Show Business

Jesse Saunders is a name you’ll read time and time again throughout this blog. He’s my trusted and brilliant Acroyoga teaching partner, super talented acrobalance accomplice and needless to say, close friend. We have been working together for over three years and a natural accumulation of our partnership and love of showmanship led to stage performance.  Having dipped our toes at the annual Mind Body Spirit Festival 2009 and London Yoga Show 2008, we were poised to create something bigger and better.

Drum roll please.

Jesse and I were invited to put on a show at the Scratch That cabaret night at the Hanger, also known as the Aircraft Circus School based in South East London in July. Having received our invite only two weeks before the big night, Jesse and I began preparations immediately. We knew what we wanted to achieve; an entertaining narrative that incorporated the multidisciplinary arts of acrobatics and circus skills, topped off with a very generous helping of character and comedy. Borrowing from popular culture, we took created a sketch featuring the quarrelsome antics of Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee. What ensued was unabashed acrobatic inspired slapstick, as the bickering twosome squabbled over a poor hapless suitcase.

Our big night was filled with the typical pre-stage butterflies, but a warm audience and the bright lights made for an exciting, memorable roller coaster experience. Post performance highs guarantee a sequel!

We Are Family

As a self confessed acroyoga junkie, I was thrilled to be part of Acroyoga London’s inaugural closed course group. Having attended Sunday night classes for about a year I felt I was ready for take on the challenge of progressing my Acroyoga skills to the next level. The course certainly did not disappoint and  over the six months our group transformed into micro community who were united in the need and experience of learning and practice of asanas, performance skills, massage techniques and flying routines.
Jaqui Wan and Jesse Saunders led a group of students, most of which already had a strong foundation from attending regular open classes. Together they helped us progress to the next level of competence and confidence; each month we delved more deeply into the multidisciplinary practices of Acroyoga. We enjoyed guest instruction from experts like Brett Jackson of the Swamp Circus, and due to our solid background  he was able to share advanced and invaluable circus tips and tricks.
Our Group formed a genuine bond; and so it was no surprise when we elected to rent a mini bus and take a group outing to Holland for the annual Dutch Acrobatic Festival; where we were able to share with the world how strong and accomplished Acroyoga London had become and it’s position as a bedrock in the global Acroyoga family.
It was a genuine pleasure and an honour to be part of the Group and the broader community; the opportunity to deepen my practice with dedicated teachers and committed students who embody Acroyoga’s principles is not a chance to be missed.

By Danny Attias