Ousmane Sy aka Babson

Ousmane Sy – aka Babson, Baba – started dancing in 1992. A few years later, in 1995, he joined “Wanted Posse”, the emblematic hip hop dance crew with which he performed at the opening ceremony of the 1998 football World Cup, a show choreographed by Reda. He quickly understood the need to open up to other genres and specialised in House dance. In 1999, he went on a world tour with Blanca Li’s show “Macadam Macadam”. In 2000, he acted in “Le Défi” (“The Challenge”), a film for which he choreographed the house dance scenes. In 2001, he won the “Battle of the Year” with his crew, the “Wanted Posse”, at the Hip Hop World Championship. After he won the title, Babson went from various creations to world tours with the “Wanted Posse” as dancer and choreographer: “Bad Moves” in 2003, “Transe” in 2006 along with a tour in the Middle East (Jordan, Egypt, etc.), then “Racines”. The latter, created in South Africa, renewed his vision of his art. He then moved on to “Connexion” - created in collaboration with the South African Pantsula dancers - presented at the “Dance Umbrella” festival of Johannesburg. Last came “Revolution” in 2012 presented at the “Suresnes Cité Danse” along with the “Haute Tension” festival of La Villette.

As the winner of many international battles (Europe, USA, Japan, Canada), four times winner of the “Juste Debout” contest (2003, 2004, 2006, 2012), Babson is often invited as a judge to competitions and as a guest tutor in workshops around the world (Europe, Asia, USA, Africa).

Babson is not only a dancer, a choreographer, a tutor, a jury member and a co-founder of the crew “Serial Stepperz” created in 2007 – which became an authority in the field of house dancing – but he also is the convenor of rising festivals such as the “Boot Dance Camp” and the “Cercle Underground” (one of the biggest French battles).

However, Babson is most appropriately defined by his intimate relation to his roots. He seeks inspiration in his Senegalese and Malian origins. Throughout his numerous journeys in Africa (notably in South Africa, with “Transe”), he started mixing House with more traditional dances (Sabar, Pansula). He then developed the concept of Afro-house, a mixture of foundations and traditions. This will to come back to his roots is now traceable in most of his creations, such as “Motherland”, an African themed quatuor created in 2012).

Babson is in constant evolution and thrives on innovation. According to his philosophy, dance has a history and its future can only be sought deep within the roots.