Hennessy launches Very Special 2021 Limited Edition in partnership with French dance duo Laurent and Larry Bourgeois, better known as Les Twins. Born in Sarcelles, north of Paris, the brothers danced on the Champs-Elysées as teenagers to earn pocket money and first found fame in 2008 as finalists on the French Got Talent franchise. SLEEK met up with them to hear about their collaboration with the world-renowned brand – and how dance and cognac might have more in common than you might think.
Photo credit: Courtesy of Hennessy
How did the conversation between Les Twins and Hennessy begin?
Laurent: It started with a lady from Hennessy, this came before Hennessy, and she had an idea to have us [collaborate]. And the day we met, she said something that got my attention at one point that I really had to listen to what she had to say. She said, “Guys, I don’t have any other option. I have to have you in the team.”
Larry: Oh my god, I loved that.
Laurent: I was like, ‘Hennessy [and] Les Twins?’
Larry: It was so scary in the beginning because we’re talking about [our] fan base that’s so huge.
Laurent: Our fans, so many people – we don’t want to push them to drink, but she convinced us. She was like, ‘If you come to the castle, to the chateau of cognac, you’re going to understand that it’s not about the alcohol, I promise.’
Larry: It’s not about alcohol, it’s about the whole history behind everything.
Photo credit: Courtesy of Hennessy
With your philosophy and approach to dance and performance, how does that compare to the philosophy of Hennessy?
Laurent: You see when I’m dancing I’m not faking it. I’m all in. And the taste and the beginning might be soft, but I’m going to grace you, your eyes and your feelings. And you’re going to be looking at me. You’re personally going to feel some type of way. And Hennessy is the same.
This collaboration is kind of a first of its kind, so why do you think this collaboration is important for others to come?
Laurent: This is not about the money. It’s the love for every person working in this cognac town where everyone is working for LVMH. Like, I really feel like I understand where they come from. It’s like, well, they really want to match with us because it actually makes sense for them. And they give me so many points where I feel so comfortable to work with them. I don’t want to stop. Definitely, I would never want this contract to finish.
What inspires you? What keeps you going and what makes you want to evolve?
Laurent: It’s all about evolution. I’m always thinking ahead without wanting to. We take every part of our stories, our families, our friends, even our toxic relationships, sometimes that can help us to move on really fast. We are not the guys who would tell you, like, ‘You know what? Leave your problems over there and then come work over here.’ Your problems come in here and work with you. Because if you are a team, I have to understand you better.
Larry: We also are really challenging ourselves every single second of our lives.
And that’s the beauty of having another person you’re working together with, right?
Laurent: I share my whole feelings in life with him [Larry]. Like no matter what. Exactly what or how I feel. He knows me more than I know myself.
Photo credit: Courtesy of Hennessy
What do you see yourself doing next? Have you thought about it?
Larry: We haven’t done anything yet.
Laurent: What we’re saying is, this is a part of what we want. Now our dreams – our dreams are so big.
Larry: I haven’t done even half of the things I want to do. We are just like this, we are workaholics. I don’t like to chill. So music, acting, modelling or TV shows or dancing or whatever comes next. If it inspires me, I will go all the way, all in.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.