Last week I saw an amazing performance by the dance company Joli Vyann at the Southbank Centre. The company comprises of husband and wife team Jan Patzke and Olivia Quayle and the show I saw was called Anima, which is Latin for breath, life and soul.
Before I saw the show, I read a brief explanation of what to expect - that Joli Vyann's show was to explore the simple act of breathing in all its forms and how it connects us all. I wasn't sure what to expect, but it was an amazing combination of acrobatics and contemporary dance between a sexually charged couple, accompanied by an amazing Japanese percussionist. The performers pushed themselves to their limits, exploring how breath affects our emotions and our physicality.
Olivia trained and competed in gymnastics for 15 years and then transitioned into dance. Jan was a stuntman before he made his way into the circus and cabaret. At one breathtaking moment, Jan plays the saxophone whilst Olivia stands on his head playing the flute!
Seeing these amazing gymnasts up close really makes you realise how strong they are! At several points through the performance Olivia, who is pretty petite, picks up Jan and swings him around!
To get a small feel for this amazing performance, you can see a clip of it here.
And you can find more tour dates here.
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