In the framework of her new collaboration with Get Down, we would like to introduce you to Estelle Ebenga Hénot, a choreographer from the Ilondzo Company. With an inspiring background, a unique artistic style, and engaging creations, she is a rising figure in the contemporary choreographic scene. Estelle, who swings between hip hop, slam poetry, and krump, passionately commits to this new adventure alongside Get Down, a collaboration shaped by common values.

Get Down: Could you tell us more about your artistic journey ? What made you want to start a dance career ?

Estelle: I started dancing at a very young age – actually, since I was a child. At 13 years old, I entered a dance school called Dans La Rue La Danse, and that marked the beginning of my passion. I participated in numerous dance battles, in France as well as abroad, across Europe. Dancing has always taken a central role in my life, although I initially worked in the marketing and corporate communication field. However, around my thirties, I came to realize that my true passion was dance, which led to my full commitment to it.

I already had some experience working with a few choreographers on diverse projects. That actually made me want to go further in the creation and choreography processes. That’s when I got the idea of creating my own company. About five years ago, I decided to take the plunge and create a solo performance to tell my story and share my personal experiences. This is how Compagnie Ilondzo was born. My first project was a solo piece which blended dance and slam poetry, an art form that allowed me to combine my passions for writing, spoken word, and dance.

GD: What significant projects or collaborations did you complete before founding your company?

E: I had the opportunity to work with multiple talented choreographers, such as Florent Mahoukou in 2014 for a project with the MPAA, Fabrice Labrana for the Fluidifions la Street event in 2012, Hubert Petit Phar and the Aubervilliers Laboratories in 2019… These projects allowed me to better understand group work and the universe of scenic creation. Moreover, I also collaborated with Romuald Brizolier for the opening of Flow – Eurorégional Center for Urban Cultures in Lille. 

These experiences were very enriching and clearly contributed to shape my artistic vision and my way of approaching choreographic creation.

GD: How would you describe your artistic style and the themes that you like to explore in your creations?

E: My artistic style is primarly rooted in hip-hop freestyle, a form of dance that I extremely like for its freedom of expression. I force myself to explore freestyle in depth by incorporating other elements, such as krump, which I have recently integrated.

I also like to combine different forms of expression, such as slam, an art of speaking very close to poetry which I practice since I was little. Influenced by the Afro-American culture, I add slam in my performances which resembles griot from the African culture ; that allows me to express myself, not only with my body but also with my voice by combining body and vocal expression, which is essential for me.

Regarding the themes, I often address the quest for self. I am constantly engaged in personal research, trying to understand who I am, where I come from, what I represent, and what place I occupy in this world. The representation of Black women is also a central topic in my creations. I like to explore the complexity and beauty of our society.

GD: Can you talk about your creations, your solo In/Her Blossom and the new trio ‘Concrete Roses/Blooming Together’ ?

E: “ In/Her Blossom” is my first creation, a solo piece that talks about my own story, at a moment where I was questioning myself a lot regarding my evolution as a woman. I like to see the woman as a blooming flower, with different seasons and stages of life. At 30, I was asking myself questions on my identity, who I was, where I was going, and what I wanted to accomplish. This solo has thus grown with my journey and my experiences, and I believe that it will continue to grow further. At 40, 50 or even 60 years old, there will always be things to tell through this solo, but in different ways. For this solo, the poem “Phenomenal Woman” of Maya Angelou has been a huge inspiration in my way of approaching this creation.

As for “Concrete Roses”, it is a trio that I conceived to share the scene with other women. After dancing alone for a while, I felt the need to surround myself with other female dancers to express even more. Therefore, I invited Imane Gele, a krump dancer based in Berlin, and Sandra Roberts, a contemporary dancer based in Amsterdam. Together, we form “Concrete Roses”, a tribute to the to the resilience of women and their ability to bloom even under the most challenging conditions. This creation explores themes such as sisterhood, strength, and the beauty women derive from their struggles.

We also integrate a lot of singing and slam poetry in this project, which adds a vocal dimension to our performances. It is a challenge but also a way of exploring new artistic fields, such as krump, which I love.

GD: What are the main challenges that you came across as a choreographer ? How did you get over them ?

E: The first obstacle was to accept the title of choreographer. Coming from an amateur background, particularly the one of dance battles, I initially could not see myself being a professional choreographer. It required significant work to accept my legitimacy in this role. After that, the challenge was to launch into this solo. Being alone on stage and having to trust myself was a true challenge.

When I started directing a trio, it brought a whole new level of difficulty. I had to fully embrace the role of leader, give clear directives, while ensuring that the dancers trusted me and that my ideas were well understood and expressed. It was a true learning experience, but also a great source of inspiration and satisfaction.

What helped me a lot in overcoming these challenges was my faith and perseverance. I learned to let go and accept being vulnerable on stage, which is very different from the control I had in other parts of my life, especially during battles. It’s an ongoing process of personal and artistic evolution.

GD: What motivated you to collaborate with Get Down, and what are your perspectives for this collaboration?

E: I had had the Get Down card on my phone case for a year after meeting Camille. I have always appreciated initiatives led by women, and Get Down, as a female-led company, immediately attracted me. I had already started working on my solo, but I felt I needed professional support, and Get Down perfectly aligned with my desire for collaboration.

The themes I explore in my pieces resonate strongly with the values of Get Down, and the idea of collaborating with an agency based outside of France, in the Benelux, allows me to integrate this international dimension. Moreover, the fact that Get Down supports other female choreographers makes this collaboration even more meaningful.

GD: What are your future projects with Compagnie Ilondzo?

E: My main goal is to continue performing my solo and to develop the trio, which represents another step in my career. The trio is much more professionalizing, and I genuinely want the audience to discover my work as a choreographer through this creation. I hope that the audience can be moved by what I do and connect with my artistic approach.

At the same time, I want to see Cie Ilondzo evolve. It is still young, but I hope to create new pieces, continue my artistic explorations, and keep developing as a choreographer. Trust in my work and my artistic collaborations is essential for achieving this.

Get Down and Estelle?

As part of this collaboration, Get Down provides support in promoting her solo In/Her Blossom, allowing this creation to reach a wider audience. Additionally, Get Down supports Estelle in the production and promotion of her trio Blooming Together/Concrete Roses, highlighting the strength of her artistic collaborations and the powerful themes she explores. This collaboration represents a key support for promoting her work in France, Belgium, and internationally.

Discover Estelle and her creation on the dedicated page of our website