DMM LEGACY INTERVIEW • THEN & NOW

Sisley Loubet: From Global Stages to PIGMENT

In 2016, Sisley Loubet warned young dancers not to become prisoners of the industry and to give themselves options. A decade later, the French Guianese performer has expanded beyond major stages into film, design, creative direction and the multidisciplinary exhibition PIGMENT.

By Dance Mogul Magazine | Exclusive Interview / Legacy Update | Original interview: July 3, 2016 | Legacy update: August 18, 2026

The Advice That Aged Into a Blueprint

When DMM interviewed Sisley Loubet in 2016, she had already built a formidable commercial-dance résumé. She spoke about French Guiana, rigorous training, a first major break with Shakira, touring with Rihanna, a Prince tribute with Janelle Monáe and the realities of staying employable in an unpredictable industry.

But one part of the conversation stands out even more in 2026. Sisley told younger dancers to remain open, protect their reputation, seek mentors, keep learning and—most importantly—not become prisoners of the industry. “Give yourself options,” she said. Her career since then has become a living example of that advice.

The Original DMM Conversation — 2016

Dance Mogul: What inspired you to start dancing?

Sisley Loubet: I think it’s a mixture of different things. First, I’ve always loved dancing. In French Guiana, where I’m from, dancing is rooted in our culture. Whether you’re Native Indian, African Maroon, Creole or all three, the folkloric dances sparked an interest in me. The influential performers from the ’80s and ’90s also inspired me. To me, there’s nothing comparable to the energy and feelings that come from performing on stage.

Dance Mogul: How did you develop the work ethic to train?

Sisley Loubet: Most of my training comes from ballet and modern techniques. I trained first at the ADACLAM school in French Guiana. After graduating from high school, I moved to Paris to study at Le Centre International de Danse Jazz Rick Odums. After auditioning for The Ailey School, I was awarded a scholarship to attend the fellowship program in New York. All of these programs were intense and rigorous. I guess my work ethic came from there. Dancing also wasn’t something everybody in my family completely believed in, so I felt like I had no choice but to work hard. I wanted to honor my chance and the sacrifices my parents made. My mother wasn’t against it, but she made sure I had a plan B. I came to realize that whether you want to develop your skills, maintain them or preserve your body, work ethic is essential for a dancer.

Dance Mogul: When was your big break?

Sisley Loubet: A couple of months after the end of my training program at The Ailey School, I auditioned for a music video for Shakira and booked it. I was just starting in the commercial industry, and this was major for me. I thought after that it would be easy to work consistently. Unfortunately, the industry doesn’t work that way. It opened doors, but I quickly realized that working on one project doesn’t guarantee the next. Every choreographer, artist and director has different requirements, and those requirements change from project to project. Stability also depends on the relationships you build. This business has a way of keeping you on your toes.

Dance Mogul: What have been some of your memorable moments on stage?

Sisley Loubet: All of them are memorable, but for different reasons. One of the best moments was during Rihanna’s Diamonds World Tour. I could finally dance for and in front of my family and friends in one of the biggest stadiums in France. Nothing is better than the satisfaction and pride of dancing at home for your loved ones. Any time my family is present in the audience feels like an achievement for me.

Dance Mogul: Based on your experience, what would you tell your younger self?

Sisley Loubet: I think I was naive about the industry in the beginning. All I wanted to do was dance alongside artists. I thought good training would be enough, but it took time to understand how to tap into the needs and wants of the industry. I would say: don’t be afraid to talk and seek help, dare a little more, don’t get too attached and stay confident. Overall, my journey has been pretty amazing, so I have no regrets or hard feelings. I’m grateful for each experience I’ve had.

Dance Mogul: How was it performing on the 2016 BET Awards?

Sisley Loubet: It was challenging. I had to honor the opportunity. Janelle Monáe performed a Prince tribute, and the choreographers gave me a solo with her for “Kiss.” During rehearsals, I revisited Prince’s work online. Prince was a mentor to Janelle, so it was important that we honor him and the dancers he worked with by delivering a performance with the same kind of feel they used to bring to the stage. I have to say, it felt quite overwhelming.

Dance Mogul: What advice do you have for the younger generation of dancers?

Sisley Loubet: From my experience, I would say: be bold; get the appropriate knowledge to be armed for the industry; don’t lose yourself; keep your entourage healthy; persevere; be grateful; surround yourself with positive people and stay positive; know your worth but be objective with yourself; organize yourself; look for clarity; stay open to different styles and keep learning. Comfort blocks progress and improvement. The industry is a small circle, so make sure your reputation stays clean. A good mentor is always a plus. Finally, do not become a prisoner of this industry. Life is a cycle, and what you want now might not be what you aspire to later, so give yourself options. I’m also learning from the younger generation.

Dance Mogul: Is there anyone you would like to thank?

Sisley Loubet: My family and my close friends. They know who they are. And Dance Mogul Magazine for giving me the opportunity to share my journey. À bientôt!

The Original DMM 2016 Photo Archive

The original post carried 11 photographs. They are restored below in the same source order, with the original photographer or performance credit attached to each image.

Watch the Movement Archive

Sisley’s career has always crossed technical training, commercial performance and movement rooted in a wider cultural vocabulary. This choreography video—also surfaced on her Broadway Dance Center faculty materials—offers a clean movement reference from the period around the original DMM feature.

Where Is Sisley Loubet Now?

Major verified developments since the 2016 DMM interview include:

• Major live and screen credits: Current institutional bios document appearances on the Super Bowl Halftime Show, the Grammys and the Oscars, along with film work including Don’t Worry Darling and The Color Purple.
• Continued teaching: Broadway Dance Center continues to maintain Sisley as faculty, with movement work spanning Street Jazz, Heels, contemporary influences and Caribbean energy.
• Expanded creative education: Her 2026 Le Carreau du Temple bio states that she studied architecture, spatial design and cinema at ArtCenter College of Design in Los Angeles.
• Tembeyana: Sisley founded the multidisciplinary studio Tembeyana, which works across creative direction, choreography, movement, film, exhibition and creative spaces.
• PIGMENT: The exhibition was presented in Cayenne in 2024 and then at Festival Everybody at Le Carreau du Temple in Paris in February 2026. The project uses photography, dance, scenography/spatial design and cinema to explore color, identity and Guyanese cultural hybridity.
• Cultural expansion: Her current visual-art practice draws inspiration from Tembé art and turns dance from a job category into one language inside a larger multidisciplinary practice.

PIGMENT Is the Answer to Her Own 2016 Advice

In 2016, Sisley told dancers to create options because the goals of a performer can change over time. PIGMENT makes that advice visible. Dance remains present, but it now shares the frame with photography, cinema, spatial design, identity research and cultural memory.

That expansion does not read as leaving dance behind. It reads as using everything dance taught her—movement, composition, timing, embodiment, collaboration and performance—to enter new creative forms. Her path illustrates an important idea for working artists: diversification does not have to mean abandoning the original craft. It can mean letting the craft become a foundation for a larger creative language.

Why This Matters to Dance Mogul Magazine

Sisley’s story fits DMM’s mission because dance is the foundation, not the ceiling. Her journey connects craft to cultural identity, career strategy, personal reinvention and the responsibility to keep learning. DMM’s 2016 interview did more than list celebrity credits; it preserved her thinking about sustainability before her multidisciplinary turn became obvious to the public.

The strongest line in the old interview may be her warning not to become “a prisoner of the industry.” In 2026, that statement has historical value. The archive shows that Sisley did not merely advise younger artists to build options—she later built those options herself.

What the Next Generation Should Learn

• Training gets you ready; relationships and reputation help sustain you. Sisley understood early that one booking never guarantees the next.
• Do not let the industry define the borders of your imagination. A dancer can also become a designer, filmmaker, curator, creative director, teacher or founder.
• Study beyond the immediate job. Her architecture, spatial-design and cinema studies expanded the tools available to her creative practice.
• Your cultural roots can be a source of innovation. PIGMENT and Tembeyana place French Guianese identity and Tembé-inspired visual thinking inside contemporary multidisciplinary work.
• Keep options without losing yourself. Diversification works best when new forms still reflect a clear point of view.

Continue Learning With DMM

Explore the Dance Knowledge Hub for career, culture and training resources, and browse DMM’s Contemporary dance archive for more movement artists and interviews.

2026 Update Sources

• Le Carreau du Temple — Festival Everybody 2026 / PIGMENT
• Tembeyana — official studio overview
• Tembeyana — PIGMENT exhibition page
• France-Guyane — 2024 PIGMENT profile
• Broadway Dance Center — Sisley Loubet faculty bio

FAQ

Who is Sisley Loubet?

Sisley Loubet is a French Guianese dancer and multidisciplinary creative whose career spans commercial dance, film, teaching, design, creative direction and visual art. She is also the founder of Tembeyana.

What is PIGMENT by Sisley Loubet?

PIGMENT is a multidisciplinary exhibition combining photography, dance, spatial design and cinema to explore color, identity and the cultural hybridity of French Guiana. It was presented in Cayenne in 2024 and at Le Carreau du Temple in Paris in 2026.

What advice did Sisley Loubet give young dancers in her DMM interview?

She encouraged dancers to be bold, informed, organized and open to learning; protect their reputations; seek good mentorship; know their worth; and create options so they do not become trapped by a single version of the industry.

© 2026 Dance Mogul Magazine LLC  |  dancemogul.com  |  Inspiring Self-Empowerment Through Dance Culture