# Sebastien Stella
**Sébastien Stella** (born 1971), also known as Seb, is a French choreographer and director best known for creating the aerial performance routines for the singer P!nk and devising the circus choreography for the 2011 film *Water for Elephants*.[1](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/5TN4Jh2nFZskZMXnMy1f9Pb/sebastien-stella) • [2](https://linkedin.com/in/sebastienstella) His career spans circus training in France, performing with [Cirque du Soleil](https://www.edgepedia.org/cirque-du-soleil) in Las Vegas, aerial choreography for arena pop tours, circus staging for Hollywood films, and, from 2016 to 2025, circus-school and live-entertainment ventures in [French Polynesia](https://www.edgepedia.org/french-polynesia).[1](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/5TN4Jh2nFZskZMXnMy1f9Pb/sebastien-stella) • [3](https://www.artistes.pf/artistes/sebastien-stella/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Identity | French choreographer and director, born 1971; native spelling Sébastien Stella[2](https://linkedin.com/in/sebastienstella) • [4](https://www.frenchmorning.com/quand-sebastien-stella-dompte-hollywood/) |
| Training | Club Med National Circus School (graduated 1993) and Studio Pygmalion, Paris[1](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/5TN4Jh2nFZskZMXnMy1f9Pb/sebastien-stella) |
| Breakthrough | Leading role in the musical *Notre-Dame de Paris* (1998); assistant choreographer and acrobatic coordinator within four months[1](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/5TN4Jh2nFZskZMXnMy1f9Pb/sebastien-stella) • [4](https://www.frenchmorning.com/quand-sebastien-stella-dompte-hollywood/) |
| Pop touring | Aerial choreography from 2008 for Cher, P!nk, Katy Perry, and Britney Spears; Funhouse Tour of 160 shows in 18 countries[1](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/5TN4Jh2nFZskZMXnMy1f9Pb/sebastien-stella) • [5](https://circusstarusa.com/judges-2016/) |
| Film work | Circus choreographer and actor, *Water for Elephants* (2011); choreography, *Oz the Great and Powerful* (2013)[1](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/5TN4Jh2nFZskZMXnMy1f9Pb/sebastien-stella) • [3](https://www.artistes.pf/artistes/sebastien-stella/) |
| Polynesian ventures | Founded Espace Cirque Moorea and Tahiti Show Concept (2016–2025); sold the business in 2025[2](https://linkedin.com/in/sebastienstella) |
| Career scale | Nearly 3,000 performances as a performer, by his directory and personal-site counts[3](https://www.artistes.pf/artistes/sebastien-stella/) • [6](https://sebstella.com/) |
## Background and training
Stella began as a gymnastics competitor and entered circus training at the École du Cirque du [Club Med](https://www.edgepedia.org/club-med) on the advice of a superior, roughly twenty years before a 2011 interview in which he described this start.[4](https://www.frenchmorning.com/quand-sebastien-stella-dompte-hollywood/) He graduated from the Club Med National Circus School in 1993 and from the Studio Pygmalion in Paris.[1](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/5TN4Jh2nFZskZMXnMy1f9Pb/sebastien-stella)
His entry into choreography came through musical theater. In 1998 he joined the original troupe of the international hit musical *Notre-Dame de Paris* in a leading role, and within four months he had become assistant choreographer and acrobatic coordinator.[1](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/5TN4Jh2nFZskZMXnMy1f9Pb/sebastien-stella) • [4](https://www.frenchmorning.com/quand-sebastien-stella-dompte-hollywood/) Later, after settling in Los Angeles in 2005, he studied acting; his LinkedIn profile records on-camera and intensive technique training with Ron Burrus at the Stella Adler Academy of Acting in Hollywood.[4](https://www.frenchmorning.com/quand-sebastien-stella-dompte-hollywood/) • [2](https://linkedin.com/in/sebastienstella)
## Career and major works
**Cirque du Soleil.** Stella moved to the United States and joined Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas, performing in the water-based show *O* at the Bellagio. His dates with the company are reported inconsistently: one account places his arrival in 2000 with two years of performances,[4](https://www.frenchmorning.com/quand-sebastien-stella-dompte-hollywood/) while another lists him as a house troupe performer from 2002 to 2004.[1](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/5TN4Jh2nFZskZMXnMy1f9Pb/sebastien-stella) His own profile states he performed more than 900 shows in a cast of over 85 performers with zero safety incidents.[2](https://linkedin.com/in/sebastienstella) He met his wife, the Canadian acrobat Katia Sereno, in the show.[4](https://www.frenchmorning.com/quand-sebastien-stella-dompte-hollywood/) • [1](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/5TN4Jh2nFZskZMXnMy1f9Pb/sebastien-stella)
**Arena pop choreography.** From 2008 he choreographed aerial stunts for Cher, P!nk, Katy Perry, and [Britney Spears](https://www.edgepedia.org/britney-spears).[1](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/5TN4Jh2nFZskZMXnMy1f9Pb/sebastien-stella) An NBC *Celebrity Circus* number he staged led P!nk to recruit him as trainer, choreographer, and acrobatic partner for the Funhouse Tour.[4](https://www.frenchmorning.com/quand-sebastien-stella-dompte-hollywood/) That yearlong tour presented 160 shows in 18 countries, with most stunts created and performed by him.[5](https://circusstarusa.com/judges-2016/) With Britney Spears he worked on the Femme Fatale Tour and did action choreography and stunt coordination for the "Work Bitch" video; with [Katy Perry](https://www.edgepedia.org/katy-perry) he performed an aerial routine at the 2012 Billboard Awards; and he choreographed stunts for and appeared in Cher's "Laverne" video in her Las Vegas show *Cher at the Colosseum*.[5](https://circusstarusa.com/judges-2016/) The Polynesian artist directory also credits him as stage director for a [Hollywood Bowl](https://www.edgepedia.org/hollywood-bowl) season opening night.[3](https://www.artistes.pf/artistes/sebastien-stella/)
**Film.** For *Water for Elephants* (Fox, directed by [Francis Lawrence](https://www.edgepedia.org/francis-lawrence)) he is credited as circus choreographer and actor, appearing on screen with his wife and long-time performing partner Katia Sereno.[1](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/5TN4Jh2nFZskZMXnMy1f9Pb/sebastien-stella) • [3](https://www.artistes.pf/artistes/sebastien-stella/) He trained [Reese Witherspoon](https://www.edgepedia.org/reese-witherspoon) over three months of intensive preparation, working with a dog, horses, and a nine-ton elephant named Tai, adapting the circus material to the film's 1930s [Great Depression](https://www.edgepedia.org/great-depression) setting.[4](https://www.frenchmorning.com/quand-sebastien-stella-dompte-hollywood/) He then choreographed *Oz the Great and Powerful* (Disney, directed by Sam Raimi, 2013).[3](https://www.artistes.pf/artistes/sebastien-stella/) IMDb also lists him on *Brooklyn Nine-Nine* (2013).[7](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1050596/)
**French Polynesia.** From September 2016 to July 2025, based in Moorea, he founded and ran Espace Cirque Moorea, described as the first circus and stunt school in [Polynesia](https://www.edgepedia.org/polynesia), and Tahiti Show Concept, described as the first variety-arts live-entertainment production company there.[3](https://www.artistes.pf/artistes/sebastien-stella/) • [2](https://linkedin.com/in/sebastienstella) His profile reports more than 100 students trained, two of them admitted to national circus schools in Canada, and more than 200 live events produced; he sold the business in 2025.[2](https://linkedin.com/in/sebastienstella) He is also producer and owner of Cabaret Moorea, described as the only cabaret dinner-show experience in French Polynesia, with hotel clients including Sofitel, InterContinental, Hilton, and Manava.[2](https://linkedin.com/in/sebastienstella) His regional stunt and choreography credits include *L'oiseau du paradis* (2020), *Tahiti PK0* (2021), *La dernière reine de Tahiti* (2022), *Waltzing with Brando* (2023, directed by Bill Fishman), and *Marae* (2023, directed by Jacques Kluger).[2](https://linkedin.com/in/sebastienstella)
## Artistic approach and circus practice
Stella's practice centers on aerial apparatus and acrobatic staging carried across three settings: arena pop tours, feature films, and company-based circus. On the Funhouse Tour he performed on an apparatus he designed himself, before audiences of more than 20,000 spectators per show.[4](https://www.frenchmorning.com/quand-sebastien-stella-dompte-hollywood/) His film work emphasizes training lead actors to perform circus material credibly, as with the three-month preparation of Reese Witherspoon, and adapting period circus practice to a film's setting.[4](https://www.frenchmorning.com/quand-sebastien-stella-dompte-hollywood/) His own site describes services spanning theater, immersive experiences, musicals, circus, tours, cabarets, and special events, including show quality audits and multi-venue retainers.[6](https://sebstella.com/)
## By the numbers
The quantifiable footprint of his career includes:[3](https://www.artistes.pf/artistes/sebastien-stella/) • [5](https://circusstarusa.com/judges-2016/) • [4](https://www.frenchmorning.com/quand-sebastien-stella-dompte-hollywood/) • [2](https://linkedin.com/in/sebastienstella) • [6](https://sebstella.com/)
- Nearly 3,000 performances over his performing career (directory figure; his site says 3,000+).[3](https://www.artistes.pf/artistes/sebastien-stella/) • [6](https://sebstella.com/)
- More than 900 shows performed in Cirque du Soleil's *O*.[2](https://linkedin.com/in/sebastienstella)
- 160 Funhouse Tour shows in 18 countries, before audiences of more than 20,000 per show.[5](https://circusstarusa.com/judges-2016/) • [4](https://www.frenchmorning.com/quand-sebastien-stella-dompte-hollywood/)
- More than 100 students trained and more than 200 live events produced in French Polynesia between 2016 and 2025.[2](https://linkedin.com/in/sebastienstella)
- Involvement in productions exceeding $500 million, a self-reported figure from his personal site.[6](https://sebstella.com/)
## What has changed since 2023
Since 2023, his documented output has been concentrated in French Polynesia: the film credits *Waltzing with Brando* and *Marae*, both dated 2023 on his profile.[2](https://linkedin.com/in/sebastienstella) In July 2025 he sold Espace Cirque Moorea and Tahiti Show Concept after nearly nine years, and his current offerings are oriented toward consulting, show quality audits, and multi-venue retainers rather than operating a school.[2](https://linkedin.com/in/sebastienstella) • [6](https://sebstella.com/)
## Place in the field
The directory credits him with acrobatic choreography for Cher, P!nk, Katy Perry, and Britney Spears from 2008 onward, alongside his film work for Fox and Disney.[3](https://www.artistes.pf/artistes/sebastien-stella/)
## References
1. [Sebastien Stella, BBC One – Tumble program profile](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/5TN4Jh2nFZskZMXnMy1f9Pb/sebastien-stella)
2. [SEBASTIEN STELLA, LinkedIn profile](https://linkedin.com/in/sebastienstella)
3. [Sébastien Stella, Artistes.pf – Les artistes de Tahiti et ses Îles](https://www.artistes.pf/artistes/sebastien-stella/)
4. [Quand Sébastien Stella dompte Hollywood, French Morning US](https://www.frenchmorning.com/quand-sebastien-stella-dompte-hollywood/)
5. [Judges 2016, Circus Star USA](https://circusstarusa.com/judges-2016/)
6. [Sebastien Stella official website](https://sebstella.com/)
7. [Sébastien Stella, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1050596/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Theater and dance › Stage practitioners and craft › Acting: theory, technique, and teachers › Acting techniques and theory › Stella Adler technique and lineage*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license