Heka

It’s all a sham

A conjurer is not a juggler; he’s an actor playing a magician’s role; he’s an artist whose fingers must be more skillful than quick.
Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin, Les secrets de la prestidigitation et de la magie : comment on devient sorcier, 1868

Juggling and magic are like two sisters who have lost sight of each other – similar yet different.
Heka (the Egyptian god of magic!) is the title of Gandini Juggling’s new show.

Inspired by the complex connection between juggling and magic, Heka transports audiences into a fascinating universe where reality merges with illusion. Heka transcends boundaries, inviting spectators on a journey where objects appear and disappear, levitate and transform before their very eyes. And behind the illusion lies the question: what is real and what is just an illusion?

With a captivating blend of humor and philosophy, Heka marks a turning point in Gandini Juggling’s repertoire. Director Sean Gandini, whose artistic journey began with magic half a century ago in Havana, returns to his roots in this hybrid performance.

Adopting elements of contemporary choreography, Heka reimagines magic through the prism of repetition, counterpoint and diversion. Heka explores how the principles of magic can influence choreographic expression, challenging conventional notions of representation.

Heka explores group dynamics, probing the possibilities of multiple hands and gestures in a choreographic context. Delving into the subtleties of delay and anticipation, the performance invites spectators to reconsider the ritual of the show and its impact on our enjoyment of it.

Above all, Heka is a celebration of the silliness of entertainment, a tribute to the delights of the absurd.

Gandini Juggling

Founded in 1992 by Sean Gandini and Kati Ylä-Hokkala, Gandini Juggling remains at the forefront of contemporary circus, reinventing and energizing the art of juggling for the 21st century.

Gandini Juggling celebrates juggling in all its forms, exploring not only what juggling is, but also its infinite possibilities. Today, they form a constantly evolving ensemble of virtuoso jugglers, regularly expanding to include up to 20 performers for specially commissioned events and performances. They are extremely prolific, constantly creating new works ranging from daring fusions of art and juggling to accessible theatrical performances, choreographic studies and bespoke acts for corporate clients.

Since their creation, the Gandinis have performed over 6,000 shows in 50 countries. They continue to perform at numerous festivals and prestigious venues around the world, from contemporary art museums in France to opera houses in Germany, and marquees in Argentina.

Gandini Juggling collaborates with a wide range of artists. They began by teaming up with choreographer Gill Clarke, and more recently have worked with London’s Royal Ballet, the Merce Cunningham Trust, musician Caroline Shaw, and choreographers Seeta Patel and Alexander Whitley. Their inspiration is drawn from diverse disciplines such as contemporary music, ballet, contemporary dance, fashion, computer science and mathematics. They have also worked closely with orchestras, choreographing juggling figures to a wide range of classical compositions, and have had music specially composed for them by renowned composers such as Tom Johnson, Nimrod Borenstein, Gabriel Prokofiev and Caroline Shaw. They choreographed Philip Glass’s opera Akhnaten, and staged tributes to Pina Bausch and Merce Cunningham.

In addition to performing all over the world, Gandini Juggling regularly teaches in circus schools. They run workshops, create performances and support the next generation of circus artists. At the same time, Gandini publishes books and offers virtual courses to promote a broader understanding of the possibilities of juggling, for jugglers and non-jugglers alike. The Gandinis are driven by an insatiable thirst for new juggling creations and a keen desire to collaborate, communicate and provoke reactions. Their aim is to reposition juggling as a versatile, captivating and adaptable art form for our times.