How did you get your stage name?
Leni is a name of Greek origin that means “the radiance of the sun”. In Latin, Leni is a derivative of Leonard, meaning “strong like a lion!” I love this double meaning. Leni is also a diminutive of my mother’s first name, Hélène, which I find infinitely and intimately touching. Panorama comes from the fact that I’m curious about everything around me: I want to see and do everything!
How did you get into dance?
I started ballet when I was five and fell in love with it. What I love about dance is how it combines discipline and letting go! It’s by definition a constant quest for perfection, but also a fabulous means of expression. When I was eight, my training intensified because I already knew I wanted to become a professional dancer. In 10th grade, I left school to join the VM Ballet, a professional training program. I danced six hours a day and continued to study by correspondence course in the evenings. One day, my mother told me that the most beautiful dancers in the world were at Crazy Horse Paris. I fell in love with these dancers, who made me dream. My goal was always to join a corps de ballet, but the Crazy Horse Paris was calling me. When I was seventeen, I suffered a burn-out during my dance studies. I suffered from severe anorexia and had to stop everything for a year before being able to bounce back. I wouldn’t go back to ballet, so I started a double degree in law and political science. However, Crazy Horse Paris suddenly caught up with me as I pursued this path, and which was so far removed from who I am. I saw an audition advertised and decided to prepare for it. For me, this was a rebirth. It was an incredible victory to enter this iconic house after such a difficult year.
We would love to be a fly on the wall at a Crazy Horse Paris audition; can you tell us about yours?
Auditioning for Crazy Horse Paris is all about your mindset. To be beautiful on stage, you have to be confident. Coming from the world of ballet, I wasn’t afraid of anything! I wanted to succeed and stand out from the crowd. I wanted to show the world what I was capable of. It was a great moment for me.
How do you feel when you dance on stage at Crazy Horse Paris?
On stage, I feel like I’m celebrating Leni, but also the woman and dancer that I am. This stage is made for fun, happiness and celebration! I feel at home here, happy, powerful and proud when I see the sparkle in the audience’s eyes.
As a woman and a dancer at Crazy Horse Paris, what is your relationship with your body?
I’ve always been very hard on my body. The dance world makes us perceive our bodies as tools to use in our quest for performance. The constant search for perfection made me disconnect from it. I was always ready to ask my body for more, but wasn’t always willing to listen to it. At Crazy Horse Paris, the body takes on a whole new dimension. I learned to respect it, to love it, and to be more tolerant of its flaws and faults.
What is the source of Crazy Horse Paris magic that has endured for more than 70 years?
Mystery is the magic of Crazy Horse Paris. It deliberately shrouds its dancers in mystery, and still manages to do so even today, despite social networks. This magic has continued to feed the public’s imagination about the Crazy Hose Paris. Only Crazy Horse Paris can combine chic, glamor and modernity all at the same time!
Which act of the Totally Crazy! show do you think is most mesmerizing?
I’m really attached to But I am a Good Girl. I first saw this act danced by Kika Revolver: I thought she was absolutely fabulous, her interpretation was fantastic and it left a strong impression on me!
Photos: Léon Prost
