Laurent and Larry Nicolas Bourgeois (born 6 December 1988), professionally known as Les Twins, are French dancers, choreographers, producers, models, designers, and creative directors of their brand "Eleven Paris". Often referred to by their respective nicknames, "Lil Beast" and "Ca Blaze", they are recognized internationally for their talents in new style hip-hop dancing, and various dancing styles. They are identical twin brothers. They are also actors, having played in Men in Black: International in 2019.
Born and raised in Sarcelles, France, the self-taught dance duo became the favorites of the French audience in 2008 as finalists on the popular television show Incroyable Talent. They quickly rose to prominence in the United States after a video of their performance on the San Diego leg of the 2010 World of Dance tour went viral on YouTube, with over 46 million views as of 1 December 2019[update]. In 2011, they won the hip-hop new style division of the prestigious international street dance competition Juste Debout. In 2017, they won the American reality competition series World of Dance, executively produced by Jennifer Lopez.[1] The series featured solo acts and larger groups, competing for a grand prize of US$1 million dollars.[1]
In addition to teaching their original choreography in workshops around the globe, they are also the founding members of the successful dance team Criminalz Crew and founding members of "Eleven Paris".
Early life and career beginnings
The twins were born on December 6, 1988, in Sarcelles, a commune in the northern projects of Paris, France. They are the youngest in a large, Guadeloupean[2] extended family of 9 children.[3]
Neither Larry nor Laurent received any formal dance training. Instead, they learned by observing other breakers, lockers, and poppers and by teaching themselves classical ballet techniques.[4][5][6] At the age of 12, they began performing in concerts and musicals. According to WAD Magazine, "They were born dancers. They walked at 5 months, seriously moved their bodies at 18 months old, and at 9 they showed off steps they had invented to youngsters twice their age in their neighborhood."[7]
In 2005, the brothers recruited five members to form their own dance team called Criminalz Crew, spending the next few years competing in hip-hop tournaments and entertaining crowds as street performers and in clubs.[3] In 2007, they danced to sold-out audiences in the musical Pas de Quartier at France's esteemed Avignon Festival.[8][9]
Dance career
In March 2008 Les Twins gained the attention of the dance community by defeating French street dancers Joseph Go and Meech Onomo at the semi-finals of the prestigious international dance competition Juste Debout.[10] Following that success, they were finalists and audience favorites on Season 3 of Incroyable Talent (the French equivalent of Britain's Got Talent) aired on M6.[11] On November 13, 2008, the twins were among the top twelve finalists competing on the Incroyable Talent finale show attended by Princess Stéphanie of Monaco and watched by over 4 million viewers.[12] In 2009, they were contracted to perform the two-man hip-hop comedy stage revue Twins choreographed by their long-time coach Abibou "Playmo" Kébe at the Théâtre Trévise in Paris.[13]
On March 6, 2012, the pair joined rapper Big Sean on-stage at the after-party for Kanye West's Fall 2012 fashion show at La Halle Freyssinet in Paris.[22] One month later, they performed with Missy Elliott and Timbaland at Hennessy's "Wild Rabbit" campaign launch event in New York.[23]
Les Twins debuted on Japan's largest television network Nippon TV on July 24, 2012.[24]
In 2012 and 2014, Les Twins appeared in episodes of Avengers of eXtreme Illusions, the revolutionary dance series by Welling Films. After the videos came out, Les Twins put their own cut of Welling's work on their own YouTube channel.
In 2014, Les Twins joined Beyoncé and her husband Jay-Z on their On the Run Tour. In 2015, Les Twins appeared in a special freestyle dance in the song "Tattoo" in Bollywood film ABCD 2,[31][32] which was directed by Remo D'Souza. They were featured in Beyoncé's 2018 Coachella performance.
In 2023, Les Twins accompanied Jason Derulo on the "Friday Livez" tour.
In 2023, they joined Beyoncé on the European and North American legs of her Renaissance World Tour.
Larry and Laurent have traveled the globe teaching their original choreography in countries including France, the U.S, Japan, Canada, Russia, Germany, Italy, Finland, Ukraine, Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Kyrgyzstan. Crowds of up to 5000 people have been in attendance at some of their international dance workshops.[7]
In June 2011, Fox broadcast a portion of the audition piece of contestants D*Day (Damon Bellmon and Deon Lewis) on Season 8 of the dance competition So You Think You Can Dance.[37] Although they were accused by many of plagiarizing their choreography from Les Twins' World of Dance San Diego performance on YouTube, D*Day was allowed to proceed to the next stage of the competition.[38] In 2012, Bellman and Lewis returned on the SYTYCD Season 9 Atlanta auditions show claiming (with archived footage from the Show) their prior year's routine was a homage to Les Twins’ work.[39][40]
Artistry
Dance style
Les Twins’ dance style is often categorized as New Style hip-hop, a commercial form of hip hop with a strong emphasis on isolations and musicality.[41] However, the twins are known for having created a unique style from this dance which they refer to as "Twins-Style".[42] Due to their ability to anticipate and finish each other's moves,[43] the brothers quickly gained a reputation for their timing and skill at making freestyle dance look like choreography.[3] Charlotte Guillemin of WAD Magazine wrote:[7]
They have really created a form of hip-hop that is truly individual to them...They are in perfect symbiosis. They look totally disjointed with their very jerky movements, although at the same time displaying an amazing fluidity. They undulate, bend and twist, impossible to assess where their center of gravity lies: both phenomenal and unreal.
Les Twins are immediately recognizable for their large afros and trademark style of dress—backwards pants, neck warmers, and kneepads worn around the ankles.[7][8] Regarding their tendency to adopt other unique accessories, such as beaded bracelets and necklaces, wristbands, watch chains, scarves, and ladies’ wear, Laurent stated: "We have changed consciousness about fashion."[45]
Feb 16: Life Is But a Dream HBO special (U.S.) – rehearsal footage from the 2011 Billboard Music Awards
Feb 22: VH-1 Best Week Ever (U.S.) – commentary on Les Twins' appearance in Life Is But a Dream[52]
Mar 31: Vivement Dimanche (France) – actress Monica Bellucci discusses discovering Les Twins via footage from their final 2008 Incroyable Talent performance[53][54]
May 19: Beats By Dre Neon Mixr Commercial (U.S.) – promotion of Neon Mixr headphones for Target retail stores[55]
June 1: Chime For Change's "The Sound of Change Live" charity concert at London's Twickenham Stadium (broadcast to 150 countries) – performed with Beyoncé[56][57]
June 2: "The Women's Concert for Change: Live from London" (U.S.) – NBC 2-hour special with highlights from the live Chime For Change concert performance[58]
^ abGuests: Les Twins (9 November 2010). "Madonna and Kate Walsh". The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Season 8. Episode 42. NBC Universal.
^ abLes Twins (9 November 2010). Les Twins Perform for Ellen (Adobe Flash video). Warner Bros. Archived from the original on 19 October 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
^Feller, Alison (11 April 2013). "If I Were a Boy..."Dance Spirit. Archived from the original on 15 April 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2013. Larry and Laurent danced alongside Beyoncé at the Billboard Music Awards in 2011 and now they'll join her on The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour as the only male dancers.
for Benetton, Givenchy, and H&M see, "The ultimate crew "Les Twins"". Hi-Bit Magazine. 13 July 2012. Archived from the original on 26 October 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
for Hewlett-Packard see, Les Twins (dancers) (20 November 2014). Bend The Rules of Music Videos with the HP x360 (Adobe Flash video). HP Computers YouTube Channel. Archived from the original on 26 November 2014. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
^Laurent Bourgeois (dancer) (24 May 2012). Making of Revel Part I (Adobe Flash video). The Official Beyoncé Site. 5:15 minutes in. Archived from the original on 14 December 2012. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
^Jevons, Jennifer (10 February 2015). "Hip-hop Duo Les Twins Performs". QueenLatifah.com. Archived from the original on 20 February 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
^Les Twins (dancers) (16 November 2011). Beyoncé - End Of Time (Live at Roseland) (Adobe Flash video). beyonceVEVO Official YouTube Channel. 2:18 and 2:53 minutes in. Archived from the original on 18 May 2014. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
^Les Twins (dancers) (22 April 2013). David Guetta - Play Hard ft. Ne-Yo, Akon (Adobe Flash video). davidguettaVEVO Official YouTube Channel. 1:20 and 2:53 minutes in. Archived from the original on 25 April 2013. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
^Laurent Bourgeois of Les Twins (dancers) (24 November 2014). Beyoncé - Jealous (Adobe Flash video). beyonceVEVO Official YouTube Channel. Cameo at 1:49 to 1:56 minutes in. Archived from the original on 11 January 2015. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
^Les Twins (dancers) (6 October 2014). Beyoncé - Flawless (Remix) ft. Nicki Minaj (Adobe Flash video). beyonceVEVO Official YouTube Channel. 4:00 minutes in. Archived from the original on 23 January 2015. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
^Les Twins (dancers) (3 February 2015). Chris Brown, Tyga - Ayo (Explicit) (Adobe Flash video). ChrisBrownVEVO Official YouTube Channel. 2:04 and 2:12 minutes in. Archived from the original on 3 February 2015. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
