We were lucky to catch up with Solenn Etienne recently and have shared our conversation below.

Solenn, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

Lately, I have been diving more into my creativity as a choreographer. As a result, a 5-min solo piece was created : Mother, May I Sleep with my demons ?

I never realized, before, how inter-generational trauma impacted us black woman. But having a younger sibling to protect and guide through a world that keeps on challenging us, I could see through her hard times, some of my hard times that I had forgotten with time.

I took a pen and paper and I started to describe feelings in shape of movements. It was the most extra-ordinary sensation, « Mother, May I sleep with my demons? » relate the daughter’s journey, as she realizes the depth of traumas her mother may carry. Born under the feverish overprotection, only the shadow of adulthood could bring her to understand how much she is fated to carry. Only, now can she truly fathom a black woman purpose.

As I depict this solo journey, I believe a lot of young woman may be able to relate to that process of discovering self-identity. It’s because we allow ourselves to be vulnerable enough to show our struggles that we can then unite to recognize and overcome them together. I believe that only unity can achieve the great purpose of healing traumas.

The work was premiered at Move to change festival – MODArts in November 2024. Since, we’ve had many opportunities to see it grow in the context of other performances (The Craft, BlOOM festival with Forza Dance, Finding Compassion) during winter and spring 2025.

It was interesting for me to re-discover my dance, through the movement quality that I developed. It means everything to me to work with a dancer in a state of full vulnerability. I love to know about them, mentally, emotionally as I want this part to transpire in my work. As a result, the dance is a product of human beings coming together being honest with each other. Movement is freedom, in a space full of love for life, choreographer and dancer can find peace.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Solenn Etienne was born in Guadeloupe, surrounded by her generous Caribbean culture, as a result, she inherited a profound, yet pure connection to nature and spirituality.

Attracted by the vibrating energy of New York City, she, then, joined the Ailey school in 2021 and graduated in may 2024.

Solenn learned repertory from Hofesh Shechter company, Martha Graham company, Cleo Parker Robinson Ensemble and worked with choreographers such as Juliano Nunes, Ronald K. Brown, Norbert De La Cruz and Petra Zanki.

Solenn is a current members of MODArts Dance Collective and aspire to evolve and to assert herself in the modern dance world, by freeing her unique expression while transcending her physical limits.

Solenn is also a plural artist, dancer, choreographer, visual artist, published writer and more to come…

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I have always felt inspired by peace. It feels like one of the most noble cause. I believe that universal peace can be reached once each of us decide to find peace within.

Using my experience as a dancer to find inner peace, by knowing myself better, moving forward with no judgment of the past, moving my body with no negative judgement of its shape I’m learning how I can help my dancers as a choreographer. As I said, it matters to me to know the individuals I want to work with, because too often I have had the experience of artist wanting to use bodies without curiosity for their own mind and their emotions. Maybe lack of time and resources. In that context, bodies feels like shell to me.

I believe through that work of care and affection to the details, I will create an environment where progress doesn’t require self hatred. I see movement as a source of healing, and hopefully we can answer to generational trauma, by reclaiming fully free expression. I want to see people bloom to their fullest and I’m excited to try things differently.

Whatever aspect of art I would be exploring, I want my result to inform the next generation on how art can help us experience life at its fullest.

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

It’s true that I get sometimes so lost in the work, that it may be hard to sit back and enjoy what I have created. I’m always so eager to jump to the next step.

However, I feel that something will always bring me back to the present moment. It’s when someone find a sense of familiarity within what I have created. Once my work, speak to someone, who isn’t necessarily inform of why I do what I do, it becomes universal. This brings me reassurance and a sense of belonging.

I love that I can help someone feel better at the end of the day.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.seme-arts.com/
• Instagram: @sloe_n
• Facebook: Solenn Etienne
• Linkedin: Solenn Etienne

Image Credits

headshot (photo 1) – Nir Arieli
Blue, Red and orange dance photo (photo 2,3,4) – Alexander Sargent
…
looking straight at the camera (photo 7) – John Eng