French choreographer Yoann Bourgeois, 43, has captivated millions online with his stair-climbing trampoline performance, where he appears to bounce weightlessly up a staircase. The act, which has been shared by Harry Styles, Selena Gomez, and Pink, is part of Bourgeois' broader exploration of gravity, suspension, and the human condition.
Bourgeois' journey began in Jura, eastern France, where his parents' house was sold to a circus group after their separation. Training with Cirque Plume, he sought to recapture the spirit of childhood. 'I really wanted to continue to be a child. I've searched for a life where I can continue to play; it drives my career even now,' he says.
His latest work, Passage, will debut at the Greenwich and Docklands festival this summer. It features a revolving mirrored door and pole dancer Yvonne Smink, transforming a simple threshold crossing into a meditation on possibility. Bourgeois describes his interest in suspension: 'In physics, suspension means the absence of weight. But in time, suspension means absolute presence. That's what I search for: to catch the present.'
Bourgeois acknowledges that his work translates well to screen, contributing to its viral success. He designs his own stage machines, including the revolving platform used in Harry Styles' 'As It Was' video, which he says reveals 'a great sense of despair' beneath the pop veneer. Despite accusations of plagiarism, Bourgeois remains focused on creating accessible art for a wide audience.
