Having a Ball

Belgian juggler Toon Schvermans,36,specializes in an unusual ball game keeping four balls in the air. His piece de resistance,however,is called Bal-a-Balles-Musette in which he bounces rubber balls off the ground into his hand while his partner France Perpete,46,carefully times her steps to skip and dance between the bouncing balls.

Belgian juggler Toon Schvermans,36,specializes in an unusual ball game keeping four balls in the air. His piece de resistance,however,is called Bal-a-Balles-Musette in which he bounces rubber balls off the ground into his hand while his partner France Perpete,46,carefully times her steps to skip and dance between the bouncing balls. Bal-a-Balles-Musette is one of the duos most popular acts,and has been performed in 500 shows across Europe,Japan and Korea. On Friday,the duo will perform this act as part of the annual Francophonie Week at the Alliance Francaise,their first time in India.

Schvermans and Perpete call themselves Baladeus Company literally translating into two people walking around with a ball. It took us over a year and several innovations to get the Bal-a-Balles-Musette right. So,we take it as a compliment when audiences feel it is easy, remarks Schvermans.

Bal-a-Balles-Musette,meaning a place where you dance to old music with balls is a 25-minute act that combines acrobatics and graceful dance movements while a fusion track of Western classical and contemporary instrumental tunes plays in the background. The storyline loosely conveys the synergy between a young couple.

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This is the first act we had designed as a pair eight years ago and it has become our most popular show. I loved juggling and she loved to dance, adds Schvermans,who had done a four-year circus training programme from France .

The duo usually performs on the streets,which facilitates maximum interaction with the audience. Schvermans informs that Bal-a-Balles-Musette has even picked up the first prize at street theatre festivals of Gent,Belgium,the Miramont de Guyenne,France and Deltmold,German.

Perpete,a gymnast and dancer,adds that their pieces combine the components of a circus with a more earthy street flavour. The group was formed in 1992,and has a repertoire of three shows,the other two being Rires A Rides,which narrates the story of an old man meeting a teenager,and Double Tour,where the central character is a two-way door. But Delhi will be treated only to the Bal-a-Balles-Musette for now.

The performance will be held at the Alliance Francaise,Lodhi Road on March 19 at 7 pm. Entry is free.

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