Jean-Pierre Etsé Atchrimi

Jean-Pierre Etsé Atchrimi is a Togolese dancer, choreographer, musician and stilt-walker. It was with his grandfather, Simon Laté Lawson, known as Sigbelo, founder of the Amlima Ensemble in 1983, that he discovered the artistic traditions of Togo: dances, music, stilts, fire techniques, and the making and significance of drums, masks and costumes.  From the age of 18, he accompanied his grandfather on training courses and tours in West Africa and Mexico. In 2012, he took over the management of Nunana, a dance company created in parallel by Sigbelo and whose name means “gift of nature”. He then moved to Djonougbe, a village in the Atakpamé region, to recruit young stilt-walkers and continue his collaboration with his grandfather. When his grandfather died in 2017, it fell to him to perpetuate his work. Continuing his training with Vincent Harisdo, at the Elijah Choreographic Development Center in Ouidah (Benin), and Samuel Zikponou, he directs the Nunana company in a family spirit, integrating a strong spiritual and religious dimension into his teaching and artistic approach. In 2023, he created the piece Atché, for 7 performers and two musicians (Coproduction Togo Créatif).