BENJI BERNARD:
Starts in Grenoble with musical training at the age of 5 and circus training at the age of 8. From '92 'till '94 he completes the Professional Artistic Formation at l'Ecole de Cirque de Bruxelles. Juggling act « mark & benji » with Mark Dehoux in 97; gold medal at “XX Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain” followed by world tour until 2004. In 2002, participation as a juggler and musician in « Samaruck », directed by Carles Santos in La Villette (Paris). In 2003, he joins the company of les Argonautes.
ETIENNE BOREL:
Amateur theatre from '83 'till '92 and tours in the streets with 'Les Baladours' from '92 'till '94.Professional Artistic Training at l'Ecole de Cirque de Bruxelles from '92 'till '94. Performs in multiple choreographic projects: Isnel da Silveira (Zomer van Antwerpen 2001), UNAKVS (2005), Déjà Donné-My Name is King (2006). Creates, under guidance of three directors and two choreographers, the solo 'La Fleur Vide', produced by les Argonautes. Intensive training in martial arts since '99. Performs in the company of les Argonautes since '95.
CHRISTIAN GMÜNDER:
Participates in two productions of Cirque Ephémère (France, '87-'89), then tours in a street theatre performance with the duo ‘Albert et ses potes’. Professional artistic training at l'Ecole de Cirque de Bruxelles from '94 'till '93. Musical clown duo 'konzert!' in 2003. Musician-actor in 'Noah' (2004) and 'Bramborry' (theater Despiegel, 2007). Regularly teaches workshops and master classes in monocycle technique. Works as a director to help stage performances at l'Ecole de Cirque de Bruxelles. Since '95 he performs with les Argonautes.
PHILIPPE VAN DE WEGHE:
Master in Physical Education, acro-gym trainer since '85. Theatre school at the CFA in 90 and 91 followed by international school ‘Lassad’ in 91-92. Teaches jugglery and acrobacy at l'Ecole de Cirque de Bruxelles from '84 'till 2000. Teaches jugglery and works as assistant director for l'Ecole Supérieur des Arts du Cirque. Director of 'Valseke', a juggling act by Niels Siedel (2004) and 'Zirquel', a street performance (2005). He has been a member of les Argonautes since '95.
LOUIS SPAGNA:
(Director)
Musician, actor, accordeon player, he performs with 'Cirque du Trottoir ('80-'89),'Corvi' and 'le Petit Putsch' ('83-'89). In '94 he is hired as a director for 'La Toison d'Orgue'. Since then, he has worked on numerous projects combining circus techniques and theatre; among others: 'Zouff!' and 'Le principe d'incertitude' for les Argonautes, 'HaHaHa!' for Okidok2 and 'Fin de sieste' for Dujoli Circus.
Les Argonautes met in Brussels in 1993. Before, they were a little bit everywhere. Now, they still are, but they are four. In fact, they are five, like The Three Musketeers. But that doesn’t change anything that was said before.
Searching frantically for the most winding path between two straight lines, in spite of themselves they have discovered that it is better to take gravity lightly and laugh at everything, despair of nothing.
Since then they have been making circus, where movement is king and speech sleeps, trying to place the technical prowess of circus techniques in the service of emotion. They move and are moved, in shows with sound, light and special acts, where derision courts the absurd, poetry and pettiness.
They performed their first production in 1995: La Toison d'Orgue, followed by Zouff! in 1998 and Le Principe d'incertitude in 2001. La Fleur Vide, a solo porject created in 2005, has opened up the usual work frame of the Argonautes, exploring new styles.
Since the fall of 2007, the Arognautes are touring with Pas Perdus, their newest creation.
