Dance & Choreography
Nicholas Stedman’s work in contemporary dance transcends mere observation, functioning instead as a collaborative laboratory. In Parisian studios such as the Théâtre de la Terre, he has acted as both painter and choreographer, directing dancers from ensembles like Tracce to explore specific spatial geometries.
These sessions focused on the deconstruction of classical symmetry. Investigation centered on movement along the three spatial axes (X, Y, Z), specifically utilizing the Y-axis to capture the tension of falling and the release of jumping. Stedman directed the performers to embrace Brownian motion—spontaneous, erratic movements mirroring the random paths of particles—to find a raw, unscripted energy on the canvas.
This multidisciplinary approach frequently extended beyond the studio into public exhibitions. Several of his vernissages, including those for Air France Industries, Hôpital Bretonneau, and the Quadruplex show at Espace Beaurepaire, were accompanied by live dance improvisations that mirrored the kinetic energy of the paintings.
[Image of X, Y, Z spatial axes in movement and choreography]The resulting paintings, such as Study in Asymmetry and the monumental Everything is Broken, are structured by geometric backgrounds that evoke foliage, water, or the studio space itself, bridging the gap between choreographed freedom and painterly structure.
The full breadth of these movement studies can be explored on the artist's Pinterest board: View Dance Board