Madiba Badio communicate and make a connection in Saint Louis through his body by dance with his environment in their culture, tradition and the current Senegalese world. This creates a new reality.

Senegal. Saint Louis. 13 juni 2013. Een flirt tussen droom en werkelijkheid dans als verbinding. Alles om ons heen danst. Schrijvend met magisch wit licht benader ik de danser. Wervelend vanuit kracht, passie en overgave roept de danser puurheid op. Puurheid verbindt mij en de danser samen met de omgeving.

Senegal. Saint Louis. 13 juni 2013. Een flirt tussen droom en werkelijkheid dans als verbinding. Alles om ons heen danst. Schrijvend met magisch wit licht benader ik de danser. Wervelend vanuit kracht, passie en overgave roept de danser puurheid op. Puurheid verbindt mij en de danser samen met de omgeving.

Senegal, Saint Louis, June 2013. ‘Isabouckar’ is the crying out loud you will hear when someone in Senegal experiences enormous joy. A powerful way of expressing, sharing and showing.To me life is like a playground, for us to create our path in life as a way of expressing our talent. Dancing is a wonderful expression of our humanity, to me as a person even as a photographer. It shows freedom, happiness and energy. Some dancers are able to give me, the spectator this feeling myself. They have the magic to translate pureness and connection through dance. By photographing such a dancer we flirt with dream and reality. Photo: Inge van Mill

Senegal. Saint Louis. 16 juni 2013. Een flirt tussen droom en werkelijkheid dans als verbinding. Alles om ons heen danst. Schrijvend met magisch wit licht benader ik de danser. Wervelend vanuit kracht, passie en overgave roept de danser puurheid op. Puurheid verbindt mij en de danser samen met de omgeving.

Isabouckar: brings the human inside and the outside world together. Senegalese dancer Madiba Badio communicate and make a connection in Saint Louis through his body by dance with his environment in their culture, tradition and the current Senegalese world. This creates a new reality.

Senegal, Saint Louis, June 2013. ‘Isabouckar’ is the crying out loud you will hear when someone in Senegal experiences enormous joy. A powerful way of expressing, sharing and showing.To me life is like a playground, for us to create our path in life as a way of expressing our talent. Dancing is a wonderful expression of our humanity, to me as a person even as a photographer. It shows freedom, happiness and energy. Some dancers are able to give me, the spectator this feeling myself. They have the magic to translate pureness and connection through dance. By photographing such a dancer we flirt with dream and reality.Madiba Badio from Casmance Senegal, a 26 years old Muslim, is such a magical dancer. His life is dance. It wasn’t a choice but meant to be. Even though his traditional and Muslim background made it hard for him to stay true to himself. He had to deal with his family disapproving and not talking to him, giving up on school to follow his heart. They had no belief in his ability to earn a living with it. For years he had to hide to his family that he was dancing. Now Madiba dances with Diagn’Art, a Senegalese contemporary dance company. He has proven to his family that he can make a living with dancing. They still aren’t happy he chose this path, but they allow him.His magic is in his style, which is unique and authentique. He is working on developing and improving his skills and style every day. He expresses his feelings and says; ‘Maybe it is a gift from God, no one told me how to dance’. In his performances he connects to the audience and talks to them by dancing. His choreographies will be about life, showing all human beings are the same.He dreams of an international dance career and travels all over the world. Photo: Inge van Mill

Isabouckar: brings the human inside and the outside world together. Senegalese dancer Madiba Badio communicate and make a connection in Saint Louis through his body by dance with his environment in their culture, tradition and the current Senegalese world. This creates a new reality.

Senegal. Saint Louis. 18 juni 2013. Een flirt tussen droom en werkelijkheid dans als verbinding. Alles om ons heen danst. Schrijvend met magisch wit licht benader ik de danser. Wervelend vanuit kracht, passie en overgave roept de danser puurheid op. Puurheid verbindt mij en de danser samen met de omgeving.

Senegal. Saint Louis. 15 juni 2013. Een flirt tussen droom en werkelijkheid dans als verbinding. Alles om ons heen danst. Schrijvend met magisch wit licht benader ik de danser. Wervelend vanuit kracht, passie en overgave roept de danser puurheid op. Puurheid verbindt mij en de danser samen met de omgeving.

Senegal. Saint Louis. 19 juni 2013. Een flirt tussen droom en werkelijkheid dans als verbinding. Alles om ons heen danst. Schrijvend met magisch wit licht benader ik de danser. Wervelend vanuit kracht, passie en overgave roept de danser puurheid op. Puurheid verbindt mij en de danser samen met de omgeving.

Senegal. Saint Louis. 15 juni 2013. Een flirt tussen droom en werkelijkheid dans als verbinding. Alles om ons heen danst. Schrijvend met magisch wit licht benader ik de danser. Wervelend vanuit kracht, passie en overgave roept de danser puurheid op. Puurheid verbindt mij en de danser samen met de omgeving.

In 2013 vertrok ik voor mijn project naar het Afrikaanse schiereiland Saint Louis in Senegal. Senegal is een voormalige Franse kolonie en in 1960 onafhankelijk geworden. In de broeierig warme vervallen historische straten, trof ik al verkennend een haast bijbels tafereel aan, waar geiten en kinderen in harmonie samenleven. Verrast was ik tevens door het moment waarop het jongetje zijn tong uitsteekt dat een verwijzing lijkt te hebben naar het blaten van een geit, de symboliek en de realiteit kregen voor mij hierdoor een extra dimensie. De foto is onderdeel van de serie: ‘Isabouckar!’, dat fonetisch staat voor een vreugdekreet. Naast de straatbeelden, die onderdeel zijn van de serie, figureren Senegalese dansers als metafoor voor de menselijke expressie en gaan de verbinding aan met mens en omgeving.

Nederland. Ulft. 27 mei 2018. Tijdens de internationale kunstmanifestatie Huntenkunst wordt mijn werk Isabouckar getoond en te koop aangeboden.Foto: Inge van Mill

Nederland. Ulft. 27 mei 2018. Tijdens de internationale kunstmanifestatie Huntenkunst wordt mijn werk Isabouckar getoond en te koop aangeboden.Foto: Inge van Mill

Nederland. Ulft. 27 mei 2018. Tijdens de internationale kunstmanifestatie Huntenkunst wordt mijn werk Isabouckar getoond en te koop aangeboden.Foto: Inge van Mill

Nederland. Ulft. 27 mei 2018. Tijdens de internationale kunstmanifestatie Huntenkunst wordt mijn werk Isabouckar getoond en te koop aangeboden.Foto: Inge van Mill

Nederland. Ulft. 27 mei 2018. Tijdens de internationale kunstmanifestatie Huntenkunst wordt mijn werk Isabouckar getoond en te koop aangeboden.Foto: Inge van Mill

Nederland. Den Haag. 29 januari 2016. Fototentoonstelling Inge van Mill, Isabouckar, A shout out loud for joy! Atrium Den Haag. 25.01.16 - 12.02.16.Foto: Inge van Mill

Nederland. Den Haag. 29 januari 2016. Fototentoonstelling Inge van Mill, Isabouckar, A shout out loud for joy! Atrium Den Haag. 25.01.16 - 12.02.16.Foto: Inge van Mill

Nederland. Den Haag. 29 januari 2016. Fototentoonstelling Inge van Mill, Isabouckar, A shout out loud for joy! Atrium Den Haag. 25.01.16 - 12.02.16.Foto: Inge van Mill

Nederland. Den Haag. 29 januari 2016. Fototentoonstelling Inge van Mill, Isabouckar, A shout out loud for joy! Atrium Den Haag. 25.01.16 - 12.02.16.Foto: Inge van Mill

Nederland. Den Haag. 2 januari 2016. Tentoonstelling Inge van Mill, Atrium Den haag, Isabouckar.Foto: Inge van Mill

Nederland. Den Haag. 2 januari 2016. Tentoonstelling Inge van Mill, Atrium Den haag, Isabouckar.Foto: Inge van Mill

Nederland. Den Haag. 6 januari 2016. Tentoonstelling Inge van Mill, Atrium Den haag, Isabouckar.Foto: Inge van Mill

Nederland. Den Haag. 2 januari 2016. Tentoonstelling Inge van Mill, Atrium Den haag, Isabouckar.Foto: Inge van Mill
