IN CONVERSATION WITH LÉO WALK
interview by MARIE-PAULINE CESARI
Movement is constant—like the shift from night to day, like an aurora bringing new light. Léo Walk embodies this transition, his dance fluid yet intentional, always evolving. Shot in Paris by Léa Wormsbach, this editorial captures his unique energy—somewhere between control and letting go, between past and what’s to come.
shirt GUCCI
What was the spark that pushed you to make dance your main discipline? I read that you danced as a child, but when did you decide to make it your career?
Honestly, it was always music that led me to dance. I never really had a defining moment where I thought, "This will be my job." At 16, I was a youth worker in my neighborhood while doing dance battles on the side. I never imagined I could make a living from it.
Then, I got a solo in a Thi-Muller production and later joined Christine and the Queens on tour. A year or so into it, I realized, "I could do this for life." That’s when it became my profession.
In hip-hop, there’s no set path—no school, no formal training. We learned in the streets, with a speaker, training in stairwells or parking lots, just searching for new moves.
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full look LOEWE
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full look GUCCI
Did you take any dance classes as a child?
I did plenty of workshops, but dance always came second to music for me.
Were there dancers who inspired you?
In France, B-Boy Belg and Web inspired me. In the U.S., B-Boy Machine and B-Boy Caster were legends who made me want to dance even more.
Since you started as a youth worker, do you feel the same urge to share and guide others now?
Absolutely. Dance is 30% movement, 70% managing people. I know incredible dancers who struggle because they lack the social aspect. But for now, I’m still searching, still in the lab. One day, when I find my own balance, I’ll be ready to teach.
shirt, jacket and pants MEYER
boots LEMAIRE
full look LOEWE
With La Marche Bleue, do you feel creatively fulfilled, or do you need solo projects?
For four years, I created pieces for others. Now, I feel the need to experience life myself. Leading large-scale projects is intense—music, scenography, logistics. So, I booked a spontaneous trip to Brazil, just to take a step back and breathe.
You collaborate a lot with artists and brands. I first discovered you through Christine and the Queens, but you also work frequently with fashion brands. What role does fashion play in your personal and professional life?
Fashion has always fascinated me, even before I started dancing. I love the way it interacts with movement—there’s something powerful about how clothes shape a dancer’s body and enhance expression. Fashion and dance are constantly evolving, feeding off each other. I think that’s why I’ve been naturally drawn to working with designers. Whether on stage or in a campaign, movement brings clothes to life in a way nothing else can.
You experiment a lot in your work. Do you think that’s what makes you so appealing to brands?
Maybe, yeah! I never wanted to follow a rigid path or a specific aesthetic. I just explore. I try new things, I mix styles, and I stay curious. I think that resonates because today, everything is fluid—dance, fashion, music, even identity. Brands see that I don’t confine myself to one box, and I guess they like that kind of freedom.
You launched your own fashion brand, but I saw that you stepped away from it. What happened?
Yeah, I started Walk in Paris a few years ago, and it was exciting at first. But over time, I realized I wasn’t as passionate about running a brand as I thought. I didn’t feel aligned with certain decisions, and the business side started to take over the creative process. I didn’t want to lose myself in something that didn’t fully inspire me anymore, so I decided to leave. No regrets, though—I learned a lot.
Do you think you’d ever launch another brand, maybe on your own this time?
Actually, yeah, I’m working on something new. But I want to approach it differently—no Instagram, no hype-driven marketing. I don’t want to create just another fashion label; I want something more raw, more authentic. It’s still early, but it’ll be very personal.
So is this more of a creative outlet for you, or do you see it as a business?
I don’t think in business terms. Today, a lot of brands care more about selling than storytelling. I want to create something that actually means something, something that lasts. Money has never been my driving force—I’d rather make less but stay true to myself.
jacket LACOSTE
Does that mean you turn down projects that don’t align with your values?
Definitely. I’ve turned down massive collaborations, even in the U.S., because they didn’t feel right. I’d rather take on fewer projects and love each one than do things just for the paycheck. It’s about integrity—I need to be proud of what I put my name on.
That must give you a lot of creative freedom.
Yeah, and I think it’s necessary. So many young brands start with a strong vision but lose it as soon as money comes into play. They start compromising, diluting their identity. I don’t want to fall into that trap.
The next edition of our magazine is themed Aurora—a symbol of new beginnings. Does that idea speak to you?
Absolutely. Right now, we’re in this strange, in-between period where everything feels uncertain. People are searching for meaning, but they don’t really know what’s next. That’s actually what inspired the short film I’m working on.
Can you tell me more about it?
It’s called Du Per, and it explores this feeling of transition, of not really belonging to one world or the next. I feel like a lot of people today are in survival mode rather than truly living, and I wanted to capture that. It’s a reflection of where we are as a society—kind of lost, kind of searching.
Do you see dance as a kind of therapy for yourself?
100%. It’s something I remind myself of every day. My routine is simple: I meditate, then I dance. That’s what keeps me balanced. Living in a city like Paris, where everything moves so fast, I need that physical release to stay sane.
Do you find inspiration in travel?
Always. But honestly, I don’t even have to go far. Inspiration is everywhere—sometimes just watching someone through a window is enough to spark something. I didn’t go to art school, so my creativity comes from life itself, from what I observe and experience.
So you’ve created your own artistic language?
Yeah, I guess you could say that. I don’t follow a formula; I just make what feels right. I don’t even know if that makes me an “artist.” I just express what I feel, in whatever way feels natural.
It definitely makes you an artist. Thanks so much for your time, Léo!
Thank you! Take care.
tank top and trench DRIES VAN NOTEN
pants DIOR
shoes LEMAIRE
full look DIOR
TEAM CREDITS:
talent LÉO WALK
photography and direction LÉA WORMSBACH
styling TANIA RAT-PATRON
production MATHILDE HAUSER
photography assistance VIKTOR PODCACHA
styling assistance MANON EVROLS
interview MARIE-PAULINE CESARI
editor TIMI LETONJA
