François Chaignaud

François Chaignaud lives and works in Paris. Dancer, performance artist, singer, he has been trained at Conservatoire National Supérieur de Danse de Paris and has collaborated with many choreographers (Boris Charmatz, Emanuelle Huynh, Alain Buffard, etc.).

From He’s One that Goes to Sea for Nothing but to Make him sick (2004) to Radio Vinci Park (2016 – in collaboration with Theo Mercier), he has created performances in which dance and singing intersect, in a wide variety of environments and at the meeting points of many inspirations. From this tension the possibility of a body takes shape, inhabiting the space between the sensual rigour of movement, the evocative power of singing, and the convergence of heterogeneous historical references – from erotic literature (Aussi Bien Que Ton Cœur Ouvre Moi Les Genoux, 2008) to sacred art (Dumy Moyi, 2013). His last collaborations include works with visual artist Théo Mercier, Sophia Al Maria, with writer Anne james Chaton, artists Phia Ménard— Nosfell, Marie Caroline Hominal, Jérôme Marin, video maker César Vayssié … His work is shown worldwide.

Since 2005, the artist has been focused on creating a steady dialogue with Cecila Bengolea, through the company Vlovajob Pru, and the results have attracted widespread critical acclaim. Together, they created Pâquerette (2005- 2008), Sylphides (2009), Castor et Pollux (2010), Danses Libres, (M)IMOSA (co-written and performed with Trajal Harrell and Marlene Monteiro Freitas, 2011), altered natives’ Say Yes To Another Excess—TWERK (2012), Dublove (2013), DFS (2016). They have been commissioned to create works for major companies such the Lyon Opera Ballet, the Ballet de Lorraine, or recently the Tanztheater Wuppertal—Pina Bausch. They prepare a large dance exhibition for Dia Art Fondation in 2017-2018. In 2009, they won the critique choreographic revelation award. They received the Noon Award for emerging artist at the Gwangju Biennale in 2014.