How I create… with choreographer Benoit Swan Pouffer

An internationally renowned dance artist and company leader, not to mention critically-acclaimed choreographer, he has received plaudits for his representation of an innovative, less formalised approach to dance.

Born and raised in Paris, Pouffer studied as a dancer at the Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique et de Danse, going on to become the principal dancer with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York. 

As a choreographer he has worked on film and television as well as preparing works for musicals and theatre productions, including co-directing Paris Merveilles at the Lido on the Champs Elysee, one of a number of collaborations with director Franco Dragone. 

Pouffer spent a decade as Artistic Director at New York’s Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, during which he presented a wide range of shows, each driven by his philosophy of combining skilled technique with unexpected forms of dance. 

In 2018 Pouffer became the Artistic Director of Rambert, here in London, and in September 2025 he made the short journey along Belvedere Road to bring WE SHOULD HAVE NEVER WALKED ON THE MOON to the Southbank Centre in collaboration with (LA)HORDE Ballet national de Marseille. 

Ahead of that remarkable dance takeover we took a moment to get an insight into Pouffer’s own approach to creativity.

When and where do you find yourself at your most creative?

In the studio. Being creative has many components. At first, you have an idea, you have an experience of what you want to convey, but then you’re in the studio with your artists and now they tell the story; they shape it, and sometimes the story can end up different. It’s a bit like having a conversation with my dancers. That’s why I am very picky about who dances for Rambert. These dancers all have different journeys, different experiences, different views, and all together, that creates a story. And that’s what I aim to get out of their dancing.

How do you know when an idea is worth developing into something more?

You know, when you start creating, it’s very exposing. You don’t really know where you’re going, so you have to trust the process. You have to trust that you will develop your idea in the right way. And sometimes, you shouldn’t be too worried about the end product. You’re discovering what you’re creating and that gets you to a place that you would not have imagined.

Which tools are key to your creative process?

The music; it’s a huge component of my inspiration. And the people in front of me, who actually dictate what I’m going to do.

Who are you creating your work for, and how free are you to create the work you want to create?

It’s going to sound very selfish, but I create for me. It needs to make sense to me, I need to like what I do first, and then, hope that the others will too. And you know I like constraints. I actually like limitations because they get me to be somehow more creative.

How do you stay disciplined and dedicated to your work?

I work on myself, I try not to judge myself, and I try not to veto or censor what I’m doing, what I’m creating, and I try to just feel free. And that’s hard, it’s a journey to get to this point. When you are in an environment where you create surrounded by people you like to work with, you’re focused, and you try things, and you’re not scared to fail somehow. But, by failing sometimes you get to a new place, you develop new things, and that is priceless. As for dedication I wouldn’t say… I live my life, and by living my life I’m dedicated. So anything that I experience, whether good or bad, is dedicated to my art because when I get back to the studio, I feel what I’m going through, and that comes out through my work.

What do you do when you hit a wall; when you feel unmotivated or uninspired? How do you overcome this?

I take my dog for a walk. I take 10 minutes, come back and feel better.

Who do you look to for feedback?

To people who are not afraid to tell me ‘that’s bad’.

How different is your process now to when you first began?

Oh it’s very different. I’ve been around, I’ve been doing this for almost 30 years, so there are things that I see coming now, and I don’t fall for some of the traps. With the process, it’s mostly me, myself and I, as well the outlook and the feedback of others. I get very focused on where I want to go and what I want to do, and at the same time I remain very open to what’s around me because the solution is right there.

What does success feel like?

What does success feel like? Like it can go away at any time… it can feel very lonely sometimes. That comes with what I do. People will see it as being successful, but I think it’s all very relative, depending on what you think being successful is.

Is there a piece of advice you’ve received that you find yourself coming back to?

Don’t impose yourself. Work with what you have.

What’s the most recent thing you learned about yourself through your work?

To accept being messy. Because there is order at the end.

How do you know when you’re done?

I’m never done. I will always tweak it. I can’t help it.