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Lourdes “Lola” Leon is known for her eclectic, genre-blending sound and her fearless approach to creativity. But behind her musical evolution, there is a deeply personal journey that began with dance. In a recent interview with i-D, the musician and model opened up about a pivotal moment in her life.
The singer shared an important moment in her career, where she realized that ballet was no longer her path, a decision that shaped her future in music. While ballet was her primary discipline even during her young years, she admitted that it was not emotionally fulfilling.
© Taylor Hill“I grew up doing ballet until I was 19, and when I went to [SUNY] Purchase, I discovered modern dance, and it changed my life because I knew I didn’t want to be a ballet dancer, I wasn’t emotionally connected to it,” she told the publication.
It was at college, where she began exploring new forms of movement, that Lourdes had a breakthrough. She discovered modern dance, which sparked a deep transformation.
© Laurent ViteurHer journey took another turn when she discovered Gaga dance, a sensory-based technique created by Ohad Naharin, the artistic director of the Batsheva Dance Company. Gaga emphasizes improvisation and pushing the body, which is different from the structures of traditional ballet.
© Mariano Regidor“I started doing Gaga dance, which is a technique that Ohad Naharin created. It’s a sensory-based improv where you are pushing your body to every limit it can possibly go, and giving yourself no limitations,” she explained.
© Paul MorigiFor the musician and artist, dance and music are linked. “I think dance and music are synonymous,” she said during the interview. She also has a different approach to creating music, outside of the pressure that pushes artists to succeed at a mainstream level.
“I feel like that’s something lost in music—just working with people because you actually want to,” she explained. “Hanging out, vibing, and then creating something wonderful together.”
