Silke Pan was a circus acrobat until she slipped during a trapeze number and broke her back. She’s now due to perform at Glastonbury Festival next week, 17 years after her accident.
We caught up with her to learn more about the journey from her accident to taking on the festival as a paraplegic artist.
Q&A with Silke Pan
What made you want to return to the circus after your accident? Did you want to go back immediately, or did it take a while before you felt that way?
When I was in hospital after the accident, I used to dream of becoming a trapeze artist again, because I’d always loved the feeling of freedom that acrobatics gave me. But when I woke up in the morning, I realized that it had become impossible. All my attempts to perform any kind of acrobatic exercise failed… Until one particular day, thirteen long years after the accident. I was doing push-ups in an upright position, with my paralyzed side strapped to a board to stiffen it, and suddenly my arms had the reflex to seek balance. My husband, who was holding my legs, let go and I balanced on my arms for a minute. That was my rebirth. I immediately understood that this was the beginning of the realization of a dream I hadn’t dared believe in for so long.
I continued to train intensively, and one and a half years later I presented my first show as a paraplegic artist.
What’s one of your proudest moments from your journey?
It was the day I dared to leave the national para-cycling team, having just won a medal at the world championships, to embark on a crazy project that only I believed in: to become the first professional, soloist, paraplegic handstand performer.
What are you plans for the festival and beyond?
I’m aware of how fortunate I am to be able to still move my upper body. That’s why I consider each day as a gift, the gift of a blank canvas that life allows me to paint according to my desires and aspirations.
Of course, I still have big goals in my art, new performances I would like to achieve and beautiful places where I would like to work, but the fact that I’ve already overcome so many difficulties in my life and got to where I am now is more beautiful than I could have dreamed. When I balance on my hands, I forget about the handicap and I feel free and happy.
What advice would you give to someone going through difficult changes?
If you’re feeling down going through difficult changes, your health won’t get any better. An alternative to lingering yourself in sadness is to reflect on how you can turn the situation in your favour.
Once you change your perspective in life, you’ll see the world differently and start seeing opportunities even if you’re in a state of hopelessness.
Persevere with faith and optimism until you achieve your goals and do not be influenced by those who say that this or that is impossible, realise your dreams.
