AVA ANTWORT

What is the story behind your stage name?

Ava evokes the ideas of life, desire, and power. Antwort means “answer” in German because, whatever the problem, I always carry the solution within me.

What is your story with dance?

I was born in Lausanne, Switzerland, and spent my childhood moving between Lausanne, Paris, and Canada. When I was three, my mother took me to see a dress rehearsal of The Nutcracker. As the young ballerinas walked through the audience to reach the stage, I naturally stood up to follow them. It seemed obvious to me that I belonged among them.

My mother therefore enrolled me in ballet classes. Dancing quickly became the center of my life, and I devoted all my free time to it. From the age of twelve, I joined the Jeune Ballet program, with several hours of classes every evening after school and almost professional expectations.

When I was sixteen, I lost my father. That tragedy changed everything. I understood that nothing could be taken for granted and that I had no time to waste. I asked my mother to allow me to pursue dance, and she said yes.

At seventeen, I was accepted into musical theatre classes at Cours Florent. After many years spent developing my technique, those three years of training taught me to open up artistically. At the end of the cursus, when I was nineteen, several people encouraged me to audition for Crazy Horse Paris, and I decided to try my luck.

What was your Crazy Horse Paris audition like?

Before going, I had many doubts, particularly because of my young age. But once I was on stage and the lights fell upon me, everything became calm. I felt so completely at home that I had a strong feeling I would be selected. When I received the confirmation, I felt a mixture of disbelief and certainty.

What kind of woman are you when you dance on the Crazy Horse Paris stage?

I feel fully in possession of my power. What I love here is that sense of control. With a restrained gesture or a differently directed gaze, I can completely change the audience’s perception.

When we perform a group act, that power is multiplied. An extremely powerful energy travels across the stage and becomes almost tangible.

What do you want to convey to the audience when you dance on the Crazy Horse Paris stage?

I want to tell a story. Whatever the nature of the act, whether it is light and humorous or intense and nostalgic, I am always guided by the narrative I want to share.

When I perform Lay Laser Lay, I tell the story of a woman who keeps moving forward despite her wounds, a woman who goes into battle, carries grief within her, but continues. That image runs through my entire body when I dance. And when it also reaches the audience, then I have achieved everything I hoped for.

What did you discover about yourself when you became a Crazy Horse Paris dancer?

I have always felt a great strength within me. Crazy Horse Paris taught me that I could project outward what I had always carried inside. Here, my feminine strength is no longer hidden; it is brought into the light and becomes an integral part of my image.

In your opinion, what has created the magic of Crazy Horse Paris for the past seventy-five years?

The creations of Crazy Horse Paris explore timeless themes: women’s strength, solidarity, joy, melancholy… These subjects never grow old because they touch upon what is most deeply human.

For example, Reine des Cœurs represents feminine strength and solidarity. Baby Buns embodies lightness, playful irreverence, and humor.

What would you say to the little dancer you once were?

I would tell her to remain open to every opportunity that comes her way. You never waste your time when you try something new. At worst, you learn. And sometimes, it takes you exactly where you were meant to be.

Which female icons inspire you?

Eartha Kitt. She is an inspiration to both my mother and me. She was a Black artist who fully embraced her presence on stage at a time when doing so was an act of courage.

What strikes me about her is the way she was completely herself, with an intelligence and sense of humor that made her seductive. I never expected to discover that her voice still resonates within the Crazy Horse Paris show, and that deeply moves me.

Can you tell us about the act Lay Laser Lay, which you were entrusted with in The Dubai Edition?

Lay Laser Lay is a fascinating act because it offers a great deal of freedom in its interpretation. Every soloist approaches it differently. It is also extremely demanding emotionally.

In my interpretation, I tell the story of a woman who continues moving forward despite her vulnerabilities and the hardships she has endured. I try to inhabit the character completely so that this woman walking forward truly exists on stage in the eyes of the audience.

I also perform the central role in Reine des Cœurs. It is completely different because it is a group act, but I love it. To me, it is the most feminist act, because the strength and solidarity between the women are so palpable. Feeling the energy of the other dancers beside me is always a powerful and unforgettable experience.