We recently connected with Cecile Klaus and have shared our conversation below.

Cecile, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

One of the most meaningful projects of my career has been founding my roller dance company, Missile, back in 2005. This year, we’re celebrating 20 years of roller dancing—two decades of performing, creating, coaching, inspiring, and constantly reinventing.

After finishing school, I spent a few months in London to broaden my dance training. That’s where everything changed. One day in Hyde Park, I stumbled upon a group of roller skaters—and discovered the world of roller dance. It was love at first sight. When I returned to Paris, I started choreographing on skates, gathering dancers, and putting on small shows. Soon after, Missile was born.

From the beginning, my goal was to create more than just a performance group. I wanted Missile to be a world of its own—a brand, a vision, a creative force. I’ve done everything from building and running the teams, to choreographing shows, training performers, promoting our work in the entertainment industry and online, editing videos, and managing the website. It’s been hands-on every step of the way.

Today, I lead two teams—one in Paris, one in New York. One of my proudest recent moments was directing 40 roller dancers for a production of Robin Hood at the Javits Center. It felt like a culmination of everything I’ve built with Missile—and a glimpse of what’s still ahead.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I grew up in a family of musicians. I started playing piano at the age of four, rollerskating at six, and dancing around twelve. Music, skating, and dance have always been my core passions—and discovering roller dance gave me the perfect way to combine all three.

The choreography I create with Missile is deeply inspired by the music I listen to and the dance styles I’ve studied. I’m a professionally trained, versatile dancer, and I love translating movement into a language that works on wheels. Music moves me, and I’m always exploring how to innovate and expand what roller dance can be.

I also enjoy challenging the stereotype that roller skating only belongs to disco. With Missile, we perform choreography across a wide range of music styles—hip hop, house, contemporary, Latin, and more. It’s important to me to show the artistic depth and versatility of this medium.

What truly sets us apart is the caliber of the team. My dancers are hand-selected artists, professionally trained in both dance and skating, many of them with acrobatic skills as well. On top of that, I personally coach them to perform within my choreographic language and style.

I’m proud of the brand Missile has become over the years. It’s grown into a refined and recognizable identity—one that represents excellence in roller dance performance and choreography aesthetics.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Living from art and working as a freelancer is truly a blessing.

There’s nothing more fulfilling than engaging in creative work every day. Each project brings something new—a different show, a different event, a different space. It keeps things fresh, exciting, and full of possibility. But it also demands a high level of adaptability. In this line of work, there are no do-overs—we often get just one shot to perform, and it has to leave an impression.

That pressure can be intense, but when everything clicks—when we create something magical and see smiles on people’s faces—it’s like realigning the stars. Moments like that make all the uncertainty and effort worth it.

Being a freelancer also means having the freedom to shape our own schedules, which is essential for creative minds. Our productivity is closely tied to our environment and rhythms, so having that flexibility allows us to do our best work—and keep the inspiration flowing.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I started Missile in 2005 from scratch—and I’ve never stopped working since. What began as a small roller dance initiative kept evolving year after year. The team, the shows, the choreography, the costumes, the artistic direction—everything kept improving because I kept reinventing Missile, always striving to make it more powerful, more refined, more unforgettable.

I’m a hard-working person with relentless perseverance, and I’ve dedicated my life to sharing my vision through this company. Today, Missile has performed over 500 shows, spanning top events, global brands, festivals, artists, and sporting events.

I always tell people: fresh starts are exciting, but what truly matters is the ability to last. Longevity reveals true passion—and that’s what makes the difference.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.missileteam.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/missileteam/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RollerDancers
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/missileteam
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MissileTeam
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/missile-new-york

Image Credits

Cover Picture: Enso Taves
Photo1: William Murray
Photo2: Sunglass Hut
Photo3: Yannick Michaud
Photo4: Jean-Lionel Dias
Photo5: N/A
Photo6: Djimi Williams
Photo7: N/A