The International School of Actors and Actresses of Dakar (EIAD) will be inaugurated this Saturday, October 12, 2024 in Hann Bel-Air. This new institution aims to train and professionalize actors and actresses, moving into a building designed by sculptor Ousmane Sow, intended to be an artists’ residence.
Presented as an ambitious project for the future of African cinema and theater, the EIAD also focuses on the management and support of artists. According to the press release, the institution aspires to become a center of excellence, a place of experimentation and research, thus meeting the growing needs of the film industry in Africa and internationally. Emphasis will be placed on developing strong artistic skills while promoting African cultural identity.
According to a press release from the Senegalese Press Agency, the inauguration will take place in the presence of numerous cinema personalities and local authorities, marking the beginning of a new era for the EIAD, which was until now present in Dakar in a nomadic form since 2021. The school hopes to contribute to the influence of Senegalese and African cinema.
Under the direction of Adama Diop, actor, author and director, EIAD launched an innovative continuing education course since August 26. This program is open to professional actors, directors, as well as people wishing to train for positions as casting directors, agents or production managers. The EIAD’s educational approach places the actor and actress at the center of a system of exchanges, promoting interaction with agents, casting directors and directors to build ambitious artistic visions.
According to the APS, the program includes technical courses (diction, voice, singing, body and movement, career management, audiovisual contracts) and workshops on interpretation, acting in front of the camera, casting and dubbing. Trainees will also have the opportunity to create promotional tools (photo book, biography, demo reel) and shoot two short films in professional conditions.
The EIAD is strongly committed to gender equality and opportunity, with gender parity at the heart of its principles. Thanks to its partners, the school was able to offer free training, demonstrating its desire to train a new generation of talents representative of the diversity of the African continent.
The objective is to support the current dynamic of creative cultural industries (CCI) and to make Senegal a center for training, creation and production of works anchored on the continent. The EIAD’s mission is to train versatile artists, capable of adapting to a constantly evolving industry, while contributing to the development of African cinema and theater. From 2024, the school will develop a continuing education program and plans initial training for 2026, with the aim of structuring the sector and bringing out a new generation of professionals.
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