News Story

With the Summer in full swing we caught up with our Basecamp resident artists Joli Vyann in our Seafront Studio amid their busy schedule, developing, rehearsing and performing their multiple productions – from Timeless to Lance Moi En L’Air and their brand new show Life’s A Beach.

Joli Vyann is a South West England dance circus company directed by Olivia Quayle and Jan Patzke. Their work challenges audiences with new innovative ways of integrating dance and circus, blending the two genres and enveloping it in theatrical scenarios, character and intention. Joli Vyann’s work is athletic, technical, exciting, emotive, sensitive and relevant.

Shows and Productions

They’ve been busy working on a new duet piece called Life’s a Beach that premiered this month and went down a storm at the Certain Blacks Ensemble Festival at the London Royal Docks in July. They’ll also be performing it at Appetite Festival, Stoke-on-Trent on 24th August and in September they’re heading to the Waterside Festival in Hythe - and Milford on the 8th September.

This fun, chaotic and light-hearted piece weaves in seaside stories of why people love the beach, or hate it - whilst exploring some serious issues like pollution, overcrowding, tourism, and keeping beaches clean.

Life’s A Beach is being supported by funding from Appetite festival, Culture in Common and New Forest District Council.

The funding enabled research to take place on location in Calshot and Milford, listening to locals and visitors tell stories and share anecdotes about their relationship with the beach. Incorporating silly costumes, seagull hats, a pop up beach hut and a windbreak, lots of local seaside tales were gathered that are now part of the performance story and soundtrack.

Masterclasses and Workshops

As well as developing new shows and productions Joli Vyann also run masterclasses for professional dancers, circus performers and those looking to learn new techniques and skills such as partner acrobatics, hand to hand acrobatics, dynamic lifts, and those looking to integrate dance and circus theatre with storytelling. Next Masterclass will be coming up this Autumn – look out for dates soon.

Collaboration and Partnerships

As Basecamp artists Pavilion Dance support Joli Vyann with rehearsal space in our theatre and studios, production support, mentoring and space to explore and develop new ideas. A home from home by the sea. In between running off to the circus or performing at a festival!

Joli Vyann also do a lot of outreach work in the community, working with professional dancers, complete beginners, refugees, and other event partners. They created Stateless for BEAF (Bournemouth Emerging Fringe Festival) in 2023 based on local refugee stories, and regularly work with addicts, vulnerable groups and schools for many of their projects and performances.

Coming up for 2025

Looking ahead to 2025 they will be working with a visually impaired artist to develop a new trio piece called Within Us. They will be collaborating with Susie Birchwood, an incredible dancer and choreographer who is also an Access consultant to develop a brand new performance – more to follow on that one!

And some great news from their recent DCD (Dancer Career Development) funding application with both Jan and Olivia receiving grants to develop additional skills as a Rigger (Jan) and Sports Therapy massage, Dry Needling and Acupuncture (Olivia). Brilliant news – well done team Joli Vyann! And we can’t wait to catch Life’s a Beach soon.

Follow them on Instagram @jolivyann for their latest news and updates.