We recently connected with Elodie Dufroux and have shared our conversation below.

Elodie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

One of the most meaningful projects I’ve worked on is a contemporary full-length dance show I created called UNspoken. It was born from a very personal place—my own experience of being bullied for many years growing up. For a long time, those memories lived quietly in the background of who I was, shaping how I moved through the world without me fully acknowledging their impact.

At some point, I felt a strong need to confront that part of my story—not just for myself, but to give a voice to something so many people experience yet struggle to express. That’s how UNspoken came to life. The project explores different forms of trauma connected to bullying—rejection/isolation, loss/grief, abuse (emotional or other)—but it’s not meant to feel heavy in a hopeless way. Instead, it focuses on empathy, understanding, and ultimately, connection.

What made this project especially meaningful is that it goes beyond performance. It’s not just about creating movement—it’s about creating conversation. I wanted the audience to see themselves somewhere in the piece, whether they’ve been the one hurt, the one hurting others, or simply a witness. There’s a moment in the show where roles blur, and that shift is important to me—it reflects the complexity of human behavior and reminds us that no one is just one thing.

Ending the piece in a very stripped-down, human way was also intentional. It’s a reminder that underneath everything—labels, experiences, defenses—we are all the same at our core.

UNspoken is meaningful to me because it transformed something painful into something purposeful. It allowed me to reclaim my voice, and hopefully, it gives others permission to do the same.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m a French-born dancer, choreographer, and creative now based in New York, where I’ve been building my career for the past 12 years. My path into this industry hasn’t been linear—it’s been shaped by resilience, redirection, and a deep commitment to coming back to what I love.

I started dancing when I was younger, but I stopped after experiencing bullying in that environment, which made me disconnect from something that once felt like home. I shifted my focus entirely to academics, completing both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree. But life had another turning point in store for me—I faced a serious health condition that left me uncertain about my future. In that moment, I made a promise to myself: if I got better, I would fully commit to my dream of dancing and living in New York.

Thankfully, I recovered, and I held onto that promise. I found my way to New York through a short internship program from France that included an intensive dance experience. Those 12 days changed everything—they reminded me of who I was and what I wanted. When I returned to France, I made the decision that I would come back, no matter what it took. After the passing of my grandfather, I used part of my inheritance to make that move possible. It was a leap of faith, but also a very intentional choice to honor both my dream and the life I had been given a second chance to live.

Since then, I’ve built a multifaceted career as a performer, teacher, and choreographer. I teach at places like Broadway Dance Center and work with dancers of all levels, focusing on contemporary movement that blends athleticism, floorwork, and influences from street styles. As a choreographer, I create work that is both physically engaging and emotionally grounded—projects like UNspoken, which explore human experiences and create space for connection and reflection.

Beyond dance, I also work as a creative and graphic designer, which allows me to approach my artistic projects with a strong sense of visual identity and storytelling across platforms. Whether it’s on stage, in a studio, or through digital content, I’m always thinking about how to create a cohesive and impactful experience.

What sets my work apart is the intention behind it. I’m not just interested in movement for movement’s sake—I’m interested in what it communicates, what it unlocks, and how it makes people feel. I create spaces where dancers can be both challenged and seen, where strength and vulnerability coexist. For my clients and students, I aim to offer more than just technique—I offer an experience that builds confidence, connection, and a deeper understanding of themselves as artists.

What I’m most proud of is that I stayed true to that promise I made during one of the hardest moments of my life. Everything I’ve built since then comes from that decision to choose purpose over fear. And what I want people to know about me and my work is that it comes from a very real place—every project, every class, every piece of choreography is rooted in lived experience, honesty, and the desire to create something that resonates beyond the surface.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the ability to turn something internal into something shared. So much of what we go through as human beings—our struggles, our doubts, our experiences—can feel isolating when they stay unspoken. Art creates a bridge. It allows those things to exist outside of us, to be seen, felt, and understood by others.

What I find most fulfilling is when someone connects to my work in a way that feels personal to them. When a dancer in my class feels more confident, when an audience member sees a piece like UNspoken and recognizes a part of their own story in it—that moment of connection is everything. It’s a reminder that we’re not as alone as we sometimes think.

I also deeply value the transformation that happens through the creative process itself. Every project challenges me to be more honest, more vulnerable, and more intentional. It pushes me to grow not just as an artist, but as a person.

At the end of the day, being a creative gives me a sense of purpose. It allows me to take experiences—both painful and beautiful—and turn them into something meaningful. And knowing that this work can resonate with others, even in a small way, is what makes it all worth it.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I think one thing that can be hard to understand from the outside is how much uncertainty comes with choosing a creative path—and choosing it anyway.

There’s no clear roadmap, no guaranteed stability, and very few moments where you feel like you’ve “made it” in a definitive way. It’s a constant cycle of building, questioning, evolving, and starting again. From the outside, it can look exciting or even glamorous at times, but behind that is a lot of invisible work, self-doubt, and persistence.

What people might not fully see is how personal it is. As a creative, especially in something like dance, your work is deeply tied to who you are. When you’re creating, performing, or even teaching, you’re not just delivering a skill—you’re sharing a part of yourself. That means rejection, criticism, or even comparison can feel very personal, and learning how to navigate that is part of the journey.

I also think there’s a misconception that passion is enough to sustain you. Passion is what gets you started, but discipline, resilience, and consistency are what keep you going. There are days where motivation isn’t there, where things feel uncertain, and you still have to show up and do the work.

At the same time, what might be difficult to explain is why it’s all worth it. There’s something about creating, about moving, about connecting with people through art, that goes beyond logic. It’s not always a practical choice—but it’s a necessary one, at least for me.

So I think the biggest insight I can offer is that being a creative isn’t just a career path, it’s a way of existing. It asks a lot of you, but it also gives you a sense of purpose and fulfillment that’s hard to find anywhere else.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.elodiedufroux.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elodiedufroux/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@elodiedufroux

Image Credits

Image credits for all of them – Cinonmatography