I founded DIAVOLO | Architecture in Motion® in 1992 and have directed the company’s work ever since.

 

I was named directly after my grandfather, the late and revolutionary fashion designer, Jacques Heim, who in 1946, launched the first ever two-piece bathing suit called Atome (later renamed The Bikini), and invented 

le prêt-à-porter (ready-to-wear). Just as my grandfather broke ground in the fashion industry, I try to continuously challenge the conventional wisdom surrounding dance by pursuing new, innovative ways of storytelling and developing my unique, multi-genre movement language. This is the basis for DIAVOLO’s incomparable aesthetic.
 

Most recently, you may have seen my work with DIAVOLO opening the 2024 GRAMMYs with Dua Lipa. Other recent projects include EXISTENCIA (2024), a special commemoration of the Northridge earthquake in collaboration with The Soraya, Antonio Sánchez (4-time GRAMMY winner), and Thana Alexa (GRAMMY nominee). DIAVOLO is often recognized for our appearance on America’s Got Talent which aired on NBC in 2017. DIAVOLO advanced to AGT’s finale, which was performed at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood. That same year, I directed DIAVOLO for a special appearance on Le Plus Grand Cabaret du Monde’s New Year’s Eve (2017), one of the most watched TV shows in France and Francophone countries. Similarly, DIAVOLO appeared on Helene Fischer’s Christmas Spectacular (2017).

 

Independently, I also choreographed KÀ (2004) for Cirque du Soleil at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas. This destination show is still a staple on the strip, featuring apparatuses inspired by DIAVOLO structures and architecture. In 2005, I was the Artistic Director for the Taurus Stunt Awards and returned in 2007 to stage a movement/stunt piece, “The Car”. With Center Theater Group, I created choreography for the stage play, The Stones (2006). On television, my work has appeared on BBC America’s Dancing with the Stars and Bravo’s Step Up and Dance. In 2010, I was invited to be a Creative Director for the Opening Ceremony of The 16th Asian Games, in Guangzhou, China. I also worked with Guy Caron and Michael Curry as consulting choreographer on Ice Age Live!, a “mammoth” arena show which had its world premiere at London’s Wembley Stadium in November 2012, before touring all over Europe.
 

In 2016, I started working with the Military Veteran community. I created movement workshops under a new branch of DIAVOLO, called The Diavolo Veterans Project, which remains a core of our programming to this day. Our mission is Restoration. We work to restore the Veterans’ emotional, mental and physical strength. Our workshops culminate in a live show featuring Veterans and Civilians (i.e. dancers) moving together. This series of shows, “S.O.S. Signs of Strength,” has performed all over the country, including the historic Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. In October 2022, I was awarded the U.S. Army’s Meritorious Civilian Service for my work in the Veteran community. 

In addition to three USA Fellowship nominations and four Alpert Award nominations, I have received the Martha Hill Choreography Award of the American Dance Festival, the Special Prize of the Jury at the 6th Saitama International Dance Festival, a Brody Arts Fund fellowship, and a James Irvine Foundation Fellowship.