Meet Adele Billotte | Student Dancer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Adele Billotte and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Adele, why did you pursue a creative career?
I believe that my pursuit of an artistic career was instilled in me by my mother, who has always carried a deep passion for dance.

As a child, I would don her pointe shoes and watch dance videos, becoming mesmerized by the performances.
The moment that left an indelible mark on me was witnessing a rendition of Romeo and Juliet by the Paris Opera ballet.

From that instant, I knew that this was the path I wanted to tread in the future.
As I matured, I longed for an activity beyond the confines of school. I ventured into various sports – tennis, gymnastics, karate, swimming – all of which piqued my interest but only temporarily.

It was during an incidental visit to a dance class with my sister that everything changed.

Initially hesitant, at the encouragement of my mother, I decided to give it a try.
This turned out to be the defining moment, the instant the teacher recognized my potential. From there, my life took a new trajectory. Dance became my raison d’être, a realm where I felt most at home, something I can’t envision my life without.

Furthermore, I quickly realized that since childhood, music would evoke choreographic visions in my mind.

I initially assumed this was a universal occurrence, a sensation experienced by everyone. However, upon discussing it with my parents, I came to understand that this was a unique gift not bestowed upon everyone.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Dancing is definitely one of the toughest jobs out there, filled with a lot of hard work. Our bodies are always being looked at, and we check ourselves in the mirror every day, trying to fix anything we think doesn’t look right. To do this job, we have to accept that it can be tough on both our bodies and our minds. Even though dance is incredibly beautiful, it can sometimes feel like a battle with ourselves. Dancers deal with a lot of physical challenges, like sore feet, injuries, and all sorts of pain. Achieving our dreams often means spending less time with our loved ones. People often comment on our bodies and how we do our job, which can be hard to handle. We’re always thinking about how we look. Personally, I love to eat good food, but I have to be careful and not feel guilty. I have to focus on other things in life and resist the temptation of sweets. This career usually doesn’t match up with the social life of someone my age.

Dancing has this amazing way of making us give up other stuff and rethink what’s really important. Over the years, I’ve worked super hard. I wasn’t always the best dancer, but I stuck with it, and my teachers noticed how dedicated I was. I danced with some seriously amazing people who made me feel like I wasn’t good enough sometimes. Looking back, I get it now – a lot of those talented folks quit because dancing is seriously tough and needs a ton of discipline. Here’s the weird part: I used to doubt myself the most. I always thought I wasn’t good and had low self-esteem. But guess what? I’m still here chasing my dream, even though I haven’t totally nailed it yet. I’m only 21, and the really big challenges are just getting started. But I’m super proud of how far I’ve come.

Dancing on stage is like stepping into a magical world for a dancer. It’s where we connect with the audience and bring dreams to life. Despite the challenges and struggles, being a dancer is the most wonderful job in the world. But along with the beauty, there have been tough times in my journey. I had to leave home when I was just a kid. At the age of 13, I experienced burnout, which forced me to stop dancing and put my education on hold, even though I loved it deeply. It was a time when I had to really think about my life’s purpose and if dance was truly my calling. Luckily, my family stood by me and helped me through this dark period. They’ve always been there for me, and I’ve also turned to natural remedies to feel better physically and accept my body. Now, I’m starting my career in the United States, a dream I’ve had for a long time. I see a bright future ahead. When you have a dream and are willing to work hard to make it come true, all the little things in life just become part of the adventure. In a nutshell, it’s all about dreaming big and living life to the fullest.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would tell my best friend to come to New York.

First to spend a day shopping in Soho.

Start by having breakfast at Le Pain Quotidien.
Stroll through the streets of Soho, shop, discover places and have a pizza for lunch at “Prince St. Pizza”.
Continue to visit go to Chinatown which is just nearby and in the evening go to a jazz bar “Tomi Jazz”. Finish strolling through the alleys of Manhattan in the evening.

The next day, have breakfast on a street corner, go see a Gospel in Brooklyn, preferably if it’s a Sunday.
Stroll through the alleys of Brooklyn.

In the afternoon visit the “Summit one Vanderbilt” if you like the height and the view of all Manhattan.
At the end of the afternoon go see a dance show like “Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater” finish the evening by eating at Carmin’s a very nice family restaurant to take to share.

It’s been a very nice weekend while visiting different corners of New York.

If some people like to go in a museum : Metropolitan Museum

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I absolutely want to take a moment to express my overflowing gratitude to my incredible family! They’ve always been there for me, cheering me on as I chase my dreams. Their presence in my life is like a constant source of happiness and warmth. Whenever life throws challenges my way, just being with them works like a magical pick-me-up that instantly boosts my spirits. I feel incredibly lucky to have such a loving and supportive family in my corner. But that’s not all – let’s not forget my awesome teachers! They’ve been with me every step of the way on this amazing journey, and I truly believe it’s just the beginning. Each of my teachers has played a vital role in shaping me, not only as a dancer but as a person. Their guidance and mentorship have not only deepened my love for dance but also contributed enormously to my personal growth. I owe them a huge debt of gratitude for their unwavering dedication and expertise!

Website: adele.billotte@icloud.com

Instagram: adele.billotte

Facebook: Adèle Billotte

Image Credits
Paul Instagram : the.thief.of.time