Gravity Circus is coming to WALES – Newport Tredegar Park and features an award-winning artist and acrobat who’s determination is an inspiration to us all!
Get ready to be spellbound as an Italian circus extravaganza makes its debut in the UK and soon showing in Wales for the very first time, brought to you by the produces of Circus Extreme and promising an electrifying fusion of water, light, and breathtaking acrobatics.
The Gravity Circus Company is embarking on an exhilarating tour across the UK with their sensational new show, which features Silke Pan an award-winning artist and acrobat who’s determination is an inspiration to us all!
She is a champion who faces new challenges with grace and courage. After suffering an injury in 2007 she has turned her pain into triumph and is now also a coach and a motivational speaker as well as exceptional performer.
From 1992 to 2007 Silke has performed in theatres all over Europe as well as on cruise ships, amusement parks, and gala events. In 1996 Silke met her now husband Didier Dvorakand the couple perform together to this very day.
Her life as a circus performer came to and abrupt stop in September 2007 when she fell from a trapeze breaking her back at 10th and 11th dorsal vertebrae and ended up in hospital for a gruelling period of 7 months.
“During rehab in Nottwil, I had to learn to accept this completely ‘new body”, Silke remembers. She can’t feel anything any more from her belly button down, however, she kept trying to form trapeze figures in physiotherapy. “But it was impossible to turn my paralyzed pelvis. Floor exercises, headstand, handstand – none of it worked” she explains.
She became paraplegic and started using a wheelchair, but this would not stop her!
Silke was determined to not give up athletic activities, she began training on a handbike from the first day she left the hospital. “Sports allowed me to better accept my disability.” she says.
Photo: Silke Pen on a hand bike In 2012 she began competing professionally.
And she was very successful! Silke became a champion at hand biking and at the end of 2016 Silke switched to alpine ultra-paracycling with the ascent of more than 80 mythical passes in the Swiss Alps, the Maritime Alps and the Pyrenees.
In 2018 she crossed the Pyrenees (28 alpine passes in 10 days, using the strength of her arms). And in 2019 she competed in the Tour des Lacs – 1,000km and 30 Swiss lakes crossings in para-triathlon mode which consisted of handbike, racing chair, swimming, and bellyak (a modified kyak).
Photo: Silke Pan taking part in a handbike competition.
In 2017 she competed in international races as part of the Italian team but in 2019 after being naturalized as a Swiss citizen, she started competing on the Swiss team.
Silke’s story is one of great courage and resilience. Her talent and passion are inspiring and she is working to make the world a better place!She actively supports organisations that defend the rights of disabled people, children and animals.
Photo: Silke and her dog Jim relaxing between shows
She cooperates with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, which is developing a new generation exoskeleton. This research will bring freedom and independence to many people with reduced mobility.
In 2016 – after being a paraplegic for 9 years, Silke was able to stand up and walk thanks to an exoskeleton and now for the first time it is being adapted for children.
Silke won a 4th place and a qualification for the final in the first competition, an obstacle race, the Cybathlon, a competition for disabled athletes authorized to use bionic assistance technologies.
But then the COVID-19 pandemic hit. At first, races were postponed, then cancelled, and training sessions could not take place.
“That’s when I set up a small fitness studio at home and tried out new shoulder exercises as recommended by the coach’
Silke asked her husband Didier to help her get into a handstand. To facilitate this, he put her body on an old snowboard, fixed legs and hips with straps and pulled her upside down onto her hands.
Photo: Silke getting ready to practice her act before the show
Her first impression was marked by a certain heaviness. However, after only ten minutes, “it was as if my body and muscle memory kicked in and remembered the positions from the past” commented Silke.
Her hands and shoulders automatically took the correct positions to perform an acrobatic exercise. On her fourth try, strapped to the snowboard, she got into a handstand all by herself.
“We were both crying for joy. Because we knew that this would open completely new opportunities for us.” She continued.
Photo: Silke shows off her unique method of hand balancing at Gravity Circus
She invented a unique technique to balance on her hands again, an acrobatic discipline that she used to practice before the accident.
“This looks great with stretched legs, although I am still working on making everything look more graceful.”
After 14 years of sitting in her wheelchair, she is back on stage as a circus performer and touring the UK with Gravity Circus!
As usual by her side: Didier, this time as assistant.
Photo: Silke performs with her husband
DidierThe stage fright before the first performance was enormous. And one question was on her mind:
“I was just about to live my dream again. However, I was scared that my performance would not be a success but that I would only be pitied instead.” The standing ovation convinced her of the opposite.By choosing this path she became, the first professional hand balancer with complete paraplegia below the 10th thoracic vertebra. A new challenge that she is looking forward to facing.
“Although I have never dwelled in the past, being an acrobat again is like a huge gift to me.”
You can catch Silke in action with Gravity Circus in Newport, Tredegar Park from 25th until the 29th of September before the show continues touring across England.
Photo: Silke Pan performing at Gravity Circus
Anthony Andreson director of Circus Extreme who organised the UK portion of the Gravity Circus tour comment “Silke defies gravity and expectations, showcasing the sheer power of the human spirit.”
“Their brand new show “Equilibrium” promises to challenge the very laws of physics with incredible feats performed by some of the world’s most talented circus artists.” Anthony continued
Audiences will be captivated for two full hours by this modern super show,
Other highlights include daredevil acrobats conquering the Wheel of Death; flying freestyle motorbikes defying gravity through cascading waterfalls; a spectacular magic performance; and the mesmerizing bounce ball juggling by Darix de Bianchi. Aerialist Amanda Togni, descendant of a famed circus dynasty, will astound as a flying acrobat swirling amidst a whirlwind of water.
Accompanied by the enchanting performances of Davide Demasi, known as Mister David—the modern-day Houdini of the circus and a Guinness World Record holder—the show captivates with the aerial silks of Miss Elena, breath-taking dance choreographed by Claudio Grimaldi’s dance troupe, and the vibrant melodies of Francesca Crotti’s electric violin.
For tour dates and show information visitwww.gravitycircus.co.uk
Pymouth, Central Park, PL2 3DG
Wed Sept 11th… 7pm ONLY
Thur Sept 12th… 5pm & 7.45pm
Fri Sept 13th… 5pm & 7.45pm
Sat Sept 14th… 3pm & 6pm
Sun Sept 15th… 2pm & 5pm
Mon Sept 16th… No Performances
Tue Sept 17th… No Performances
Wed Sept 18th… 5pm & 7.45pm
Thur Sept 19th… 5pm & 7.45pm
Fri Sept 20th… 5pm & 7.45pm
Sat Sept 21st… 3pm & 6pm
Sun Sept 22nd… 12 Noon & 3pm
Newport, Tredegar Park, NP20 3AQ
Wed Sept 25th… 5pm & 7.45pm
Thur Sept 26th… 5pm & 7.45pm
Fri Sept 27th… 5pm & 7.45pm
Sat Sept 28th… 3pm & 6pm
Sun Sept 29th… 12 Noon & 3pm
Rochester, Jackson’s Field, ME1 1DX
Wed Oct 2nd… 5pm & 7.45pm
Thur Oct 3rd… 5pm & 7.45pm
Fri Oct 4th… 5pm & 7.45pm
Sat Oct 5th… 2pm, 5pm & 7.45pm
Sun Oct 6th… 12 Noon & 3pm
Ascot Racecourse, Car PARK 6, SL5 7HS
Wed Oct 9th… 5pm & 7.45pm
Thur Oct 10th… 5pm & 7.45pm
Fri Oct 11th… 5pm & 7.45pm
Sat Oct 12th… 2pm..5pm & 7.45pm
Sun Oct 13th… 12 Noon & 3pm
Cambridge, Midsummer Common, CB5 8DJ
Wed Oct 16th… 5pm & 7.45pm
Thur Oct 17th… 5pm & 7.45pm
Fri Oct 18th… 5pm & 7.45pm
Sat Oct 19th… 3pm & 6pm
Sun Oct 20th… 12 Noon & 3pm
