In the (k)now with choreographer Manon Bouquet

In our ongoing interview series with creatives, we aim to connect and bridge different artistic fields with ours to not only change perspectives from time to time but also to get inspired and stay agile. It’s our catalyst for productivity and purpose.

Describing dance as a second language, French choreographer Manon Bouquet has long used movement to communicate her feelings and convey emotions. Manon Bouquet started to dance at just four years old while growing up in the south of France, moving to Paris at 17 to fully immerse herself in the art. First, she got to know the commercial side of dance, working for TV shows and accompanying musicians on tour. By now, she is following her own rhythm, using dance to visualise her inner thoughts and feelings and connect with other dancers. No matter if she’s working with big fashion brands or on personal projects, Bouquet is an expert when it comes to creating eclectic yet harmonious compositions, and her choreographies always mimic the ever-changing flow of life. We spoke to her about her approach to choreographing and creating community through movement, dancing as therapy, and dealing with the ephemerality and the ever-changing now of performances.

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Manon Bouquet

What does dancing offer you that no other form of artistic expression can?

It’s a place where I feel safe. It’s really simple, but if I feel bad or something is wrong, I know I just have to dance and be in my bubble, and it makes me feel better.

Why do you think that is?

Because you have to look inside yourself to improve in dance. You have to question yourself, and you have to question what you’re doing and what you want to do all the time. The mental process it offers me is very enriching. Dancing is like therapy for me.

When you choreograph, what is your process?

I start with a song I connect to. I go through the song and just move the way I want to move without anyone being there. This step is very important for me because it’s a really personal process. Also, I’m shy about sharing things like that. Afterwards, I write down the choreography, as simply as I can.

You just mentioned music and writing. What other art forms do you relate to or practice?

I write a lot. I started about three years ago and it helps me a lot when I create a choreography. I write down feelings and sensations I want to talk about. To me, it’s clearer when I have it on paper. After dancing, writing is the most important for me. Writing is a good way of letting go for me. It’s about feelings and ideas that come from the stuff I go through.

How do you translate something as intangible as a feeling or an idea into something as concrete as movements?

If it’s an idea I want to talk about, I start with basic everyday movements. My dancing is very much about the inside, so there are often arms coming in and being close to the body, it’s rarely out and open. I also often do stuff around my head. And I work a lot with twisting my hands because it’s such a small but precise movement. If I want to mimic a conversation with someone, I include a movement of talking with my hands. And then, I work on the choreography, on the gestures, on the dynamics.

Why do you think dancing is a particularly good way to communicate?

Communication can be very difficult and I think it is for a lot of people. For me, communicating with my body is easier. I think the body in itself can be very telling. Even when you are not moving. The shape of the body, your posture, the face. Sometimes it’s easier to just let the body talk. Words can be difficult, there are a lot of languages, and for me body language is universal.

When you choreograph, how do you know that the composition is balanced and harmonious?

It’s actually really hard to know when it’s done. In the end, it’s a feeling. For me, because I am not dancing now but choreographing, I reflect on what the dancers are giving me. I try and get to the point where I feel like, ok we created something together. I also always ask the dancers if doing certain moves or the timings of the choreography make sense for them as well. The movements need to feel organic. But of course, it’s never completely done.

If you had to explain dancing to someone who has no idea what it is, how would you describe it?

I would say it’s linked with the sensation of being a child. When you’re a child, you don’t care, you just move the way you want to or scream the way you want to. This is also a challenge for me, to not judge myself and let my mind go. I want to let go of all the technical stuff and mix the naivety of children and the maturity and experience of being a dancer, because of course, I am conscious of my body, where I can go, and what I can do. That is dancing to me.

If you had to interpret the sense of smell in dance, how would you do it?

That’s a tricky question. Thinking about it I immediately think about the wind and I would try and emphasise wind with my body, and try and be as light and fluid as possible. I wouldn’t include stops or aggressivity in the movements. Maybe I wouldn’t ever stop in my movements actually and include circles to emphasise that. But it would also depend on the kind of smell, of course.

Does dancing encapsulate the present or the future for you?

I would say the present. I always dance in a new way. It changes every day, and it’s connected to who I am on that particular day. I could do the complete opposite the next day. Despite all the technicality and experience someone has, it’s about feelings. If you’re making art, it’s about feelings.

How do you deal with dancing being so ephemeral and unpredictable in that way? You can capture it on video, but the energy of the moment itself will be gone.

True! When I was younger, this inconstancy was hard for me. But now, I’m thankful for it. It’s actually really good to feel shit in your dance one day and then feel really great the next day. This way, you are very aware of life, it’s a good way of understanding its highs and lows. And it feels really great when you have a day where you feel like everything is possible with your body and it all seems connected.