“My name is Aguibou Bougobali SANOU, I am a dancer, choreographer, and educator from Burkina Faso. I specialize in using dance and movement to connect people, explore cultural identities, and build community. Over the years, I have developed a choreographic style that blends traditional West African dance forms with contemporary techniques, allowing me to perform, teach, and collaborate internationally.”

My career has spanned continents, but the thread connecting all my work has been the belief in dance as a bridge-maker. In my teaching role at Grinnell College, I use this language to inspire my students: “I am committed to helping my students explore dance not just as an art form but as a tool for self-expression, cultural understanding, social impact, and overall community making.”

In addition to his work in academia, I curate a major international festival: the In-Out Dance and the World Arts Festival in Bobo-Dioulasso. This festival was launched to democratize art and make it accessible to everybody. The festival serves as a platform for cultural exchange and creative expression. They directly reflect my philosophy that art can build bridges between communities.

Obviously yes, CPI program allowed me to better build my capacities as an artist. These trainings helped to develop a different approach and understanding of my choreographic work. This knowledge is directly implemented in my work as an educator, as an artist, as a curator.

My participation in the CPI program allowed me to attend the Performing Arts Market in Seoul, which greatly inspired me. This experience gave me the idea to create my own festival, the In-Out Dance Festival, in 2013.

The CPI program gave me tools to envision art as a way to build communities and promote cultural dialogue. In the coming years, I see this impact growing. My festival and teaching work are direct extensions of this vision. At Grinnell College, I share these experiences with my students. I encourage them to think globally and explore how dance can create meaningful change in their communities.

In Burkina Faso, In-Out Dance and World Arts Festival serves as a meeting point for artists, thinkers, and cultural leaders. It is not just about performance but cultural preservation and cross-cultural collaboration. My time in Korea taught me the importance of investing in these initiatives.

Absolutely, 100%! The CPI program is a wonderful initiative; I hope as many people as possible worldwide can experience it. It has changed my life and career, and I am grateful for the memories, lessons, and relationships it has given me. If this program did not exist, it would need to be created.

I remain hopeful that his journey will bring him back to Korea soon. Korea will always hold a special place in my heart. I look forward to the day I can return to share, learn, and continue the work of building cultural bridges.

“I discovered the CPI program through a friend, François Bouda, a cultural administrator from Burkina Faso, while I was on tour in Lyon, France. My decision to apply was driven by my love for adventure, discovering new things, and meeting people. I apply for the CPI program because I strongly believe that positive change can happen when people meet. Honestly, I did not have specific expectations – I simply trusted in the magic of encounters.”

For me, the decision to step into the unknown was not unusual. His openness to new experiences and ability to learn from them has been a hallmark of his career. Whether traveling for performances or engaging with artists worldwide, he has always believed that growth comes from meaningful connections.

The CPI program was a life-changing experience, expanding my understanding of cultural exchange and deepening my artistic approach.v

I discovered people who love their country and want visitors to leave with only beautiful memories and experiences. South Korea and Burkina Faso have many cultural similarities, such as respect for elders, affordable street food, and a strong sense of honor and patriotism.”

What particularly struck Bougobali was South Korea’s commitment to its cultural and artistic wealth. “I was so impressed by the government’s dedication to promoting the arts. It gave me hope for what we, as artists, can achieve when institutions invest in culture.”

The program also immersed me in South Korean arts and language. He fondly recalls his time at Kyung-Hee University, where I learned Korean. Winning the Laurel Medal during the Jeju 3rd Delphic Games is among my proudest memories. It acknowledged my dedication and effort to understand another culture through art.

The networking opportunities provided by the program were equally transformative. I met several South Korean artists, including Taesan Lee, whose work left a significant impression. These encounters further refined my choreographic style and established relationships beyond borders.

Currently, I am focused on research and teaching at Grinnell College, where I challenge my students to think of dance as a tool for self-expression, cultural understanding, and positive societal change. In parallel, I remain committed to curating the In-Out Dance Festival and the World Arts Festival.

My work continues beyond there. I dream of expanding his festivals and creating new platforms for cultural exchange. I want to ensure that young artists in Burkina Faso and beyond have opportunities to connect with international networks, just as I did through the CPI program.

Currently, I teach in the Department of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies, and I am in a constant state of research. In parallel, I continue to direct the In-Out Dance and World Arts Festival in Bobo-Dioulasso. I strive to share all these experiences with my students, my community, and my network of cultural actors, both locally and internationally.