Claire & Anthony
Where Shadow, Memory and Movement Become a Universal Language
The French performance duo transforming live art into a shared cultural experience that transcends borders, language and time.
By Janhavi Gusani
Claire & Anthony stand apart by returning to something profoundly human. Their work exists at the intersection of dance, theatre, music and visual illusion, yet its true power lies not in technical spectacle but in emotional clarity. Through the delicate interplay of light and shadow, movement and stillness, they invite audiences into stories that feel intimate, familiar and deeply resonant, regardless of culture or background.
The foundation of their artistic partnership is rooted in contrast and convergence. Claire’s lifelong relationship with dance meets Anthony’s devotion to acting, forming a dialogue between body and character, rhythm and narrative. Though their disciplines differ, they share a singular conviction: performance must tell a story rather than merely present an image. This belief shapes every layer of their work. Camera angles, lighting, shadows, facial expression, music and props are never decorative additions, but carefully chosen tools that travel with them from stage to stage, constantly refined through experience. Their performances feel crafted yet organic, precise yet emotionally open.
At the heart of their artistry is a commitment to universality. Claire & Anthony are less interested in spectacle for its own sake than in creating moments of recognition. Their work draws from life and memory, exploring emotions that bind people across cultures: love, grief, hope, family and the quiet passage of time. This philosophy is most clearly embodied in their live shadow performance Souvenirs, a piece that reflects their belief that realism, when handled with sensitivity, resonates more deeply than abstraction. By grounding their stories in genuine human experience, they allow audiences to see fragments of their own lives reflected on stage.
Their creative process begins with simplicity. An idea is first defined by its emotional core before taking visual form. From there, they explore the many possible ways a story might be told, selecting the perspective, movement and artistic language that best aligns with the emotion they wish to convey. Dance blends with physical theatre, shadows become landscapes of memory, and humour gently coexists with vulnerability. Every decision is deliberate, shaped by years of experimentation, trial and error, and an unwavering commitment to coherence.
While their work could easily exist as a filmed projection, Claire & Anthony insist on the irreplaceable value of live performance. For them, the essence of their art lies in real-time connection — the immediacy of human presence, the shared silence of an audience, and the unspoken exchange of emotion between performer and spectator. It is within this shared space that their stories truly come alive, allowing viewers to drift into their own memories as the performance unfolds.
Touring internationally has only strengthened their belief in emotional universality. Across countries, languages and cultures, they have witnessed audiences responding in remarkably similar ways. The details may differ, but the emotional responses remain constant. This consistency reinforces their understanding that while cultures shape how stories are told, emotions themselves remain fundamentally shared.
Each performance becomes a meeting point where cultural boundaries soften and human connection takes precedence. Some moments, however, leave an indelible mark on the performers themselves. During a performance in Portugal, Anthony stepped on stage just two days after losing his mother. The piece explored themes of perseverance, dreams and the protective instincts of parents guiding their children through life. Performing under such circumstances profoundly altered his relationship with the work. Since then, Souvenirs has carried an even deeper personal weight, with Anthony drawing directly from his own experiences each time he performs, transforming the act into a living tribute.
For Claire, the emotional resonance of the piece is rooted in contemplation rather than loss. Family forms the core of her life, and Souvenirs becomes a way of honouring those bonds while quietly confronting the inevitability of change. Through performance, she finds both reverence and acceptance, allowing art to become a space where emotion is acknowledged rather than avoided.
Looking ahead, Claire & Anthony are increasingly inspired by multicultural environments, particularly regions such as the UAE, where diverse identities coexist and intersect daily. They envision performances that reflect this cultural mosaic, bringing together individuals from different backgrounds to share stories through the universal language of the body. In such settings, movement replaces words, and emotion becomes a bridge between lived experiences.
Their message to emerging artists is shaped by lived experience rather than idealism. Dreams, they believe, are not linear nor uniform. They arrive at different times and take different forms, but they are always worth pursuing. Anthony reflects openly on his early frustrations — feeling technically limited as a dancer — and how storytelling allowed him to carve out a distinctive artistic voice. Success, in their view, is not defined by comparison but by authenticity.
Ultimately, Claire & Anthony hope to be remembered not for complexity or technical prowess, but for the humanity embedded in their work. Their greatest achievement is not applause, but the quiet moment when an audience member is reminded of their own family, memories or fleeting joys. In a world increasingly mediated by screens and artificial intelligence, their performances serve as a gentle reminder that it is presence, sincerity and emotional truth that endure. Through shadow and light, they ask us to pause, reflect and reconnect with what makes us human.
