CHENNAI: He’s wearing a giant human-shaped muppet that’s lined with wire mesh, weighing about 10 kilos. What’s more? Visually obstruct, Ivan Yordanov dances in it for his audience’s entertainment. This dance form is pretty popular around the world and Ivan has been a tube dancer for the last 20 years.
Bringing his dance performance to the city for the first time at Phoenix MarketCity, Ivan is all set to amuse his spectators with a visual treat.
“Twenty years ago, when I was travelling around Europe, I came across a tube performer and I decided to choose this act as it attracted people of all ages and not just children. I started practicing in 1996,” says the 55-year-old.
His entertainment journey has taken him to 38 different countries including Europe and Africa. In India, he has performed at Delhi, Kochi, Pune and Bengaluru. Hailing from Varna, Bulgaria, Ivan started out with ballet. It was in 1974 that he first gave his live ballet performance. “I was just 14 then. But I don’t restrict myself to the tube dance and ballet any more. I also do juggling acts with football and plates,” he smiles.
In some performances, while he concentrates on juggling, another artist is seen by his side – his wife. “She assists me when I perform juggling acts. My wife is also a performing artiste trained in ballet and oriental dance. We perform together for about six to seven months, and then I travel and perform alone for about three months in a year,” smiles Ivan.
Coming back to his forte, tube dancing, we ask him if it ever scares anyone? If you haven’t seen a tube dance before, imagine a huge, cylindrical, almost hollow, human-shaped but faceless costume dancing to the beats of the music. Ivan cheerfully says, “No, everyone enjoys it! May be, infants might be a little taken aback or find it strange but mostly everyone receives it well.”
The art form is a little tricky too as the performer is literally blind and unaware of his surroundings.
“As soon as I get into the tube, my sight is completely blocked. I trust my senses and move about on stage. It’s quite difficult. Also, smaller sized stages are a disadvantage as you become aware of your restricted movement, and temporary visual obstruction doesn’t help either,” says Ivan whose training and practice doesn’t involve a set routine but a lot of exercises three times a week.
What To Do To Learn This Art
Always be happy because this art is about making people happy. You have to be so to make others feel it. — Ivan Yordanov
(To catch Ivan in action, visit Phoenix MarketCity today and tomorrow For details call 30083007)