Dancing Figures brings together four ballet dancers in a single flowing composition. Inspired by watching a ballet performance, Charles strips the figures back to their simplest forms, focusing on the movement and rhythm of the dancers rather than individual detail.

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The sculpture is about balance as much as movement. The figures lean and shift against one another, creating a sense of suspension, as though the whole piece is on the edge of tipping.

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The idea for the work grew from one of Charles's childhood drawings, which he returned to years later after seeing the ballet. From an initial sketch, the piece developed through a plywood model before being made in stainless steel with the collaboration of his foundry.

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​The polished stainless steel reflects the changing light and its surroundings, so the sculpture is never seen in quite the same way twice. Achieving this mirrored finish is a meticulous process that requires considerable skill.