KATE KENSINGTON

What is the story behind your stage name?

It is a 100% British name! Kate is a reference to Catherine, Princess of Wales, who embodies the elegance of the royal family. The name is also a tribute to my mother, whose name is Victoria, like Queen Victoria. It was very important to me that she should be represented in my stage name in one way or another. Kensington is one of London’s most beautiful and traditional neighbourhoods.

What is your story with dance?

I come from Yorkshire, England. My mother was a dancer at the Moulin Rouge in Paris for ten years, and she passed on her love of the stage and cabaret to me. However, I trained in classical ballet from the age of three until I was nineteen. From the age of nine, my training became much more intensive, with weekend dance courses. I loved classical ballet; it was my whole world, but I could feel that something else was calling me. When I was fourteen, my mother told me about Crazy Horse Paris, a legendary cabaret known for hiring some of the world’s most iconic women, but which was extremely difficult to join. From that day onwards, Crazy Horse Paris was always at the back of my mind. At sixteen, I joined a ballet school in Glasgow. Those were three very intense years, far away from home.

After graduating, I began working in cabarets and then on a cruise ship. At the same time, I auditioned for Crazy Horse Paris, three times in total. I was selected after my second audition, but I had to turn down the offer to honor another contract I had committed to in the meantime. It broke my heart, but I kept believing. Deep down, I knew it was only a matter of time. And now I am finally here, which is completely crazy!

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

A happy woman! Being a Crazy Horse Paris dancer is an honor. I have pursued this dream for as long as I can remember. Beyond the joy and pride I feel, I would say that performing on the Crazy Horse Paris stage creates a feeling I have never experienced anywhere else. It requires an intense presence and great self-confidence. On that stage, I fully unleash my sensuality and femininity, and it is an incredibly fulfilling feeling.

What have you discovered about yourself since becoming a Crazy Horse Paris dancer?

I arrived as an athlete, and now I am an artist. The Crazy Horse Paris style is so distinctive and so feminine that it draws on inner resources you never knew you had. The dancers here are technically flawless, so we have to go beyond physical performance. What matters is the feeling, the intention and the ability to let go. Becoming a Crazy Horse Paris dancer allowed me to discover a sensuality and confidence I never knew I had. And I want that confidence to remain with me, both on stage and in life.

What would you like to convey to the audience when you dance on the Crazy Horse Paris stage?

I would like to convey the idea that sensuality is not something purely visual or superficial. Sensuality, like femininity, comes from within. It is a matter of attitude and confidence, and it is deeply rooted in each and every one of us.

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

I would tell her that she will follow in her mother’s footsteps, just as she already senses she will. That she will overcome her shyness and achieve her dreams by moving forward with passion and determination, and that the stage will be at the heart of her beautiful story of legacy and transmission.

Which act in show The Dubai Edition amazes you the most?

Rougir de Désir is enchanting! It is the solo I have been entrusted with and experiencing it from within is truly unique. The first part has an almost melancholic softness, and then everything changes. The number becomes intense, liberated and irresistible. I have also always loved Attitude for its absolute grace. In this act, the famous lighting effects that make Crazy Horse Paris so unique are incredibly beautiful and sophisticated.